China said yesterday its economic growth target of 8.0 per cent for the year was still within reach despite a slower first-half performance, but economists cast doubt on such hopes.

China's economic growth slowed to a year-on-year 7.0 percent in the first half as the nation was battered by Asia's financial crisis and heavy summer rains, the State Statistical Bureau said.

China posted annual growth of 7.2 per cent in the first quarter, well off the 8.8 per cent for all of last year.

Beijing says it needs to meet the 8.0 growth target to create new jobs for millions of workers to be laid off in a painful overhaul of state industry.