2005 growth lifted from 9.4%-9.8%

China’s economy grew by an unexpectedly strong 9.8% in 2005, reported state media. The new figure, up from original estimates of 9.4%, accounted for the results of a national economic survey released in December, state news agency Xinhua said. The larger figure was due to robust growth in the service sector, long ignored by the outdated communist statistical system that focuses on manufacturing.