The International Monetary Fund in its World Economic Outlook has forecast that China's economy will grow 7.5 per cent in 2003 and 2004, compared with 8 per cent last year. In making its forecast, the fund commented that the Sars virus would have only a temporary setback to growth led by exports and strong investment.
US investment bank Goldman Sachs in September raised its estimate of China's economic growth to 8.1 per cent in 2003 and 8.4 per cent in 2004, up from its previous forecasts of 7 and 7.5 per cent respectively.