Within three to five years, China will start to publish the total value of its economy using the methods practised in other market economies, Shanghai Daily reported. The head of the National Bureau of Statistics said that China would start to adopt the calculation system for its national economy in 2003. It will conform to international practices in terms of classification and indices of economic activities and add new content, including indices on restructuring, efficiency and sustainable growth.
The move followed the successful conclusion of a trial of calculating the growth of industrial output. It replaced the old system of report forms at different levels with a data gathering network designed to prevent interference by local authorities.