China's economy grew 10.7% in 2006, its fastest rate in more than a decade, as investment and exports powered ahead despite a raft of government curbs to keep the pace of expansion in check.
The world's fourth-largest economy has now grown at double-digit rates for four years in a row.
At that pace, China's output could pass out Germany's and catapult it into third place in the global rankings as soon as 2008, when it will showcase its meteoric rise by hosting the Olympic Games. It overtook Britain in 2005.
The 10.7% gross domestic product growth was faster than the preliminary 10.5% estimate given earlier in the month by officials. It was up from 10.4% in 2005 and was the briskest rate since 10.9% in 1995.
