BEIJING, Dec. 11 -- China has managed to overcome the adverse impact of several destructive natural calamities and the international financial crisis this year and maintain a steady economic growth.

Available statistics on the pace of China's economic growth, price tendency, employment and international payment conditions - the universally used tools to measure an economy's performance - indicate China's economy is still in a good shape despite it facing an unprecedented severity at home and abroad.

The country achieved a 9.9 percent economic growth rate in this year's first three quarters, slightly higher than the average growth rate of the country's gross domestic product since the reform and opening-up policy was adopted in 1978. The rate is also in sharp contrast with the sluggish global economy, especially those of the U.S., the European Union and Japan, the world's main economies that have already gone into recession.

Compared with the 7 percent growth rate achieved in the same period by the other three members of the BRIC, an abbreviation for the group that also includes emerging economies Brazil, Russia and India, China's 9.9 percent is not a mean figure.

The world's largest developing country has also made remarkable achievements in controlling inflation. Its consumer price index (CPI) stood at 6.7 percent year on year during the preceding 10 months, with a decline in six consecutive months since May. In particular, its 4.9 percent, 4.6 percent and 4.0 percent CPI growth rates in August, September and October respectively suggest that the ticklish issue of inflation has been kept under control.

In solving the issue of employment for its enormous population, China has also made great progresses. Due to relentless efforts by governments at all levels, 10.2 million new jobs were created throughout the country's cities and townships during the first 10 months, fulfilling the goal set for the whole of this year. But the impacts of the ongoing global economic crisis continue to aggravate in the country's southeastern coastal regions, which abound in export-oriented enterprises. This will see the number of jobless workers increase.

However, local governments have taken a series of measures , such as extending subsidies to those who are laid off, offering them training courses and striving to create new jobs. These are expected to reduce the side effects of the crisis to a minimum.

As to the international payment conditions, China has also done very well. The value of its exports in the first 10 months surpassed $1.2 trillion, or a 21.9 percent growth rate year on year, although the country also suffered an obvious economic slowdown due to the world financial crisis. Its forex reserve had reached $1.9 trillion by the end of September, making it the largest one in the world.

However, a sound performance should not blind us to some pessimistic facets of the country's economy. Recently, the IMF lowered its forecast for this year and next year's global economic growth to 3.7 percent and 2.2 percent respectively. The world's crisis has also brought some negative effects on China's real economy. All these need greater efforts and enhanced confidence on our part to deal with possible hardships ahead.

The solid economic foundation the country has built over the past 30 years and the enormous potential of its domestic market have strengthened our confidence to succeed in the fight against the global crisis. Since the reform and opening-up initiative was adopted, the material strength we have accumulated will serve as a strong prop for the country's long-term economic and social development.

A well-developed network of railway, road, aviation, water and oil transportation has been in place throughout the country

Also, the flexibility and sharp perception embodied in the central government's macroeconomic decision-making have also beefed up our capability to tackle complicated situations of various kinds.