HEFEI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- China's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to remain on a stable but fast track or grow 9 percent this year, according to Qiu Xiaohua, head of the National Bureau of Statistics.

    The anticipated GDP growth is one percent higher than the 8 percent prediction made in the Government Work Report delivered in March by Premier Wen Jiabao at the latest session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

    Qiu told an economic forum held in Hefei, capital city of East China's Anhui Province, that China has maintained a 10-percent GDP growth for three consecutive years. However, the economy is challenged by a string of problems.

    He cited short supply of energy, environmental protection, sub-standard medical care services, high education charges and price hikes for housing.

    China's GDP reached 18 trillion yuan in 2005, or 2.23 trillion U.S. dollars, the fourth largest in the world. Enditem