China economy surges in 2009

China's economy grew by a greater-than-expected 8.7% in 2009 - putting the country on course to overtake Japan as the world's second biggest economy.

The expansion in the country's economy accelerated as the year progressed, with growth in the fourth quarter increasing 10.7% compared to the equivalent period last year, said head of the National Bureau of Statistics Ma Jiantang. With the release of Japan's GDP figures next month expected to reveal a contraction of around 6%, China is poised to become the world's second largest economy. Ma Jiantang said after a turbulent 2009, China's economy was now moving in the right direction. China's recovery comes on the back of the government's huge stimulus package, but with inflation pick...