Official figures show investment by the private sector in fixed assets such as factory buildings and machinery grew nearly threefold between 2000 and 2005 (see chart).

ECONOMIST: Governing China

Investment in fixed assets, such as buildings, factories and equipment, has grown by between 21% and 26%, year on year, for the past four quarters, despite the government's efforts to tighten credit.

ECONOMIST: China does its bit to calm worries about the world economy

The National Bureau of Statistics said urban investment in fixed assets such as roads, power plants and apartment buildings rose by 26.5% in January and February from a year earlier, beating market forecasts for a 21.5% increase.

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