China's economy grew at slowest pace in 28 years in 2018

China clocked its slowest annual economic growth in nearly three decades, as it deals with massive debt levels and the trade war with the US. [Photo: Courtesy]

China's economy grew at its slowest pace in almost three decades in 2018, losing more steam in the last quarter as it battles to quell massive debt and a US trade war, official data showed Monday.

The 6.6 percent growth comes in above the official target of around 6.5 percent and matches a forecast by analysts polled by AFP, but is down from the 6.8 percent chalked up in 2017, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).