Challenges to achieving annual GDP target

China's 11.9 percent GDP growth in the first quarter has put the country in excellent stead to achieve its annual target of 8 percent. But National Bureau of Statistics' spokesman, Li Xiaochao, has remained cautiously optimistic.

He attributed the first quarter's growth to a strong rebound from last year's sluggish first half economy. China's economy picked up in the second half of last year, which raised the baseline. But the country's rapid rebound has not been matched by the global economy, which remains unbalanced amid soaring commodity prices. Debt risks in some countries are also threatening to derail the global economic recovery. Meanwhile, southwest China's drought poses pressure to domestic commodity prices. Li said all of these factors will challenge the 8 percent target.