China to ease fiscal policy to stimulate economy in 2009

---

BEIJING, Sept 1 (Xinhua) Standard Chartered Bank has called on China to ease its fiscal policy in 2009 to give a spur to its domestic economy. brThe bank said in a research report that although China's inflation stays at a high level, its peak period has passed. At the same time, the growth rate of China's economy has turned down. brTherefore, China is expected to get rid of inflation pressure next year. It will shift its economic emphasis from controlling inflation to stimulating domestic demand and promoting economic development. brThe report predicted that it is pretty hard for China to maintain double digits growth in 2009. China's GDP growth may go down to 9-9.5 per cent in the second half of this year, and to 8 per cent by the end of 2009. brTo stimulate its economy and create more employment opportunities, China must ease its fiscal policy after adopting a stringent fiscal policy for a comparatively long time.