China's economy grew 6.8% in the fourth quarter of 2017 from a year earlier, official data showed on Thursday, above expectations and unchanged from the previous quarter's growth.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected gross domestic product to expand 6.7% in the October-December quarter, slowing from 6.8% growth in the previous quarter.

Chinese policymakers have been trying to contain financial risks and slow an explosive build-up in debt without stunting economic growth.

The world's second-largest economy grew an annual 6.9% in 2017, beating the government's target of around 6.5% and quickening from 2016 growth of 6.7%, which was the weakest pace in 26 years.

GDP in the fourth quarter grew 1.6% quarter-on-quarter, compared with revised growth of 1.8% in July-September, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

Analysts had expected fourth-quarter GDP would grow 1.6% on a quarterly basis.

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