"According to preliminary estimates, in the first quarter of 2019, China's GDP growth year-on-year amounted to 21.34 trillion yuan [$3.2 billion], year-on-year growth [stood] at 6.4 percent," the statement read.
Previously, the Chinese social and economic development plan released on Tuesday revealed that China's gross domestic product growth was expected to decelerate to 6-6.5 percent this year from 6.6 percent in 2018.
READ MORE: China Touts More Reforms, Sustainable GDP Growth in 2019
Last year, China's economy grew by 6.6 percent, the lowest pace since 1990s. Chinese authorities planned the 2018 budget with a deficit of 2.38 trillion yuan or about 2.6 percent of GDP.
