China grew at a robust 9.7%, as inflation hits highs

The government has been trying to rein in food and property prices

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China's economy continued its boom in March and inflation accelerated to the fastest rate since 2008.

Growth was at a faster-than-expected 9.7% between January and March from the same period a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

Consumer prices rose by 5.4% in March compared with a year earlier. In February, the annual figure was 4.9%.

The government has been taking steps to try to cool property and food prices.

Chinese inflation has been accelerating despite four interest rate rises since October.

"The figures are higher than market expectation, especially the CPI (consumer prices index), which means the inflationary pressure is really big," said Nie Wen from Hwabao Trust in Shanghai.

"So I think the tightening measure will continue."

Tackling inflation

Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Friday that China's economic growth was still unbalanced.

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Inflation in China accelerates to 5.4% in March, the highest level since 2008. Inflation is also a political issue, according to the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing.

He pledged to boost the role of domestic consumption in the economy.

Mr Hu made the comments at Asia's version of the World Economic Forum, taking place in Boao on the Chinese Island of Hainan.

This week, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said that the government would use all the tools at its disposal to tackle inflation.

"We will try every means to stabilise prices, the top priority of our economic controls this year and also our most pressing task," Mr Wen said at a cabinet meeting.