With strong investment growth and an expected improvement in exports, our forecast for the economy overall is that annual GDP growth will pick up modestly during 2006 to about 3.25 pct.

The world economy is growing at an above average pace for the fourth successive year and, significantly, forecasts have been revised upwards.

Foreign direct investment is so important to the growth of China's economy that the national government doesn't want to do anything to endanger that.

Falling investment and poor productivity threaten Britain's long-term economic growth and competitiveness in the new global economy.

This highlights a re-accelerating economy led by consumption and investment.

The immediate driver is that investment activity is picking up. The global economy remains very robust, and after a long and dreadful period, there are hopes that German consumption will strengthen.