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(190305) -- BEIJING, March 5, 2019 () -- Aerial photo taken on Feb. 15, 2019 shows the COSCO Shipping Pisces, one of the world's largest container ships with a capacity of 20,000 TEU, approaching Piraeus port, Greece. For many years, growth figure has been the most buzzed-about subject regarding the Chinese economy. .Probably because of the "miracle" the Asian giant made with an average gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 9.5 percent in the past 40 years, far exceeding the 2.9-percent global economic growth in the same period. .However, one should not make a fetish of the growth rate. Also, economic slowdown is not necessarily a siren, not to mention a drag on the global growth. .China sets the 2019 GDP growth target at 6-6.5 percent, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in his government work report on Tuesday at the opening of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body. .Though slowing down, China's economy still grew at a medium-high rate, expanding to over 90 trillion yuan (13.3 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2018, an impressive accomplishment amid a subdued global economic outlook. .TO GO WITH: Commentary: Time to discard growth rate fetish for China's economy (/Wu Lu) | (KEYSTONE/PICTURE ALLIANCE/)