HONG KONG -- China's economy expanded at an annual rate of 4.6% in the July-September quarter, the government said Friday, in the latest evidence that recent efforts to rev up growth have yet to take hold.

China’s National Bureau of Statistics on Friday reported third-quarter GDP growth of 4.6% year on year, slightly beating expectations.

China's National Bureau of Statistics on Friday reported third-quarter GDP growth of 4.6% year on year, exceeding the 4.5% expected by economists polled by Reuters. Beijing has faced public scrutiny over its ability to meet its own annual growth target of "around 5%.