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Top Chinese securities company Hai Tong recently released its investment preview for 2010, which predicts a 9.5 percent growth for China's economy next year. But that could have implications for the country's carbon emissions - as accusations over the Copenhagen climate summit continue to fly. 

Figures announcing robust growth for China's economy are usually good news, and especially so in uncertain financial times like these.

And the figures from Hai Tong will certainly be well received by Chinese businesses and those whose investments or jobs depend on China's continued rapid development.

President Obama is expected to discuss several issues with his Chinese counterpart during his visit here, and financial matters are sure to be on the agenda. In today's BON feature story Sylvia Gunawan speaks to one economist who in 2005 repeatedly warned both the Chinese and US governments of impending financial doom, and looks at the best way for the two countries to resolve their ongoing currency dispute.

While the US is still recovering from its economic crisis, China's economic growth looks set to continue into the new year. But one sector fueling the growth could pose a big threat to its economy, and that’s the red hot real estate industry. BON'S Sylvia Gunawan takes a look at the booming sector and talks to one expert who fears the good times might NOT be here to stay.

As housing prices soar in China’s metropolitan cities, buying an apartment is becoming a luxury many can’t afford. According to new research, average home prices in Beijing jumped 66 percent last year, while Shanghai reported a massive 68 percent jump.

In the dark days of 2008’s financial crisis, the Chinese government stepped into the breach with an enormous economic stimulus package designed to slow job losses and keep the economy on the right track. By most measures, it appears to have succeeded. However, one enduring legacies of the stimulus has been a pile of bad debt held by large banks and local governments here. Whether or not those debts are actually a problem has been a subject of much debate, with recent events—including a series of “stress tests” for China’s biggest banks—fueling the controversy.

Last week Chinese workers came third place in Time Magazine's annual People of the Year awards, just behind runner up General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan and Man of the Year, US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for his work in stabilizing America's economy.

Chinese workers were picked for the contribution made by tens of millions of unheralded people in powering China as the world's fastest-growing economy. In today's Straight from the Street we asked people here if they think Chinese worker's deserve the award.

China's National Bureau of Statistics is set to announce the country's GDP growth data for 2009 next Thursday. And it seems the country has defied earlier predictions of a sharp drop. It's now expected to easily meet the government's target of 8 percent – that's the figure it sees as crucial for job creation and ensuring social stability.

The economy grew 8.9 percent in the third quarter of 2009 - compared to 7.9 percent in the second quarter after a record low of 6.1 percent in the first. Analysts are now predicting a figure of between 8.2 percent and 8.4 percent for the year.

Based on this and other factors, one of the country's top think tanks is predicting a staggering 9.5 percent growth for the economy next year - 2010. The State Council's Development Research Center says the economy will be boosted by double-digit growth in real estate investment and predicts exports, a key driver of economic growth, will start to grow again in 2010.

So can such a high target be met? We went out and asked some Chinese people if they felt that 9.5% growth was practical.