China's economic growth rate for the first nine months of 2007 slowed down slightly compared to the same period last year, according to government statistics.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Thursday that China's gross domestic product (GDP), or complete market value of all goods and services produced, grew 11.5 percent during the first 9 months of 2007.

China's GDP grew to 16.6 trillion yuan ($2.2139 billion) during the measured period, with a growth rate 0.7 percent higher than the same period a year ago.