China on Monday said its economy grew 4. 5% for the July-September quarter from a year ago fueled by robust exports, moving closer to meeting its official annual growth target as the year nears its end at a time when its trading partners felt an increased urgency in balancing their trade deficits with the country.

The better-than-expected official data accelerated from the 4. 3% year-on-year growth recorded in the April-June quarter, which was the slowest expansion in more than three years.

For the whole year, Chinese leaders have set a growth target of 4. 5%-5%, down from last year's 5% expansion.