China Will Maintain Economic Growth of 7-9%, BHP’s Nasser Says

China, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, will maintain growth of 7 percent to 9 percent, underpinning demand for the commodities produced by BHP Billiton Ltd., Chairman Jac Nasser said today.

“We may not see 10 or 11 or 12 percent growth but we will see 7, 8, 9 percent growth,” Nasser said at a lunch in Sydney. “The texture of growth may change, in other words, we’ll see more domestic spending and less export and capital spending, but the growth is there and I think they’ve managed this situation extremely well. I’m less confident with the rest of the world.”