China's growth edges up but 2016 weakest year since 1990

Supported by government spending and a real estate boom, the world's second-largest economy expanded by 6.8 percent over a year earlier in the three months ending in December, up from the previous quarter's 6.7 percent, government data showed Friday.

China's economy has cooled steadily as communist leaders try to nurture domestic consumption and reduce reliance on trade and investment but trade still supports millions of jobs.

Export industries could face more pressure, raising the threat of politically dangerous job losses, if Trump goes ahead with promises to raise tariffs on Chinese goods.

Beijing has relied on repeated infusions of credit to prevent activity from slumping too fast, prompting warnings the run-up in debt could spark a financial crisis or drag on growth.

Chinese leaders say they will make the economy more competitive and productive by opening more sectors to private companies but last year's performance still relied heavily on spending by the government and state-owned industry.