Investment and net exports helped China's economy grow at an annualised rate of 9.4 per cent from July to September, the ninth successive quarter in which output has risen by more than 9 per cent, according to Chinese government figures.

The sustained growth means expectations of a slowdown in the Chinese economy are evaporating, with Thursday's third-quarter gross domestic product figure matching recent independent assessments of strengthening domestic demand, the prime driver of growth in recent years.