China is taking various steps to guard against and prevent miscalculations of economic statistics in future years, top statistician Li Deshui said here Tuesday at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

According to the first-ever national economic survey, China's 2004 gross domestic product was underestimated by 2.3 trillion yuan. Ninety-three percent of which was from miscalculations in the services sector.

To prevent future miscalculations the government will put more focus on acquiring accurate statistics in the service sector, Li said.

China's National Bureau of Statistics has just established a survey center on that will measure economic activity, said Li.

After the first national economic survey, the government set up a data bank on activities in the service sector, he said.

The data will be used to prevent sudden ups and downs in reporting economic statistics, he said.

The Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress is amending the Statistics Law, which will improve the quality and veracity of economic figures in China, he said.

The country has decided to unify the three economic survey teams which used to look separately at economic activity in rural areas, urban centers and within corporations, he said.

Source: Xinhua