The National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday that China's economy expanded 6.9% in the third quarter, beating expectations for a 6.8% gain, after a 7.0% in the second quarter. It was the weakest growth since 2009.

The growth missed the official target of 7%.

The tertiary industry climbed by 8.4% in the third quarter, while secondary industry increased by 6%.

"In order to restructure, the economy will face some downward pressure," a spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics, Sheng Laiyun, said, adding that "all this indicates the restructuring and upgrading of the Chinese economy are going steadily".