The second-quarter economic growth of 4.3 per cent was its slowest in more than three years, missing the lower end of a full-year target of 4.5 per cent to 5.0 per cent. The ‌top decision-making ‌body of ⁠the ruling Communist party, the Politburo, acknowledged "difficulties ​and challenges facing the economy" at its meeting, the official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday. It also vowed to step up efforts to boost domestic demand, but without specifying the steps, the ⁠agency said. Many economists believe that accelerating already-budgeted national infrastructure projects can stabilise growth in coming months without widening the fiscal deficit. China must "accelerate the pace ​of fiscal expenditure", the meeting said, a summary ​of the discussion ⁠showed.