China is confident of realizing its 6 percent annual growth target for industrial output in 2017 as the growth momentum of the industrial sector is improving, a top official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Friday.

"The country's industrial economy developed steadily and positively, while business performance and market confidence improved in 2016. That momentum is expected to continue this year," said Industry and Information Technology Minister Miao Wei at a news conference on Friday.

China's industrial output, a main gauge of industrial production, increased by 6 percent last year and quarterly growth had improved from 5.8 percent in the first quarter to 6.1 percent in the next three quarters, clearly indicating stable growth for the whole industry, ministry data showed.