Events and stories coming up in the next few days

Key NBS briefing to discuss economic performance

The National Bureau of Statistics will hold a media briefing in Beijing on Monday on the country's economic performance in the past seven months. Gross domestic product jumped to an unexpected 6.9 percent growth year-on-year in the first half of the year. Domestic consumption accounts for 63 percent of GDP growth, which highlights the progress China is making in its bid to make innovation and domestic demand the drivers of economic growth.

Beijing to host returnee startups forum

The 12th Chinese Overseas Educated Scholars Pioneering and Innovation Forum will be held in Beijing on Saturday to discuss the latest trend attracting students who went overseas to start businesses in the country. In April, the State Council, China's Cabinet, issued guidelines about comprehensive support for returnee startups. Last year, more than 2.65 million students returned to China.

Study tours record massive surge in popularity

More students are putting overseas study tours, short-term stints, on their agenda. This year saw the number of students going abroad for study tours increase by nearly 40 percent, with reservations for tours starting almost a year ago, according to English First, a Swedish-English education company in China. China Daily will explore the sector with in-depth stories.

Harbin set for top boat race event at weekend

The UIM F1 H2O World Champion-ship Grand Prix in Harbin will be held in the waters of the Hulan Estuary Wetland Park in Heilongjiang province at the weekend. Nine teams and 27 top boat racers from home and abroad will compete for the title.