Hard landing unlikely in second half of year, says senior economist

China's contribution to the global economy will continue to increase this year, remaining a major engine for world growth, a senior economist from a top government think tank said on Thursday.

A sharp drop in GDP growth, or a hard landing, is unlikely in the second half of the year, Wang Yiming, vice-president of the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a news conference.