Fed's Kaplan says China GDP target appears to have meant higher debt ratio

[August 04, 2016]  SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's economic growth target appears to have meant higher levels of debt to GDP for the country, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Kaplan said on Thursday in Shanghai.

Kaplan said on Tuesday in Beijing that he is monitoring how slowing growth, high levels of overcapacity and high levels of debt to gross domestic product (GDP) in major economies outside the United States might be impacting economic conditions in the U.S.

China is aiming for 6.5 percent to 7 percent GDP growth this year.

The IMF has said China's total debt load was 250 percent of GDP in 2015 and could lead to slower growth.

(Reporting by Nathaniel Taplin; Editing by Kim Coghill)

[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.