SARS not to stop Chinese growth: President

China's economy is still growing despite the deadly SARS virus, Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Moscow Wednesday.

"The Chinese economy is continuing to develop dynamically despite the epidemic," Hu said in a speech at Moscow's State Institute of International Relations.

"China will overcome these temporary difficulties and take all necessary measures to guarantee economic growth," he added.

China is the world's worst hit country from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), reporting more than 5,300 infections and nearly 325 deaths.

It has already begun to feel the negative economic impact of the pneumonia-like respiratory virus, with industrial output growth slowing last month.

Yet Chinese government experts still say the country is expected to reach its goal of seven per cent growth this year.