(Yicai Global) Jan. 28 -- China's Guangdong aims to  achieve economic growth of between 6 percent and 6.5 percent for this  year, according to Ma Xingrui, governor of the southern province.

Guangdong, one of China's economic powerhouses,  posted a 6.8 percent rise in gross domestic product to CNY9.73 trillion  yuan (USD1.44 trillion) last year, Ma announced while delivering a  government work report at the opening ceremony for the annual session of  the provincial legislature.

The manufacturing hub ranked first nationally for  imports and exports for a 33rd consecutive year in 2018. The province  racked up CNY7.16 trillion in imports and exports, representing an  all-time high.

China's provincial governments are in the process  of setting economic growth targets for this year at their respective  annual sessions ahead of March's National People's Congress. Authorities  in Shanghai, China's largest city, are also aiming for GDP growth of  between 6 percent and 6.5 percent in 2019.