SHANGHAI, Aug 25: China is considering a $54 billion stimulus plan involving tax cuts and government spending, state media said on Monday, in another sign that boosting the economy is becoming a priority.

The 370-billion-yuan proposal, which has yet to be finalised, includes 220 billion yuan in fiscal spending and 150 billion yuan in tax cuts, according to the Economic Observer, a weekly newspaper.

News of the plan follows a slowdown in Chinese economic expansion, which some experts fear could intensify following the end of the Olympics in Beijing.

There are also concerns about the Asian giant’s export engine as US growth struggles and recession looms over both Japan and the Eurozone.

“The report does have a great deal of credibility,” said Shanghai-based Oriental Securities economist Feng Yuming.

“The central government is beyond the point where it is satisfied merely with a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude. Now we’re seeing some action.” Chinese economic growth slowed to 10.4 per cent in the first half from 11.9 per cent for all of 2007, partly because of a deceleration in export growth.

Recent data showed China’s trade surplus declined 9.6 per cent in the first seven months of 2008 from the same period last year, confirming the impact of the US-led global economic slowdown.

The Central Financial Leading Group, which is composed of senior officials from various government agencies, supports the stimulus plan but it still needs to be submitted to the State Council, or cabinet, the Economic Observer said.

The proposal is meant to “give the economy some breathing room” following a slowdown after monetary tightening, the report said, adding that the Ministry of Finance is to work out the plan’s details.

The report comes after JPMorgan Chase economist Frank Gong said in a note last week that Beijing was mulling an economic stimulus package of up to 400 billion yuan to boost growth. China could in principle spur growth by cutting interest rates too, but fiscal measures have certain advantages that may be attractive to policymakers in Beijing, economists argued.—AFP