China says economy still under pressure, but recent data shows improvement

China's economy still faces downward pressure but recent data points to some improvement in activity, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said on Sunday. Chinese leaders have repeatedly tried to reassure jittery financial markets and China's major trading partners that Beijing is able to manage the slowing economy, following a slide in the country's stock market and depreciation of the yuan. "We don't want to shy away from saying that China's economy is facing downward pressure, but overall the progress is