BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China's gross domestic product expanded 6.8 percent year on year in the first half of 2018 to about 41.90 trillion yuan (6.27 trillion U.S. dollars), data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday.

The pace was well above the government's annual growth target of around 6.5 percent, extending a steady expansion.

In the second quarter, China's GDP rose solidly by 6.7 percent year on year, slightly lower than the 6.8 percent in the previous quarter but representing the 12th straight quarter that the GDP growth rate has stayed within the range of 6.7 to 6.9 percent, according to NBS data.

The service sector expanded 7.6 percent year on year in the first half, outpacing a 3.2-percent increase in primary industry and 6.1 percent in secondary industry, according to the NBS.

Consumption continued to play a bigger role in driving growth, with final consumption contributing to 78.5 percent of the economic expansion in January-June, up from 77.8 percent in the first quarter and 58.8 percent last year.

NBS spokesperson Mao Shengyong told a press conference that the Chinese economy has been running soundly in the first six months, offering "a good start" for the country's pursuit for high-quality development with further restructuring progress and improved economic quality and efficiency.

However, noting increasing external uncertainties and the fact that China is still going through a critical stage in structural adjustment, Mao said the country would stick to the supply-side structural reform and coordinate efforts to ensure stable and sound economic performance.

China's economy expanded 6.9 percent in 2017, picking up the pace for the first time in seven years.