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epa03039041 A Chinese factory worker operates a loom at a textile manufacturing factory in Beijing, China, 19 December 2011. China's manufacturing activity fell in December as crises in the US and Europe drag on the economy according to data released on 15 December. Chinese economists have forecast economic growth of about 8.5 per cent next year, down from a projected 9.2 per cent this year. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG