Gao Shanwen questioned Beijing’s ability to boost its economy as threats loom from a property meltdown and burgeoning debt.

China's President Xi Jinping has silenced prominent economist Gao Shanwen after he raised doubts about the reliability of official GDP data and Beijing’s ability to help bolster economic growth, The Wall Street Journal reported,

The mainstay of Xi’s address concerned the economic success of China. He stressed that the Chinese economy is thriving, and explained that China’s total GDP is soon expected to surpass 130 trillion yuan ($17.7 trillion). This equates to a 4.9 percent increase in GDP over the course of the last 12 months.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was reportedly dismissive about the threat of deflation hitting the economy. While consumers can benefit from falling prices, persistent deflation can also lead to a downward spiral for spending and investment.

The analysis reportedly angered President Xi Jinping, who has pledged more proactive measures to stir China's stagnant economy.