China has revised upwards its economic growth figure for last year.

Previously China said its economy grew by 9% in 2008, however on Friday that figure was revised up to 9.6%.

In U.S. dollar terms, China's GDP was 31.405 trillion yuan ($4.6 trillion), the statistics bureau told reporters in Beijing Friday.

This is not far from Japan, the world's second biggest economy, which recorded $4.9 trillion in GDP last year.

With China's economy continuing to grow (8% growth expected this year), and Japan struggling, it is only a matter of time before China cruises into the number two spot.