The declining economy of Northeast China, which was once the country's industrial base, is reaching a bottom and is less likely to decline sharply in the future, an official at the National Development and Reform Commission said on Thursday.

Zhou Jianping, director of the commission's department for revitalization of the northeast region, admitted the difficulties that provinces in Northeast China face, but pointed out some highlights of the region's economic recovery, including rapid growth of emerging industries, stable employment and a good harvest.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, GDP growth in the three northeast provinces of Jilin, Heilongjiang and Liaoning lagged behind a majority of provinces and regions in the first quarter. Liaoning province was the only province to report negative GDP growth - minus 2.2 percent - in the first three quarters.