Morgan Stanley Chief Economist Stephen Roach said despite a high GDP growth rate, he expects a soft landing of Chinese economy this time just like before.

"This is the fourth macro adjustment China has had to face in the past decade, and just as the first three led to soft landing, I look for a similar outcome this time as well," Roach said in his research report released here Monday.

He said the slower-than-expected second quater Chinese gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 9.6 percent indicated that a soft landing may now be close at hand.

However, he warned that it is still too early to conclude that a soft landing is achieved because the economy is still growing at a torrid rate and economic signals still mixed.

He added that China still has much to do to achieve its economic target.

According to the economist, a 9.6 percent increase represents an extremely rapid growth rate by any standards, and this is "a critical moment" on the glide path of descent for Chinese economy. However, he remained convinced that "China will not waver".

He concluded that China's extraordinary success over the past 25 years is testament to an unwavering commitment to reform and to an increasing adept macro management team.