GUANGZHOU, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The gross domestic product of China's manufacturing hub Guangdong Province increased 6.6 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, local authorities said Monday.

The province's GDP in the first three months expanded to 2.39 trillion yuan (356 billion U.S. dollars), data from the provincial statistics bureau showed.

The bureau attributed the moderate increase of Guangdong's economy to the steady growth of its real economy.

It said the new economy has become a vital engine promoting the economic growth of Guangdong. The province's new economy, including advanced manufacturing and high-tech industries, in the first quarter, increased 7 percent year-on-year, accounting for a quarter of its entire GDP.

As one of China's economic powerhouses, Guangdong recorded a 6.8 percent GDP growth to hit 9.73 trillion yuan last year. The province set a target of 6 to 6.5 percent economic growth this year.