China's Leap | ​China's Q1 Economy Grows 5% in Solid Start

China's economy achieved a robust 5% year-on-year GDP growth in Q1 2026, reaching 33.4193 trillion yuan, 0.5 percentage points faster than Q4 2025, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on April 16.

Industrial output rose 6.1%, services 5.2%, and foreign trade surged 15%. Consumption and investment improved, with domestic demand contributing 84.7% to growth.

New quality productive forces drove expansion: equipment manufacturing up 8.9%, and output of 3D printers, lithium batteries and industrial robots grew strongly. Exports of electric vehicles soared 77.5%.

Despite global uncertainties, officials voiced confidence. Supported by new drivers, recovering domestic demand and effective policies, China is well-positioned for steady annual growth.

Picture by AI

By Wang Ziyuan, Li Jiexin(intern),Zhao Limei/China Youth Daily