China

China Signals New Era of Slower Economic Growth
4Mar mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
China

China Signals New Era of Slower Economic Growth

China signaled that the world’s second-largest economy is entering an era of slower expansion, setting a target for gross domestic product growth of between 4.5% and 5% this year. It is the lowest target set since at least the 1990s and follows three years in which officials called for growth of “around 5%.” If China’s economy were to expand at a pace below 5% this year, it would be the slowest growth reported by the country in more than three decades, other than during the Covid-19 pandemic years. China said its GDP grew 5% in real terms last year, meeting its official target despite a renewed trade war with the U.S. A lower GDP target for 2026 reflects a level of tolerance for weaker growth as China’s economy contends with muted household spending, dampened investment and a...
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China’s economy showed ‘strong’ resilience in 2025, says spokesperson
3Mar mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, China

China’s economy showed ‘strong’ resilience in 2025, says spokesperson

The Chinese economy demonstrated strong resilience and vitality despite challenging external factors in 2025, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, made the remarks at a press conference, one day before its annual session. China's total economic output crossed the new threshold of 140 trillion yuan (about $20 trillion) in 2025, with its growth rate continuing to rank among the highest of major economies globally, Liu said. New quality productive forces have grown rapidly, with deep integration of technology and industry leading to a surge of innovative achievements, the spokesperson said. Liu sa...
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Trump’s tariff setback could spark surge in Chinese imports to US: analysts
1Mar mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
Asia, China, USA, World

Trump’s tariff setback could spark surge in Chinese imports to US: analysts

Importers in the United States are expected to front-load goods from China after the Supreme Court struck down the use of emergency powers as the legal basis for US President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, potentially opening a brief window of relief, analysts said.Companies selling products made in China, or using Chinese raw materials, were likely to place larger orders in the coming weeks amid uncertainty over whether Trump’s pledge to raise a new tariff – from 10 per cent to 15 per cent – would take effect under a non-emergency statute or win congressional approval within the required 150 days, they said.Trump had partly justified last year’s tariff hikes on nearly all America’s trading partners under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), but the Suprem...
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Why Asian firms are not cheering Trump tariff ruling
1Mar mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
Asia, China

Why Asian firms are not cheering Trump tariff ruling

When the US Supreme Court struck down a central pillar of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff regime last week, businesses across Asia did not celebrate. Instead, exporters, manufacturers and logistics companies were left grappling with more confusion over access to the world's largest consumer market. "No-one likes uncertainty," said Push Sharma, founder of Singapore-based wellness brand Haldy, which had spent years preparing to enter the American market before abruptly shelving its plans last year. "We had already done the trademark registrations, the groundwork, discussions with distributors," he said. "Then everything suddenly felt very drastic. We had to defer our plans." Trump's tariffs were designed to reduce global dependence on China among other things. Bu...
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China Ramps Up Debt Collection
28Feb mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
Asia, China

China Ramps Up Debt Collection

After two decades of loaning African nations billions of dollars for infrastructure projects, China now is focused on extracting payments, straining national budgets and threatening security across the continent. Collectively, African nations have gone from receiving nearly $30 billion in Chinese loans between 2010 and 2014 to paying out $22 billion between 2020 and 2024, a swing of $52 billion, according to a recent analysis by One Data, a group that uses open-source information to examine economic issues around the globe. The report was made for the Development Finance Observatory. China has become a net extractor of funds from low- and lower-middle-income countries as billions of dollars in loans mature at the same time, according to the One Data report. Although the story is...
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Xi, Merz seek to build on economic ties amid fallout from US tariffs
25Feb mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
China, USA, World

Xi, Merz seek to build on economic ties amid fallout from US tariffs

Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have expressed their desire to deepen economic ties between their countries during the German leader’s inaugural visit to Beijing, China’s state broadcaster reports. During a meeting with Merz, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday on a visit focused on resetting trade relations and deepening cooperation, Xi told the German leader their two countries should be “reliable partners that support each ⁠other” and be “defenders of free trade”, CCTV reported. China supported Europe’s self-reliance, Xi said, adding ⁠that China hoped Europe would ⁠work with China in the same direction and ⁠uphold their strategic partnership. CCTV reported that Xi and Merz also discussed ⁠Ukraine amid concerns in Berlin and elsewhere in Europ...
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Why China’s economy remains stable, resilient amid global uncertainty
23Feb mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
Asia, China, World

Why China’s economy remains stable, resilient amid global uncertainty

China will hold its annual Two Sessions in early March. Ahead of this year's key political meetings, CGTN presents a special series, China Agenda, offering multi-angle insights into China's whole-process people's democracy, its socio-economic achievements, and the development vision outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan. As China prepares for its annual Two Sessions, one question is drawing increasing global attention: How resilient is the world's second-largest economy at a time when the international economic order is undergoing profound changes? China reported 5 percent year-on-year GDP growth in 2025, with total output reaching 140.19 trillion yuan (about $20.13 trillion). Foreign trade expanded to 45.47 trillion yuan, marking the ninth consecutive year of growth. In a worl...
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China Markets Set for Post New Year Upside on Trade Optimism
19Feb mmBy Walter ParezNo Comments
China, Market

China Markets Set for Post New Year Upside on Trade Optimism

China Mainland equity markets and the Hang Seng Index have outperformed the Nasdaq Composite Index and S&P 500 year-to-date in 2026. With Mainland China’s Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) closed for trading from February 16 through February 23 for the Lunar New Year, traders have a week to reflect on key developments and potential speed bumps. Non-US external demand remains strong despite a stronger Chinese Yuan (CNY). Pre-Lunar New Year holiday USD-RMB flows suggesting continued diversification from the US dollar. Meanwhile, deflation and the housing market remain hurdles for Beijing to address if stimulus measures targeting domestic consumption are to be effective. Despite weak domestic consumption and the ongoing housing crisis, expectations of further policy su...
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Is India last lifeline for China’s sinking economy? Why the Dragon’s eyes are locked on Delhi
19Feb mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, China

Is India last lifeline for China’s sinking economy? Why the Dragon’s eyes are locked on Delhi

Recent data shows growing pressure on China’s economy. Factory activity has slowed, the property sector is weak and export-focussed companies face trade barriers in developed markets. Because of this, many companies are looking outside China to expand and maintain stable earnings. China’s economic slowdown has begun to influence its outward investment plans, with India emerging as a potential destination for fresh capital flows. Several Chinese companies are exploring opportunities in the Indian market as domestic growth loses pace and external trade conditions become more restrictive. Recent data shows growing pressure on China’s economy. Factory activity has slowed, the property sector is weak and export-focussed companies face trade barriers in developed markets. Because of t...
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“Financial ruin, family breakdown, even death” – China’s Singapore casino warning
18Feb mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
China, Singapore

“Financial ruin, family breakdown, even death” – China’s Singapore casino warning

China’s embassy in Singapore has warned that engaging in gambling leads to ‘a path of no return’ in a dark message to its citizens. The message comes in the wake of the embassy dealing with the aftermath of a Chinese national jumping to his death from the Marina Bay Sands hotel, which the embassy attributed to gambling. “Participating in gambling leads to a path of no return, including financial ruin, family breakdown, and even death,” stated the embassy. “Cross-border gambling may also bring risks such as fraud, money laundering, kidnapping, detention, human trafficking, and smuggling.” Gambling is strictly prohibited in China, and Chinese citizens are also legally prevented from cross-border gambling, even if they are situated in a jurisdiction where ...
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