Data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics shows that in the first quarter of 2026, China's gross domestic product increased by 5.0% year-on-year, indicating a robust start for the national economy with improved quality and efficiency, laying a solid foundation for stable economic performance throughout the year. International figures and representatives of multinational corporations stated that this impressive and dynamic report card demonstrates the strong resilience and potential of the Chinese economy. China's continuous advancement of high-quality development and its ongoing expansion of high-level opening-up not only bring more development opportunities to other countries but also inject greater stability and certainty into a world fraught with turbulence and change.
"The data fully showcases the strong resilience and positive momentum of the Chinese economy." In the first quarter, total retail sales of consumer goods grew by 2.4% year-on-year; the total value of imports and exports of goods increased by 15% year-on-year, marking the highest quarterly growth rate in nearly five years; the value added of high-tech manufacturing industries above the designated size rose by 12.5% year-on-year, contributing 32.6% to the growth of all industrial enterprises above the designated size... This series of data sends a clear signal of the Chinese economy's long-term positive trajectory and immense development potential.
"In the first year of the '16th Five-Year Plan' period, and amidst a complex and ever-changing international environment, the Chinese economy achieved a 'good start,' with multiple economic indicators exceeding expectations. The scale of goods trade imports and exports reached a record high for the same period in history, fully demonstrating the strong resilience and positive momentum of the Chinese economy," said Xu Xinxiong, CEO of a Thai corporate group. He added that the first-quarter data not only reflects the steady growth of China's economic aggregate but also highlights the positive results of the continuous optimization of China's economic structure and the accelerated cultivation of new quality productive forces.
Tong Meng David, Deputy Director of the China-ASEAN Research Center at a Cambodian university of technology, stated that the resilience of the Chinese economy stems from the accelerated cultivation of new quality productive forces and the continuous transformation of scientific and technological achievements. The significant rebound in indicators such as new export orders reflects the transformation of Chinese manufacturing towards higher-end, smarter, and greener development. "I am full of confidence in China achieving its annual economic growth target and its long-term high-quality development," he said.
Kong Tingyun, Global Executive Vice President and President of Greater China at Ecolab, believes that the Chinese economy achieved a good start under complex and severe external conditions, with indicators such as manufacturing, consumption, and imports and exports all showing growth, demonstrating the strong resilience, stability, and internal driving force of the Chinese economy. This growth is built on a foundation of industrial upgrading, green transformation, and technological innovation.
Xia Huasheng, an economist at the Brazilian Vargas Foundation, stated that China maintains strong competitiveness in the global supply chain due to its complete industrial system, particularly in areas like advanced intelligent manufacturing and green technology. In the medium term, factors such as policy coordination, technological upgrades, and capital market development will continue to support China's economic growth and drive its economic structural transformation.
Han Chen, Senior Vice President of ABB Group and President of Robotics China, stated that China's first-quarter economic report card is encouraging, showing a trend towards innovation and improvement. From large-scale equipment updates to the vigorous development of high-end manufacturing, the Chinese economy is accumulating new momentum. "We are full of confidence in the long-term and stable development of the Chinese economy," he said.
"China's high-quality development provides an anchor of predictability for the world." Smart wearables, display technology, consumer-grade drones, integrated housing... At the ongoing 139th Canton Fair, over 11,000 specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises and single champion enterprises have gathered, showcasing a dazzling array of cutting-edge products in areas like the low-altitude economy, green energy, and smart living. The Chinese economy is moving forward with innovation, continuously improving the quality of its development and strengthening its internal driving force, injecting more momentum into the world economy.
"Against the backdrop of rising trade protectionism and turbulent geopolitical situations, a key reason for China's impressive economic report card lies in its continuous optimization of the industrial structure," said Tong Meng David. He added that as a "ballast stone" for the global economy, the stability of the Chinese economy is crucial. China's high-quality development effectively counteracts external uncertainties, bringing scarce certainty and forward momentum to the world economy.
Xia Huasheng stated that while stimulating domestic demand, China is continuously optimizing its economic structure, vigorously developing high-tech manufacturing, and enhancing its ability to withstand external shocks. By maintaining the reliability of its supply chains and providing cost-effective intermediate products for global production, China plays a stabilizing role in the global economy. "Progress in technological innovation, energy transition, and infrastructure investment in China will provide strong support for global economic growth," Xia said.
"The accelerated industrial application of frontier technologies in China, such as quantum technology, biomanufacturing, and 6G communication, is driving tangible growth in manufacturing investment and industrial output," said Sizo Nkala, a researcher at the Africa-China Research Centre at the University of Johannesburg. "China's high-quality development provides an anchor of predictability for the world. China's development in new energy, the digital economy, and other fields also provides actionable transition pathways and practical cooperation space for Global South countries."
Song Weiqun, Global Executive Vice President of GE Healthcare, President and CEO of Greater China, stated: "China's focus on promoting the development of new quality productive forces aligns with our development strategy. Our innovation achievements in China not only serve China but also benefit many other countries. China's high-quality development provides stable expectations and a broad market for the development of multinational corporations, and it also brings tangible dividends to the global economy."
"In the face of a complex international situation and multiple external challenges, China's achievement of high-quality development is attributable to its strong internal resilience and efficient, precise policy regulation," said Xu Xinxiong. He believes that China's ultra-large-scale market and complete industrial system form a solid foundation for stable and long-term economic growth, while the continuous advancement of institutional opening-up injects stable expectations into the market. "As an important engine of global economic growth, the Chinese economy provides valuable certainty for a turbulent world, truly serving as a stabilizer and power source," Xu said.
"Bringing tangible development dividends to multinational corporations and global partners" Data shows that in the first quarter, China's imports grew by 19.6% year-on-year, 7.7 percentage points higher than the export growth rate, with the import scale reaching a record high for the same period. China is not only willing to be the "world's factory" but also the "world's market." The combined effect of China's industrial transformation and consumption upgrade provides broad space for global open cooperation.
Tong Meng David stated that for Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, China's high-level opening-up means broader market access and stronger impetus for foreign trade. "This win-win model of opening not only brings development dividends to countries around the world but also provides a Chinese approach to building a more inclusive multilateral trading system," he said.
Nkala noted that in the first quarter, the total value of trade between China and Africa reached 646.56 billion yuan, an increase of 23.7% year-on-year. "China is a reliable economic partner for the African continent, and our economic and trade ties are becoming increasingly close," Nkala said. He believes that China's economic resilience provides a relatively certain anchor for African exports and industrial growth, giving both sides more confidence to support each other in a turbulent global landscape.
"In the first quarter, China's imports from over 150 countries and regions achieved growth. Chinese opportunities are being transformed into global dividends, bringing benefits to many developing countries," said Nadia, a professor of political science at an Egyptian university. "China is continuously expanding its high-level opening-up, injecting stability into the world economy through the certainty of its own development."
Xu Xinxiong stated that China's continuous expansion of high-level opening-up, the release of strong domestic demand potential from its ultra-large-scale market, institutional opening-up, and the continued release of policy dividends from agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership "bring tangible development dividends to multinational corporations and global partners."
"The first-quarter economic data shows the good internal momentum and development vitality of the Chinese economy," said Fajar Hilawan, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business of an Indonesian university. He noted that China's outline for the 16th Five-Year Plan emphasizes "expanding high-level opening-up and creating a new situation of win-win cooperation," which means China will more proactively integrate into regional and global economies, bringing more opportunities to countries around the world in trade, investment, industry, and innovation.
Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of STANDARD CHARTERED PLC, stated that China's continuous advancement of high-level opening-up will create more cooperation opportunities in areas such as trade, investment, and financing, bringing new growth space for cross-border business and capital market development. "The Chinese economy is highly resilient. I remain optimistic about China's development prospects and firmly believe in a bright future of further comprehensive deepening of reform and opening-up and steady economic development in China," he said.
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