On April 16, the National Bureau of Statistics released the national economic performance for the first quarter of 2026, indicating a strong start for the Chinese economy and demonstrating enhanced resilience and vitality. In the first quarter, gross domestic product grew by 5% year-on-year, a significant rebound of 0.5 percentage points compared to the fourth quarter of last year. Foreign trade also showed robust momentum, getting off to a solid start. In the first quarter, China's total imports and exports exceeded 11 trillion yuan, marking the first time in history for the same period, with the quarterly growth rate reaching its highest level in nearly five years.
During these days, the 6th China International Consumer Products Expo is in full swing in Haikou, Hainan. The Consumer Products Hall of this year's expo features exhibits from 22 countries and regions, setting a new record for the number of participating nations and regions. On April 15, the 139th Canton Fair opened in Guangzhou. This international trade event, known as "China's No. 1 Fair," continues to gain momentum. As of April 9, pre-registered overseas buyers had exceeded 210,000. The exhibition covers a total area of 1.55 million square meters, with 75,700 booths and over 32,000 participating enterprises—all three core indicators surpassing previous editions. More than 11,000 high-quality enterprises, including those recognized as specialized and sophisticated SMEs or single-product champions, participated, an increase of 5.1% from previous fairs, setting a new record.
As the Pearl River surges with energy, countless merchants gather. This year marks the 139th Canton Fair, with the 140th edition soon to follow. Overseas buyers traveling from afar reflect not only their trust in the quality of Chinese products but also their recognition of the resilience of China's economy. This spring rendezvous builds a solid bridge for international economic and trade cooperation, bringing confidence and expectations to both China and the world.
From a substantial first-quarter report to two bustling exhibition venues, what we see is not just a rebound in economic indicators but also the underlying stability and abundant vitality of the Chinese economy. As this year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, achieving a strong start in the opening year provides greater confidence in promoting effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth in the economy.
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