The first quarter of 2025 delivered a powerful economic rebound in the Chinese mainland: GDP rose 5.4% year on year to 31.875 trillion yuan ($4.337 trillion), beating market forecasts of 5.1% and marking a 1.2% uptick from Q4 2024.
Key drivers include rising consumer spending, resilient agricultural output and robust market confidence. The service sector was a standout performer, jumping 9.9% year on year thanks to gains in information transmission, software and IT services. High-end manufacturing also surged, with equipment manufacturing up 10.9% and high-tech production rising 9.7%.
Production strength was evident in industrial output, which grew 6.5% for the quarter and 7.7% in March alone. This rebound reflects shifting global demand and the push for "new quality productive forces," as authorities double down on emerging industries, modernizing traditional sectors and advancing new industrialization.
Beyond domestic measures, pragmatic diplomacy and deeper ties with ASEAN and Belt and Road Initiative partners fueled exports and cross-border travel, while festival-driven consumption added to the momentum. Looking ahead, the focus will be on building a modern industrial system powered by sci-tech innovation and advanced manufacturing.
A case in point is DeepSeek AI, whose open-source platform has drawn entrepreneurs to develop practical applications, signaling growing investor confidence that useful AI will drive the next wave of business expansion.
As the Chinese mainland charts its course through 2025, these trends offer insights for global citizens watching how policy, technology and consumption shape the world’s second-largest economy.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
