China's economy got off to a good start and maintained the momentum of recovery in the first quarter of 2024, said Sheng Laiyun, deputy head with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday.
Sheng made the statement at a a press conference in Beijing in briefing news media on China's economic performance in the first three months.
According to preliminary estimates, China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter reached 29,629.9 billion yuan (4,093.4 billion U.S. dollars), up 5.3 percent year on year, computed at constant prices, NBS data showed.
In breakdown, the value added of the primary industry was 1,153.8 billion yuan (about 159.41 billion U.S. dollars), up 3.3 percent year on year, that of the secondary industry stood at 10,984.6 billion yuan (about 1,517.67 billion U.S. dollars), up six percent, and that of the tertiary industry reached 17,491.5 billion yuan (about 2,416.69 billion U.S. dollars), up five percent, according to the NBS.
In the first quarter, China's industrial production registered fast growth, with the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size grew by 6.1 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, the value added of high-tech manufacturing increased by 7.5 percent year on year, 2.6 percentage points higher than that of the fourth quarter of 2023.
In the first two months, the total profits made by industrial enterprises above the designated size were 914.1 billion yuan (about 126.3 billion U.S. dollars), up 10.2 percent year on year.
In the first three months, market sales maintained steady growth and services consumption grew fast.
During the three-month period, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 12,032.7 billion yuan (about 1,662.48 billion U.S. dollars), up 4.7 percent year on year.
In addition, the retail sales of services went up by 10 percent year on year in the first quarter.
China's trade structure continued to optimize in the first quarter, with the total value of imports and exports of goods reaching 10,169.3 billion yuan (about 1,405 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of five percent year on year.
In the first quarter, investment in fixed assets (excluding rural households) reached 10,004.2 billion yuan (1,382 billion U.S. dollars), up 4.5 percent year on year, 1.5 percentage points higher than that of the previous year.
Data from the NBS also showed that consumer prices and employment were generally stable in the first quarter.
In the first three months, residents' income increased steadily, and the income of rural residents grew faster than that in urban areas.
"In general, the national economy got off to a good start in the first quarter, with positive factors accumulating and increasing. This has laid a relatively solid foundation for achieving the annual goals and fulfilling the annual tasks," Sheng said.
China's economy gets off to good start in first quarter: authorities
The year 2024 celebrates the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, and it also heralds the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism, a celebration aimed at bolstering cultural and people-to-people exchanges through a series of enriching events.
During a special episode focused on this milestone, cultural experts and influencers from both nations shared insights into the depth of Sino-French cultural interactions.
The discussion, livestreamed from Shanghai on April 22, began with a historical overview, notably when then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai introduced President Georges Pompidou to the Yungang Grottoes, a renowned Buddhist cave site in north China's Shanxi. These caves feature intricate carvings that reflect religious and cultural syntheses from the 5th and 6th centuries.
David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, commented on the geopolitical context of the initial outreach.
"People have to remember that we were in the middle of the Cold War, therefore, the world was divided. For a Western country like France to reach out to China, and of course vice versa, it's a beautiful moment, historical diplomatic breakthroughs, means that despite all the geopolitical difficulties, a spirit of cooperation and friendship can prevail," said Gosset.
Xie Dingwei, executive director of the Bund One Art Museum, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
"We need to preserve these cultural heritages. We not [just] preserve the sculptures or the buildings itself, but also, it gives us a chance to see hundreds of years ago, how our craftsmanship, our architecture, our human beings, we have reached [such] high levels, which brings us to the present time these treasures, these values. This is something we really cannot afford to lose. Culture is a common language; it doesn't matter you're Eastern art or Western art, somehow they can be connected. So this is something I think it creates a communication channel between the nations," said Xie.
The cultural connection was recently demonstrated during a meeting last April between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they enjoyed the performance of "Flowing Water" played on the Guqin by a Chinese artist, symbolizing the flowing friendship between the two nations.
"This communication on art subjects between the nations and different peoples are really, really important. It goes beyond politics, beyond the differences between the nations. But you all go to getting closer to understanding each other," said Xie.
Gosset also supported the notion of fostering unity through cultural platforms, aligning with President Xi Jinping's idea of building a community with a shared future.
"I am completely aligned with this idea. We are on the same boat. Our world is frightened by too many divisions. And I think, what is important is to support the forces that can unite us, so it can be music, and certainly museums, and you need leaders with a vision that does not separate us," said Gosset.
Six decades of China-France diplomatic relations highlighted by cultural exchange
