A series of supporting policies and the increasing internal and external demand have jointly contributed to the industrial growth in China in the first quarter of this year, said an official with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference on China's economic performance, Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the NBS, elaborated on the factors that have contributed to the fast growth of the industrial production in the period.
China's value-added industrial output, an important economic indicator, went up 6.1 percent year on year in the first quarter of this year, NBS data showed.
"First of all, enterprises have gained greater confidence in achieving growth thanks to the policy support. As we all now, the central government departments and local governments across the nation have introduced a series of policies and measures to support the development of the real economy since last year, especially since the beginning of this year. Local authorities have also accelerated the implementation of these policies and measures which have greatly boosted enterprises' motivation to produce, improved the business environment, and enhanced enterprises' confidence," said Sheng.
Growing external and internal demand has also boosted the industrial growth, he noted.
"Secondly, there have been positive changes as both external and internal demand is growing. In terms of external demand, due to recovery trend in the world economy, China's exports in the first quarter performed better than expected. From the perspective of internal demand, one indicator we pay attention to is the year-on-year growth of added value in the consumer goods manufacturing. In the first quarter, the added value in consumer goods increased by 4.2 percent, an increase of over 4 percentage points. This shows that both external and internal demand is growing which has also supported the growth of the industrial economy," said the official.
"Thirdly, the industrial recovery is related to the strengthened implementation of some recent policies. The central government has rolled out a variety of policies to promote equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs, which to some extent has also boosted enterprise confidence, with some enterprises having started production in advance. Another factor that has contributed to the industrial growth is fostering new growth drivers which have continually boosted the industrial development," Sheng continued.
Supporting policies, increasing demand contribute to China's industrial growth in Q1: official
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
