China's five autonomous regions see robust economic growth

The combined gross domestic product (GDP) of China's five autonomous regions surged from 6.01 trillion yuan (around 836.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2020 to nearly 8.38 trillion yuan (around 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2024, a senior official said on Monday in Beijing.

Duan Yijun, deputy head of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, announced the figures at a press conference about the achievements of socialist democracy during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) held by the State Council Information Office.

"From 2020 to 2024, the combined regional GDP of China's five autonomous regions grew from 6.01 trillion yuan to 8.38 trillion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 5.6 percent," Duan said.

The five autonomous regions are the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Xizang Autonomous Region, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 183.04 points, or 0.38 percent, to 48,134.89. The Standard and Poor's 500 added 59.74 points, or 0.88 percent, to 6,834.5. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 301.26 points, or 1.31 percent, to 23,307.62.

Seven of the 11 primary The Standard and Poor's 500 sectors ended in green, with technology and industrials leading the gainers by going up 2.03 percent and 0.88 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, utilities and consumer staples led the laggards by dropping 1.34 percent and 0.49 percent, respectively.