China's industrial production accelerates in first two months of 2026

China's industrial production accelerated in the first two months of 2026, with value-added output increasing in 35 out of its 41 major industrial sectors, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday.

All eight sub-sectors within the equipment manufacturing industry achieved growth in value-added output.

With the increasing availability of domestic components and accelerated computing power infrastructure deployment, the electronics industry grew by 14.2 percent year on year, contributing 20.6 percent to the overall growth of industries above the designated size.

The general equipment manufacturing industry grew by 8.9 percent in the first two months of 2026 compared to the same period of the last year, benefiting from large-scale equipment upgrades and the accelerated production of industrial robots.

In the first two months, industrial enterprises above the designated size nationwide grew the export delivery value of their products by 6.3 percent year-on-year to 2.4 trillion yuan, the highest growth rate since April 2025.

The equipment manufacturing sector recorded strong export performance, with the export delivery value for railway, shipbuilding, and aerospace equipment growing by 32.1 percent year-on-year and automobile export delivery value growing by 27.7 percent.

"Driven by the policies to implement major national strategies and build up security capacity in key areas and the measures to promote large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins, our proactive efforts in macroeconomic policy have led to effective improvement in investment. The accelerated implementation of new quality productive forces, coupled with technological iteration and upgrading, has reduced costs in emerging industries, which in turn generates greater market demand. New technologies are enhancing production efficiency in traditional industries, creating a certain growth effect," said Ren Jiqiu, a researcher from the Institute of Industrial Economics at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research, which is part of China's National Development and Reform Commission.

China's industrial production accelerates in first two months of 2026

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that there are no winners in the prolonged wars, and a ceasefire and an end to the hostilities are the will of the people.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

The two sides mainly exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East.

Cooper expounded on Britain's view on the current situation in the Middle East, stating that in the face of an increasingly turbulent world, the British side hopes to maintain close communication with China, push for an early end to the war, resume diplomatic negotiations, and seek long-term solutions.

Wang elaborated on China's position, saying that the current conflict in the Middle East is escalating, and the war is expanding, which not only impacts regional peace and stability, but also directly affects international energy, finance, trade and shipping, undermining the common interests of all countries.

China urges all parties to immediately cease military operations, resolve differences through equal dialogue, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, Wang said.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Britain shoulder the responsibility of upholding international peace and security, he noted.

Both sides should enhance communication, remain committed to actions conducive to peace, and jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, so as to prevent the international order from being further undermined and the foundations of world peace from being eroded, said the foreign minister.

The two sides also exchanged views on China-Britain relations and agreed that they should actively implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, enhance exchanges, and continuously promote the long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Britain, thereby providing stability and certainty for a world fraught with changes and turmoil.

Chinese FM says prolonged wars have no winners