China's steady economic growth injects stability into global development: analysts

China

China's steady economic growth injects stability into global development: analysts

2026-04-18 15:57 Last Updated At：16:37

China's steady economic growth is injecting stability into the global development, according to international business leaders.

China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, 0.5 percentage point higher than that of the fourth quarter of 2025, the latest official data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Thursday.

The country's GDP reached 33.4 trillion yuan (about 4.87 trillion U.S. dollars) during this period, the NBS data showed.

"China's strong economic performance injects stability not only into the Asian region but also into the global economy," said Vitaly Mankevich, president of the Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

"I think the announcement by the government of a five-percent growth is something important - it's quite amazing to see these figures at a time when we are all confronted with new difficulties. I think this is important because it shows that the choice of the government to insist on local consumption - to develop the domestic consumption . Also, to see what they have done for the development of the green economy - that is also something that is playing a more and more important role," said Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

China's GDP grew 5 percent year on year last year. The country has targeted 2026 growth at 4.5 to 5 percent and will strive for better in practice.

"I'm very happy that China is a solid rock in this turbulent situation. You can see in a lot of branches which I already mentioned that China has the Number One position, for example, in the battery business, in the solar, in the new energy business. And with the new [15th] Five-Year Plan [for national socioeconomic development in the 2026-2030 period], it will be important to emphasize this because then you can align the resources and to achieve your targets," said Bernd Einmeier, president of the German-Chinese Association for Economy, Education, and Culture.

Smart products steal limelight at 139th Canton Fair

Smart products are a big draw at the ongoing 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, currently underway in Guazhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province.

On Friday, the smart technology zone at the expo continued to draw growing attention.

Among the highlights, the service robot section became a focal point, with 46 companies showcasing a wide range of smart robot products.

Over the past two days, the zone attracted an average of more than 24,000 visitors daily.

The current edition of the Canton Fair, running from April 15 to May 5, features three distinct phases, each focusing on different product categories themed on "advanced manufacturing", "quality home life" and "better life".

The first phase has introduced four new sections -- consumer drones, smart wearables, display technology, and agricultural drones -- which collectively showcase China's innovative achievements in the field of smart technology.

"I also see a lot of new developments, especially in products that are AI-related. The Chinese products, Chinese factories are investing a lot in new developments. And I think this is really, really going fast. And I think these products, which are AI-related, will change consumer electronics markets. That's why I think it's it's a big advantage," a Dutch buyer at the expo.

The Canton Fair is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou since its founding in 1957, and has been seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade.

The longest-established trade fair in China has seen record participation across its exhibition metrics this time - over 32,000 companies are exhibiting, including about 3,900 first-time participants.

Tech-driven innovations took the center stage among the more than 4.65 million products showcased, with new, green and independently developed products accounting for 23 percent, 22 percent and 25 percent, respectively.