China's fixed-asset investment is transitioning from extensive scale expansion to quality-oriented growth amid a shift in development drivers, a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) spokesman said on Tuesday.
Spokesman Fu Linghui made the remarks at a press conference in Beijing while explaining the reasons behind the 4.1 percent year-on-year decline of the sector in the first five months of 2026.
"The decline in fixed-asset investment in the first five months of this year is partly driven by high temperatures and heavy rainfall in some regions, and it is also an objective reflection of the shift between old and new development drivers as well as the transition of investment from total volume expansion to quality improvement. Despite the slowdown in overall growth, we have seen continuous optimization of the investment structure, which has played an irreplaceable role in strengthening foundations, promoting transformation, and benefiting people's livelihoods," he said.
Fu also highlighted the robust momentum of investment in emerging industries and high-tech sectors.
From January to May, investment in the high-tech industry rose 4.5 percent year on year. Driven by rapid development in artificial intelligence and new energy sectors, investment in integrated circuit manufacturing and lithium-ion battery manufacturing jumped 11 percent and 24.9 percent, respectively, while investment in information services increased 13.8 percent.
Investment in areas related to people's livelihoods also continued to strengthen.
From January to May, investment in agriculture and fisheries jumped 10.7 percent and 27.5 percent year on year, respectively.
In the same period, investment in urban renewal and living environment improvement registered steady expansion, while investment in ecological protection and environmental governance rose 3.5 percent year on year.
China's fixed-asset investment shifts to quality-oriented growth: spokesman
