China's production, employment and prices remained stable in August, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Spokesman Fu Linghui said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Fu provided an overview of the China's economic performance in August and the measures taken to support it.
"First, production remained stable. China stepped up domestic energy supply and promoted diversification of imports. In recent years, the notable progress in green energy transition has also effectively ensured domestic energy supply and underpinned stable production. In August, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size and of services production grew by 5.2 percent and 4.1 percent respectively, maintaining overall stability," Fu said.
Stable production has laid a solid foundation for stable employment, Fu noted, adding that enterprises' steady growth in production has helped stabilize labor demand.
"Second, employment remained stable. Although structural adjustments led to job declines in some industries year on year, employment in China's manufacturing sector generally remained steady. The information transmission, software and information technology services sectors all saw significant job growth. Employment in the accommodation and catering sectors also expanded due to rising domestic cultural and leisure activities, which was vital for stabilizing overall employment," Fu said.
He also highlighted China's efforts to ensure market supply.
"Third, prices remained stable. China has intensified efforts to secure market supply and boost the production of daily necessities, effectively ensuring adequate market supply and maintaining price stability. In August, the consumer price index rose 0.8 percent year on year, while the producer prices for industrial products climbed 3.8 percent, both relatively stable on an international scale," said the spokesman.
China's production, employment, prices remain stable in August: authorities
China has continued to push forward the rural construction initiative this year, bringing steady improvements to rural production and day to day living conditions.
So far, the total mileage of rural roads across the country has reached 4.7 million kilometers.
In Songhui Village, Zanhuang County of north China's Hebei Province, local authorities have invested over 40 million yuan (about 5.96 million U.S. dollars) this year to upgrade 287,000 square meters of roads and install streetlights. A new road is currently under construction in the village.
"Once completed, the road will connect three nearby townships and 16 administrative villages, fundamentally improving travel for local farmers, the transport of agricultural produce, and the development of tourism," said Hao Longhai, a local construction official.
Villages in China have also focused on the needs of local specialty industries, targeting shortcomings in production-related infrastructure.
In Taihu County of east China's Anhui Province, where cattle farming is a major driver of villagers' incomes, local authorities have coordinated roughly 30 million yuan in rural development funds this year to advance a provincial-level breed conservation center and an organic fertilizer processing plant.
"Conditions have been improved significantly. What matters most is that my cattle pen can now connect to the province-wide remote monitoring system for livestock and poultry genetic resources, enabling work such as breed conservation, breeding, scientific research and disease prevention to be managed through an online platform," said Zhu Yong, head of a local breed conservation center.
Infrastructure for day to day living is also a key priority in rural development efforts this year.
As of the end of August, over 130 billion yuan in project funding had been secured for rural construction, and steady improvements have been made to village roads, water supply and drainage systems, sanitary toilet upgrades, household waste and sewage treatment and elderly care facilities.
Living, production conditions in China's rural areas continuously improved
