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Economy /

China Economy

Related Topics:
Belt and Road Initiative
Asia housing and property
US-China trade war
Zhu Min, a former deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, spoke during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Photo: SCMPOST
World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

‘No choice’: China seen eyeing consumption as a route out of export reliance

Beijing’s policies seen putting income growth above GDP, with investments in social welfare, future tech and advanced manufacturing to spur internal demand.

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US-China trade war

Chips, soybeans, tariffs: what’s on tap for US-China talks before a Trump visit?

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US-China relations

US losing out to China with ‘onslaught’ on cutting-edge research: Nobel laureate

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Low-altitude economy

Shanghai to open ‘free-to-fly’ zones covering 46% of city for consumer drones

From February 1, consumer drones will be allowed to fly in designated airspace under new rules to boost the city’s low-altitude economy.

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A drone flies over The Bund in central Shanghai in the evening. Photo: Shutterstock
A drone flies over The Bund in central Shanghai in the evening. Photo: Shutterstock
China exports

How China is rethinking export-led growth as global trade walls rise

Protectionism is forcing a shift towards balancing exports with outbound investment, analysts say.

Artificial intelligence

Beijing outlines tech push with focus on AI, 6G, humanoid robots

Tech ministry’s plan targets breakthroughs in AI models, agents and chips, as well as AI’s spread into diverse sectors.

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China trade

China should leverage buying power to boost yuan’s use, former PBOC adviser says

With the yuan’s fixing at fresh 2023 highs and US dollar uncertainty rising under Trump, Beijing is urged to expand yuan-settled imports to internationalise its currency.

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A former adviser to China’s central bank said Beijing should leverage the nation’s purchasing power to boost imports settled in yuan. Photo: AFP
A former adviser to China’s central bank said Beijing should leverage the nation’s purchasing power to boost imports settled in yuan. Photo: AFP
China trade

China has tools to step up trade curbs on Japan amid tensions: Morgan Stanley

But Beijing is likely to conclude that further action would be counterproductive, according to the investment bank.

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China trade

China’s zero-tariff gambit: why Beijing is slashing duties as Trump raises them

China’s average effective tariff rate estimated to be as low as 1.3 per cent in 2025, helping it secure raw materials and build soft power.

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China's economic recovery

China’s Xi pushes ‘holistic’ execution by local cadres for 5-year plan

Xi pushes need for full grasp of 2026-2030 goals, setting boundaries amid domestic malaise and external challenges to get the ball rolling.

President Xi Jinping, seen here in July 2024, addressed China’s provincial leaders and ministers at the Central Party School in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: AP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers’ outlook overseas improves as Europe levels the playing field

Europe’s 33 per cent EV sales growth outpaces the mainland in 2025, while Germany launches a US$3.5 billion subsidy programme.

A BYD Seal is displayed at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026. Photo: EPA
A BYD Seal is displayed at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026. Photo: EPA
World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

China’s He Lifeng warns of ‘law of the jungle’, blasts protectionism, at Davos

Amid escalating transatlantic rifts fuelled by Donald Trump, vice-premier urges global cooperation, free trade and dialogue, pledging to boost imports and open China’s market.

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China consumption

China targets hi-tech industries, household spending in 2026 with policy package

Beijing announces support for small businesses and the tech sector, after 2025 economic data shows heavy reliance on exports.

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China consumption

China’s consumers refuse to open their wallets. Is ‘luxury-phobia’ the problem?

Chinese households are not splashing out on luxury goods partly because they feel ‘stigmatised’ for doing so, scholar argues.

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A Labubu toy hangs from a consumer’s Hermes bag in Beijing. To get consumers spending, China should not stigmatise the pursuit of luxury goods, a professor at Peking University has argued. Photo: Beijing
China's economic recovery

Shanghai unveils road map to rival world cities in finance, tech and innovation

Economic powerhouse has sights set on AI, advanced manufacturing and global financial services, reflecting a national 5-year plan’s first explicit financial-centre directive.

A view of the Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai’s Pudong district is seen through an installation on October 27. The city has its sights set on financial and developmental advancements in the coming years. Photo: AFP
A view of the Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai’s Pudong district is seen through an installation on October 27. The city has its sights set on financial and developmental advancements in the coming years. Photo: AFP
China jobs

Hong Kong degree is ‘passport’ to jobs in the world’s third-largest art market

Art graduates from the mainland, looking to expand their horizons and gain an edge in the job market, are flocking to Hong Kong for further study.

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Belt and Road Initiative

US trade war? China had bigger plans in 2025 as ‘belt and road’ deals surged

China’s global infrastructure strategy logged a record US$213 billion of new deals in 2025, as metals projects in Central Asia soared, report finds.

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China GDP

IMF raises China’s 2026 growth forecast to 4.5%, citing US ‘truce’ and stimulus

The fund predicts lower US tariffs and efforts to raise consumer spending may boost economy, though forecast short of last year’s growth.

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Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s managing director, delivers remarks at the IMF headquarters in Washington on April 17, 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE
Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s managing director, delivers remarks at the IMF headquarters in Washington on April 17, 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE
China's population

Baby bust: China births plunge 17% in 2025 to historic low as population shrinks

With Beijing having accelerated family-support policies and childcare subsidies, analysts warn that structural reforms are vital to arrest the deepening slide.

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China stock market

China’s securities regulator clamps down on speculation to prevent sharp swings

CSRC signals it wants a slower but longer stock market rally after trading volumes and margin financing hit record highs.

China trade

Harbouring ambitions: China’s port giants make waves with record growth

Record container volumes drive ambitious expansions at Shanghai and Ningbo ports as Beijing bets on smart hubs and regional integration to weather global volatility.

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The Chuanshan area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is seen in China’s Zhejiang province. Port authorities said it had surpassed 40 million TEU in container throughput by early December. Photo: Xinhua
China property

Mainland China’s home prices extend slide, deepening property downturn

New home prices fall again in December, with declines across most cities, as second-hand values plunge year on year.

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People skate on a frozen lake at Chaoyang Park in Beijing, with residential buildings in the background. Photo: AP
People skate on a frozen lake at Chaoyang Park in Beijing, with residential buildings in the background. Photo: AP
World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

China’s Davos sales pitch: stability, reliability and not being Trump

Vice-Premier He Lifeng is expected to pitch China as a reliable partner on Tuesday, contrasting Beijing’s stability with Trump’s unilateralism before US president’s address.

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China GDP

China hits 2025 GDP target – but quarterly growth drops to 3-year low

China logs 5 per cent GDP growth in 2025, 4.5 per cent in fourth quarter as Beijing acknowledges ‘long-standing issues and new challenges’.

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China’s private sector

China’s drug and medical device sector fuels growth with record licensing deals

China’s pharmaceutical industry surges on ageing demand and global expansion, with revenue forecast to top US$2.1 trillion by 2030.

Innovative drugs are expected to outpace other segments with an annualised growth of 20 per cent between 2026 and 2030, according to UBS. Photo: Shutterstock
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