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China economy

China economy
Breaking news and analysis on China’s economy, including its opening up, the US-China trade war, the impact of tariffs and trade talks, growth rates and other key economic data, the Belt and Road Initiative, and Greater Bay Area plan.
Consumers shop at Florentia Village in suburban Shanghai. Photo: Maggie Zhang
China property

China’s shoppers head for suburban outlets, a bright spot in retail property

Outlet spending nearly doubles to around US$36 billion over five years, prompting investment surge while urban malls suffer high vacancies.

Two Sessions 2026

Innovation plus livelihoods – the twin tracks of China’s 5-year plan

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Boao Forum for Asia

Exclusive | Singapore, South Korea PMs to attend Boao Forum this month

Two Sessions 2026

Beijing vows to expand imports amid ‘China shock’ fears

Beijing promises to source advanced tech, consumer goods and agricultural products from overseas while diversifying markets.

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Commerce Minister Wang Wentao speaks at the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing on March 6. Photo: AFP
Two Sessions 2026

China’s 15th 5-year plan maps bold push for AI, fusion and frontier science

Beijing’s sweeping 2026-2030 plan lays out blueprint for navigating a complex and turbulent international environment.

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Two Sessions 2026

China pledges full support for tech sector with broad range of new policies

China’s top economic officials outline plans to support tech firms with stock market reforms and measures to stimulate demand.

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Yuan

Beijing vows yuan stability, fires back at currency-depreciation claims

PBOC governor reaffirms yuan stability, refuting trade partners’ accusations ahead of critical US talks in Paris.

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A woman walks by an exchange shop decorated with banknotes. There has been mounting pressure from China’s trade partners to allow the yuan to strengthen. Photo: Felix Wong
Two Sessions 2026

8 takeaways from the economic briefing at China’s ‘two sessions’

China’s top economic officials laid out their priorities for trade, technology and investment in 2026.

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Two Sessions 2026

China to pursue commercial health insurance to ease strain, support innovation

Commercial health insurance enters China’s policy agenda as an ageing population and costs strain basic coverage.

Two Sessions 2026

China’s AI focus, growth target cut, US-China trade talks

This week: China aims to boost the digital economy, the full-year growth target is set at the lowest since 1991, Wang Yi calls for end to war in Iran. Next week: US-China trade talks, ‘two sessions’ press briefings, February CPI release and more.

Photo: Xinhua
Energy

Opinion | China’s energy transition proves a boon in the Iran crisis

China is expected to face no significant disruption but as the ‘two sessions’ open in Beijing, energy security is staying a top focus.

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Fire and smoke rise from the Fujairah oil industry zone, caused by debris from an intercepted drone, according to the Fujairah media office, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on March 4, as Iran launched retaliatory attacks across the region. Photo: EPA
Two Sessions 2026

Measurable goals in China’s new five-year plan

China’s 15th five-year plan introduces 20 detailed social and economic development targets.

Two Sessions 2026

Hitting inflation target is key to China’s other economic goals, adviser says

Economist Zhang Bin says this year’s 2 per cent inflation target ‘corresponds to a state of relative equilibrium between supply and demand’.

Two Sessions 2026

China vows support for tech, trade rebalance, stock reforms - as it happened

The heads of China’s major economic institutions detailed plans for growth, trade and tech on the sidelines of the ‘two sessions’.

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Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, left, speaks during a press conference on the economy in Beijing. Photo: EPA
Electric & new energy vehicles

Top Chinese EV makers are selling more cars overseas than at home

Top EV makers such as BYD, Great Wall Motor and Chery are selling more cars in overseas markets than at home.

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Last month, BYD sold 100,600 units overseas, 53 per cent of its total. Photo: AFP
Two Sessions 2026

China pivots to ‘investing in people’ strategy as growth engine switches gears

Premier announces changes in spending priorities, aiming to boost consumption, but doubts remain whether resources will match ambitions.

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Two Sessions 2026

Why China is moving away from tax cuts and pushing for reform

Tax revenue is way below peer countries – and Beijing is pushing for change.

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China manufacturing

China bets on AI-manufacturing integration to narrow digital gap with US

Beijing’s new five-year plan calls for digital economy to account for bigger share of GDP, backed by 28 major projects, 5G upgrades and data-focused industrial policy.

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A surgical robotic demonstration is seen during an exhibition for medical equipment last March in China’s Chongqing. Photo: Xinhua
Two Sessions 2026

Editorial | Amid external uncertainties, China steers for growth and stability

Government work report pledges to continue doubling down on innovation and upgrading of manufacturing; Hong Kong featured prominently.

Artificial intelligence

China’s 5-year plan emphasises ‘orderly’ AI development amid market volatility

First announced in 2024, the AI Plus initiative includes a target of integrating AI into 90 per cent of China’s economy by 2030.

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Two Sessions 2026

China targets lowest growth range in 35 years as pressures rise

Beijing to prioritise hi-tech over stimulus-driven growth with focus on the people in notable shift, premier’s work report to NPC reveals.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s speech at the National People’s Congress opening session is broadcast on a giant TV screen, in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Robert Ng
Two Sessions 2026

Xi Jinping calls on China’s provincial powerhouses to lead in tech, risk control

The president said China’s strongest regions should be proactive in tech transformation, hold a ‘bottom line mindset’ to resist external shocks.

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President Xi Jinping arrives to the opening ceremony of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: EPA
Two Sessions 2026

Opinion | China’s ‘two sessions’ show plans for resilience in a stormy world

Beijing signals it is prepared to recalibrate its development model rather than cling to the habits of the boom years.

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Two Sessions 2026

China pledges ‘iron discipline’ to tackle debt as US borrowing surges

Global debt reached a record high in 2025 and rose in the world’s two largest economies.

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Science

China boosts science budget: is it listening to everything Elon Musk says?

Beijing says greater allocation reflects importance of science and tech self-reliance in driving China’s economy and its rivalry with the US.

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Beijing’s draft budget announcement shows it is positioning frontiers such as satellite internet as China’s future industries. Photo: Xinhua
Two Sessions 2026

China’s growth target cut reflects pragmatism amid challenges

Premier Li Qiang announced China’s lowest annual growth target in more than three decades amid global trade tensions and weak domestic consumption.

Premier Li Qiang’s speech is shown on a huge TV screen in Beijing. Photo: SCMP
US, Israel war on Iran

Open Questions | Iran war’s impact on China limited, scholar Pan Guang says

China’s Middle East position ‘relatively favourable’, professor says, and regional spillover from US-Israeli attacks likely to be limited to Tehran’s Shia militia allies.

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Two Sessions 2026

China to step up tech, energy and decarbonisation efforts in next 5-year plan

China raises domestic energy output target and increases number of key projects planned for the next 5 years.

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