China recently unveiled its economic performance for the first quarter of 2026. Its GDP reached 33.4193 trillion yuan (about $4.9 trillion), up 5 percent year on year in real terms and accelerating by 0.5 percentage points from the fourth quarter of last year.

These figures have drawn close attention from the international community, which generally believes that, amid rising global uncertainty, China's economy has demonstrated resilience and vitality, thereby injecting much-needed stability and positive momentum into the world.

A tech firm manufactures display products for domestic and international markets in a workshop in Yichun, Jiangxi Province, East China. (Photos: People's Daily)

At present, global instability intensifies. Geopolitical conflicts create expanding spillover effects, and international organizations such as the UN and the Asian Development Bank warn of growing downside risks. The global economy advances under pressure.

China's economy continues to display strong resilience, robust internal momentum and proactive, effective macroeconomic policies amid mounting external uncertainties. International media frequently use phrases such as "better than expected" and "growth against the headwinds.”

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, noted that China's economy has shown resilience, possesses immense potential and will have a positive impact on the world.

A tourist takes a selfie in a garden in Heze, Shandong Province, East China.

Innovation drives high-quality development forward. In the first quarter, China's equipment manufacturing sector accounted for nearly 50 percent of the value growth added in industrial enterprises above designated size. In the first two months of the year, high-tech manufacturing accounted for more than half of the increase in total industrial profits, underscoring the growing role of new growth drivers.

China's industries are advancing rapidly toward high-end, intelligent, green and upgraded development, delivering continuous breakthroughs in fostering new quality productive forces.

Exports of green products surged: electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and wind turbines and their components rose by 77.5 percent, 50.4 percent and 45.2 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, investment in frontier fields, including AI and humanoid robotics, increased by 45.5 percent year on year, and the business vitality index of technology-driven enterprises rose by 8.1 percent.

Global media outlets have observed promising signs: China's thriving clean energy technologies are creating significant economic value, and robust demand for AI devices is driving steady growth of China's foreign trade. These positive trends vividly demonstrate China's progress in developing new quality productive forces.

Domestic demand is improving, creating favorable conditions for sustained economic expansion.

China promotes a development model driven more by domestic demand, consumption and endogenous growth, reflecting a strategic response to changes in its development stage and the evolving international environment.

In the first quarter, retail sales of consumer goods grew by 2.4 percent year on year—fixed-asset investment returned to positive growth, indicating that the domestic market is deepening and expanding.

At the sixth China International Consumer Products Expo held in Hainan Province, exhibitors showcased a wide range of global debuts, Asia-Pacific premieres and China launches. These strengthen China's reputation as a premier global destination for quality consumption.

The country's vast market continues to empower economic development. Some US media outlets observe that China transitions toward a more diversified growth model—one that benefits not only China itself but also offers valuable lessons for the global economy.

China remains committed to high-level opening-up amid profound adjustments in the global economic landscape, creating broad opportunities for the world through its own development.

China has rolled out a series of opening-up measures, including island-wide independent customs operations at the Hainan Free Trade Port, revisions to the Foreign Trade Law to better align with international rules and an expanded Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment. These steps improve both the quality and scale of trade cooperation.

Consumers shop for smartphones at a shopping mall in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, Northwest China.

In the first quarter, China's total goods trade exceeded 11 trillion yuan for the first time in the same period. It maintained double-digit growth and reached the highest quarterly growth rate in five years.

Its trade with Belt and Road partner countries accounted for 51.2 percent of the total, while trade with Africa grew by 23.7 percent. Trade with ASEAN, Latin America, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other APEC economies also recorded double-digit growth. China's role as a "world market" continues to generate positive spillover effects globally. A more open China remains a steady anchor for the world economy.

The year 2026 marks the opening of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). Stable economic growth provides a solid foundation for a strong start to this new phase. It also serves as a stabilizer for the global economy amid turbulent conditions. China will continue to inject sustained confidence and strong momentum into global development.