Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 35 martyrs, 75 injured in occupation targeting of civilians seeking food aid in Rafah, Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Da Silva: What is happening in Gaza is not a war, it is a genocide
Da Silva: Even the Jewish people do not want this war; it is revenge by a government against the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state
Brazilian President Lula da Silva: What we are seeing is not a war between two armies. [What we have is a] completely professional army that is killing women and children in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas: We affirm our readiness to immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on the points of contention
Hamas: We welcome the continued Qatari and Egyptian efforts to end the war waged by the Zionist occupation against our people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces blew up Noura Al-Kaabi Hospital, designated for kidney dialysis patients, in the northern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli drone targets a car on the Ayta al-Shaab-Debel road in southern Lebanon
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: The remaining airlines that have not yet complied with the ban are urged to take this into serious consideration to ensure the safety of their aircraft and passengers
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: The YAF, after successfully imposing a partial ban on air traffic at Lydd Airport, are now working to impose a full ban on air traffic at the aforementioned airport in the coming period

Why China’s 5.4% GDP growth in 2025 signals more than just recovery

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: CGTN
  • 20 Apr 2025 14:48
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

China’s 5.4% GDP growth in Q1 2025 is more than a sign of recovery; it underscores rising consumer confidence, accelerating industrial innovation, and strategic resilience in the face of global uncertainty.

Listen
  • x
  • Shoppers tour a popular outdoor shopping mall, in Beijing, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)Shoppers tour a popular outdoor shopping mall in Beijing, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

China’s 5.4% GDP growth in the first quarter of 2025 is more than an economic headline, it’s a powerful indicator of strategic resolve and policy maturity. According to Imran Khalid, a special commentator for CGTN and a freelance columnist on international affairs, this figure is a testament to China’s ability to steer through global uncertainty with precision and confidence.

In a world grappling with geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and sluggish recoveries, China’s performance reflects not only resilience, but also a clear intent to lead through transformation.

Khalid emphasizes that China’s economic rebound wasn’t accidental. The 5.4% growth is the result of calculated policy decisions and what he describes as “dogged pragmatism.” With China's GDP growth in 2025 surpassing expectations, Beijing has demonstrated its ability to balance short-term stimuli with long-term reforms, all while managing a complex international environment.

Consumer confidence surprises the West

Retail sales rose 5.9% year-on-year in March, beating forecasts and contradicting narratives of weak domestic demand. Khalid points to a growing, confident middle class and successful use of government-issued consumption vouchers as key drivers.

This uptick in Chinese consumer spending reflects more than seasonal optimism—it suggests renewed trust in the economy’s trajectory and the effectiveness of targeted macroeconomic tools.

March industrial output surged 7.7%, revealing strong momentum in China’s evolving manufacturing sector. Khalid links this directly to the broader “Made in China 2025” initiative, noting that China’s industrial base is pivoting toward high-tech, clean energy, and smart manufacturing.

Related News

US, China reach tariff reduction trade deal to ease tensions, effects

China seeks equal footing in US trade talks, rejects pressure tactics

The author underscores that this progress is supported by structural measures: reduced interest rates, tax relief for start-ups, and strategic investment in future-facing industries.

 A strengthening labor market and infrastructure backbone

In Khalid's view, the urban unemployment rate, now at 5.2%, reflects a labor market that’s healing. With job growth in tech, services, and SMEs, employment prospects are improving, even for young graduates.

On the investment side, fixed-asset investment rose 4.2% in Q1, primarily driven by public infrastructure and manufacturing. Khalid explains that while real estate remains a weak link, infrastructure has stepped up as a steady, job-generating force that bolsters productivity.

Furthermore, innovation remains, as per the author, one of China’s most underappreciated economic assets. He highlights a recent announcement by a Chinese startup claiming to rival OpenAI as symbolic of China’s ambitions. Whether or not the claim holds, Khalid argues, it signals deep investment in AI, semiconductors, and digital transformation.

Such investments may not yield instant GDP gains, but they are laying the groundwork for long-term competitiveness in the global economy.

Adjusting to tariffs and realigning trade

Khalid also addresses the US-China trade tensions, now described by some as “Trade War 2.0.” While Q1 may have seen a “pre-tariff rush,” China has steadily reduced its dependence on the US markets. Exports to the US now account for 14.7%, down from nearly 20% in 2018.

This is not merely a trade shift but a strategic diversification, the author explains, with China deepening partnerships across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

For Imran Khalid, China’s 5.4% GDP growth in 2025 is not just an economic figure; it’s a signal to the world. A signal that China, despite external pressures and internal reforms, continues to evolve, adapt, and lead with a quiet yet firm hand.

“In today’s uncertain world,” Khalid writes, “China’s growth is not about being unstoppable—it’s about knowing how to steer the storm.”

  • US tarrifs
  • China
  • GDP growth
  • Chinese economy

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam meets with US envoy Morgan Ortagus in Beirut on April 5, 2025 (Dalati Nohra via AP)AP)

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

  • Politics
  • 1 Jun 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Russia-Ukraine peace talks resume in Istanbul amid escalating war
Europe

Ukraine, Russia head for Istanbul talks as battles rage, cmdr. resigns

Australia urged to join Macron-led push for Palestinian statehood
Asia Pacific

Australia urged to join Macron-led push for Palestinian statehood

‘Israel’ lost international legitimacy for war on Gaza: Israeli media
Palestine

‘Israel’ lost 'international legitimacy' for Gaza war: Israeli media

MSF Chief: US-Israeli aid plan in Gaza ‘Dehumanising’
Politics

US-Israeli aid plan in Gaza used as tool for forced displacement: MSF

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS