pk-china-user China’s economy expanded by 4.7 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, demonstrating strong resilience despite mounting global uncertainties and providing a solid start to the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), Chinese officials said.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) reached 69.6 trillion yuan (approximately $10.25 trillion) during the January-June period. Wang Guanhua, an NBS official, described the performance as a “hard-won achievement” that has laid a firm foundation for meeting this year’s economic and social development targets while supporting long-term development goals.
Officials highlighted that the growth rate remains in line with China’s annual target of around 4.5 to 5 percent, placing the country among the world’s fastest-growing major economies. Yang Te, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), noted that the 4.7-percent expansion generated an additional 3.6 trillion yuan in economic output in just six months, equivalent to the annual GDP of a medium-sized European economy.
Key economic indicators also reflected steady improvement. The surveyed urban unemployment rate declined to 5 percent in June, while per capita disposable income increased 5.2 percent year-on-year during the first half of the year. Meanwhile, value-added industrial output rose 5.4 percent, and total retail sales of goods and services increased 2.7 percent, indicating stable industrial activity and a gradual recovery in consumption.
Yang attributed the economy’s resilience to China’s robust industrial and supply chains and strengthened energy security. He said these advantages enabled the country to withstand external shocks, maintain stable production, ensure reliable energy supplies, and keep prices under control.
Chinese officials said the country’s ability to sustain steady economic growth amid global volatility has reinforced its role as both a stabilizing force and a major engine of the global economy.
