Steady improvement despite challenges. According to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics on July 15, China's GDP reached around 66 trillion yuan, or about $9.2 trillion, representing a year-on-year growth of 5.3 percent.

Sheng Laiyun, deputy commissioner at National Bureau of Statistics, told reporters that production and demand grew steadily, employment was generally stable, household income continued to increase, new growth drivers witnessed robust development, and high-quality development made new strides, helping ensure overall social stability.