China's economic output grew 5 percent year on year and surpassed the 140-trillion-yuan (about $20 trillion) threshold for the first time in 2025, demonstrating strong resilience amid global headwinds and contributing around 30 percent to global economic growth, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Monday.

The country is still "contributing most to global growth," said Borge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum (WEF) who expressed confidence in China's economic outlook. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday raised its forecast for China's economic growth for 2026 to 4.5 percent, 0.3 percentage points higher than its projection last October.

The country's foreign trade expanded 3.8 percent to hit 45.47 trillion yuan in 2025, marking the ninth consecutive year of growth. Its imports of goods hit a record high of 18.48 trillion yuan in 2025, providing vast market opportunities for its 249 trading partners across the globe.

The WEF's 2026 annual meeting starts from Monday and will last until January 23 in Davos, Switzerland. Held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue," the five-day forum has drawn nearly 3,000 leaders and experts from around the world.