China says long-term positive economic outlook remains unchanged

China's long-term economic fundamentals remain sound despite current challenges, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday when responding to a question about the country's 4.5%–5% GDP growth target for 2026.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Mao said China is fully aware of the difficulties and challenges it faces, but stressed that the underlying conditions supporting the economy's long-term positive trajectory have not changed.

She noted that China has both institutional strengths and the advantages of a large economy, adding that the country's development prospects will remain promising as long as it makes full use of these strengths and properly addresses challenges.

Mao also reiterated the achievements outlined by Premier Li Qiang in the government work report regarding China's development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025).

She said China's economic output reached new levels during the period, rising by about 10 trillion yuan ($1.45 trillion) each year, with the total increase over five years exceeding 35 trillion yuan, equivalent to the size of a medium-sized economy.

"This impressive performance was achieved amid a complex and severe environment marked by external shocks and multiple domestic challenges, fully demonstrating the strong resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy," Mao said.

Looking ahead, Mao said China will focus on promoting high-quality development, aiming to achieve both qualitative improvement and reasonable growth in economic output.

She added that China will further expand high-standard opening up, uphold mutually beneficial cooperation, steadily advance institutional opening up, and strengthen international economic circulation so that China's development benefits can better reach people around the world.

Mao stressed that China's economic development blueprint reflects strong strategic resolve, effective policy making, robust growth momentum and sound governance, and will provide valuable stability and certainty to an increasingly turbulent world.

(Cover: An aerial view of Beijing CBD, Beijing, capital of China. /VCG)