Travellers thronged railway stations and airports on Friday, clutching large suitcases and gifts such as boxes of fruit as they joined millions of Chinese returning to their hometowns to celebrate the Lunar New Year festival with family.

China's economy grew 5% last year, matching the government's target, but in a lopsided fashion, with many people complaining of worsening living standards as Beijing struggles to transfer its industrial and export gains to consumers.

Beijing hit its GDP growth target of 5 percent in 2024, according to its statistics bureau—but deflationary pressures remain.

In recent years, some foreign media have suggested that the decline in China's economic growth rate is inevitable, citing factors such as an aging population, decreasing return to scale and environmental costs.

Analysts say they see signs of malaise in China’s domestic economy, but those problems were offset mainly by robust exports and a $1 trillion trade surplus.

Donald Trump’s second term in office is getting off to a good start for China.

Stories of High-Quality Development | An open, cooperative China joins hands with the world for common development

"But do not let that achievement fool you. Under the hood, the economy's engine is struggling to get into gear," he warned. However, Francois Chimits from the Mercator Institute for China Studies said the figure should be regarded with some scepticism as ...

Nomura's Chief China Economist Ting Lu said in a report Tuesday that he expects the sales boost to fade by the second half of this year, and that tepid new home sales will limit demand for home appliances.

China does not seek trade surpluses, a top official told the World Economic Forum Tuesday as the next round of U.S. tariffs looms.

China’s vast exports in 2024 exceeded its imports on a scale seldom seen anywhere except during or immediately after the two world wars.

U.S. GDP growth has averaged 2.5% since 2016, appreciably better than during the Bush-Obama years, thanks to Trump's tax cuts, former President Joe Biden's infrastructure and industrial policies, and irregular immigrants joining the workforce.