International: Amid rising geopolitical risks and heightened volatility in global energy markets, the most favorable outlook for the world economy lies in slowing the pace of decline and finding stability within uncertainty. In the first quarter of the inaugural year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, the country’s economic performance appears to reflect precisely such an outlook.

A recent survey conducted by China Media Group’s CGTN among global netizens highlights this perception. According to the findings, 89.3 percent of respondents believe that China’s stability has become even more valuable in an increasingly uncertain world.

In the first quarter of this year, China’s economy expanded by 5 percent, reaching the upper range of its annual GDP growth target. In contrast, the International Monetary Fund has revised down its global growth forecast for the year to 3.1 percent.

Some 89.8 percent of respondents said this comparison underscores the strong resilience of China’s economy. Meanwhile, 79.8 percent noted that the steady growth of such a large economy has made China a stabilizing force in an uncertain global landscape.

Detailed economic data show that in the first quarter, retail sales in China’s service sector grew by 5.5 percent year-on-year, while total retail sales of consumer goods increased by 2.4 percent. In the survey, 86.9 percent of respondents attributed the rapid unlocking of China’s consumer market potential to positive developments such as visa-free policies, the expansion of service consumption, and broader consumption upgrades.

Additionally, 84.3 percent observed that China’s economy is gradually transitioning from an investment- and export-driven model to a more diversified structure led by consumption, innovation, and services.

On the industrial front, the value-added output of China’s equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing sectors rose by 1.4 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively, in the first quarter. Notably, high-tech manufacturing accounted for 32.6 percent of total industrial growth. Around 85 percent of respondents believe that technological innovation has already become a key driver of China’s high-quality economic development, strengthening the foundations of the real economy and enhancing the stability of its economic outlook.

Meanwhile, China’s total imports and exports exceeded 11 trillion yuan in the first quarter, marking a 15 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Since the launch of the 15th Five-Year Plan, major exhibitions such as the China International Consumer Products Expo and the Canton Fair have attracted widespread global attention. The traditional notion of “Made in China” is steadily evolving into “Market of the World.”

Respondents also emphasized that China’s robust economic growth is the result of continuously expanding high-level openness. Some 81.2 percent believe that amid the rising tide of protectionism and unilateralism in global trade, the Chinese market has demonstrated strong competitiveness and irreplaceable importance. Furthermore, 85.1 percent expressed support for broader economic cooperation between China and their respective countries.

The survey was published across CGTN’s English, French, Arabic, and Russian platforms, drawing responses from 5,242 netizens worldwide within 24 hours.

Source: Shishir-Alim-Akash, China Media Group