China boasts favorable conditions for achieving five pct growth target: NBS spokesman

China has favorable conditions for securing steady economic development, but hitting the five percent growth target will require significant effort, said Fu Linghui, spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Fu responded to a media inquiry about the favorable conditions for reaching China's annual economic growth target of five percent, as outlined in this year's government work report.

"Since the beginning of the year, macroeconomic policy combinations have been showing positive results, reform and opening-up have deepened, and public confidence has been bolstered, all contributing to a strong start toward this year's growth target. Overall, China's economy benefits from several favorable conditions that support steady and healthy development," Fu emphasized.

The spokesman highlighted China's solid industrial foundation, noting that output of the country's manufacturing sector has maintained the world's largest for 15 consecutive years.

Moreover, the integration of advanced manufacturing and producer services is progressing rapidly, while favorable conditions are fostering the development of consumer services. The rise of artificial intelligence is also driving positive growth in related industries.

From a demand perspective, the expansion of emerging consumption trends, such as green and digital consumption, as well as services like elderly care and childcare, is expected to be a key driver of consumer growth.

In addition, there is vast potential for investment in new industrialization, urbanization, and energy-saving and carbon-reduction initiatives. At the same time, there remains substantial demand for investment in public services and affordable housing.

He specifically pointed out that the year 2025 marks the final year for implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), adding that all sectors will focus on key tasks and ramp up efforts, which will further support steady economic growth.

"It's important to note that achieving the five percent growth target is no small feat and will require substantial effort," the spokesman continued.

China boasts favorable conditions for achieving five pct growth target: NBS spokesman

China boasts favorable conditions for achieving five pct growth target: NBS spokesman

China has made significant progress in pursuing sustainable development and human rights protection in recent years, members of a Chinese delegation said at a side event during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland.

The event, titled "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Human Rights Protection", was co-hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and the China Foundation for Human Rights Development.

Tang Yingxia, associate professor at Nankai University's Human Rights Research Center, highlighted China's recent efforts in tackling climate change.

"In recent years, China has made great progress in addressing climate change and protecting environmental rights. First, according to the Human Rights Action Plan of China, in the first one of the eight, there are environmental rights in the action plan. So we have the top policy regulation of that. And these years there are a lot of policies and matters to address climate change," she said.

Discussions also touched upon specific regions within China. Suolang Zhuoma, associate researcher at the China Tibetology Research Center, shared her perspective on the education system in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

"I think the children in Xizang are very free, or they can learn a lot of courses. They can learn their native language, the Tibetan language. Also, they can learn the national common language, the Chinese language, and also they can learn English courses in boarding school. So this kind of the system gives them plural visions on their lives and their work," she said.

The side event concluded with a question and answer session and networking opportunities for experts and diplomats.

The Chinese delegation stated that the visit was productive, providing a platform to communicate China's perspective on human rights development to a global audience. They also emphasized the importance of exchanging views and learning about human rights situations in other countries.

The 58th regular session of the Human Rights Council is taking place in Geneva from February 24 to April 4, 2025.

China makes progress in advancing sustainable development, human rights protection