China's logistics sector showed renewed momentum in March, with activity rebounding across key industries and the official index returning to the expansion territory, according to data released on Thursday.
The Logistics Prosperity Index, published by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, rose to 51.5 percent in March, up 2.2 percentage points from February. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, marking the sector’s return to growth following a seasonal dip during the Spring Festival period.
The rebound was broad-based, with all major sub-indices improving. Rail, waterway, air transport, and courier services saw particularly strong increases, reflecting the rise in demand across both infrastructure-heavy and consumer-facing sectors.
Consumer spending showed continued momentum across both online and offline channels, driving a sharp rise in demand for last-mile delivery in urban areas. The business volume index for postal and express services climbed to 68.2 percent in March, up 1.9 percentage points from the previous month. Air cargo volumes also increased, supported by improved utilization of bellyhold space -- the freight-carrying compartment beneath the passenger cabin.
Forward-looking indicators also pointed to rising optimism. The business activity expectation index climbed to 55.2 percent in March, up 0.8 percentage points from February. Sectors such as air transport and express delivery remained in a high prosperity range, underlining expectations of sustained growth.
"The performance of the Logistics Prosperity Index shows that since early March, China's economy has continued to recover and gain momentum. Production across various industries has been resuming in an orderly manner, supply chain coordination becoming smoother, and overall logistics efficiency improved," said Liu Yuhang, director of the China Logistics Information Center.
China’s logistics index returns to expansion as demand rebounds in March
China’s logistics index returns to expansion as demand rebounds in March
China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and opposing foreign interference and blockade, Chinese President Xi Jinping said while meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Moscow on Friday.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.
Noting that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides, Xi said China is willing to further consolidate the ironclad friendship with Cuba, build a closer China-Cuba community with a shared future, and set a strong example of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries and sincere mutual assistance between developing countries.
China and Cuba should work to make solid progress in exchanges at all levels and cooperation in all fields and ensure that high-level political mutual trust remains a hallmark of the relations between the two countries, Xi said.
The Chinese side also supports Cuba's efforts to promote economic and social development, said Xi, adding that the two sides, both as important members of the Global South, should enhance coordination and cooperation within such frameworks as BRICS and the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, oppose power politics and unilateral bullying, and safeguard international fairness and justice.
Diaz-Canel, for his part, said that Cuba and China are close friends and brothers, expressing gratitude to the Chinese side for its long-standing support for Cuba's economic and social development.
Cuba firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with China, enhance friendly exchanges between the two peoples, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, build a community with a shared future, and promote greater development of bilateral relations, Diaz-Canel said.
Cuba supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative and is willing to work with China to oppose unilateralism and protectionism and safeguard the common interests of the international community, he said.
Xi says China supports Cuba in safeguarding sovereignty, opposing foreign interference
