Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning

When asked to comment on claims that one reason China lowered its growth target is the turbulent situation in the Middle East, which could affect energy supplies, and the uncertainty surrounding China-US relations, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday that Premier Li Qiang had summarized the achievements of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) in the Government Work Report delivered yesterday. China's total economic output has reached a new level, rising by nearly 10 trillion yuan almost every year, with an increase of more than 35 trillion yuan over the past five years - equivalent to the size of a medium-sized economy, Mao said. 

"This remarkable performance was achieved amid a complex and severe situation marked by intertwined external shocks and domestic challenges, fully demonstrating the strong resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy," Mao told a press conference.

Looking ahead, China is fully aware of the difficulties and challenges it faces. "However, the fundamental conditions underpinning the long-term positive trajectory of China's economy have not changed, and the country's institutional strengths and advantages as a major economy continue to emerge. As long as these strengths are fully leveraged and challenges are properly addressed, China's development prospects will become even more promising," Mao said.

The spokesperson further noted that China will fully implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the building of a new development paradigm, and focus on promoting high-quality development, so as to achieve effective improvement in quality and reasonable growth in quantity.

"We will further expand high-standard opening-up, uphold win-win cooperation, steadily expand institutional opening-up, and broaden international circulation, so that China's development achievements can better benefit the people of all countries," the spokesperson said.

China's economic development blueprint demonstrates strategic resolve, policy effectiveness, development vitality and governance capacity, Mao said, adding that it will provide valuable stability and certainty for a turbulent world.

Global Times