China's GDP grows 5% in 2025, surpassing 140 trillion yuan for first time

Workers check tractors ready for sale at the workshop of a company in Jiangdu high-tech industrial development zone in east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 19, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5 percent year on year in 2025, reaching a record high of 140.1 trillion yuan ($20 trillion), data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed on Saturday.

China's 5 percent growth rate ranks among the highest of the world's major economies. The country is projected to contribute around 30 percent of global economic growth, maintaining its position as the largest contributor and a key stabilizing anchor for the world economy, NBS deputy head Sheng Laiyun said.

High-quality opening-up continued to advance over the past year. Total imports and exports of goods reached 45.4 trillion yuan, up 3.8 percent year on year. Trade with partner countries under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) rose by 6.3 percent, accounting for 51.9 percent of the total. Trade with other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) increased by 5.3 percent from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, NBS data showed that 70,392 foreign-invested enterprises were newly established nationwide in 2025, a surge of 19.1 percent year on year. Of these, more than 19,000 were set up by investors from BRI partner countries, up 14.7 percent compared with the previous year.

Notably, following the expansion of the country's visa-free policy, 30.08 million inbound visits by foreign nationals were recorded, marking a 49.5 percent increase year on year, according to data from the NBS.

In the face of a complex external environment marked by rising unilateralism and growing protectionism, China remains committed to advancing high-standard opening up and actively participating in global economic governance, injecting stability and certainty into global supply chains, noted Sheng. By sharing the benefits of its development with countries around the world and shouldering its share of global development responsibilities, China has fully demonstrated the responsibility of a major country on the international stage, Sheng added.