Deciphering the obscure machinations of elite politics is a pursuit that western China-watchers are all too familiar with. But as the US election approaches, it is analysts in China who are struggling to read the tea leaves on what differentiates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump when it comes to their stance on the US’s biggest geopolitical rival.
A leading Chinese economist at a government thinktank has reportedly disappeared after being disciplined for criticising Xi Jinping in a private chat group.
Profits at China's major industrial companies returned to growth in April amid strong policy stimulus and a continued recovery in market demand, adding signs that the world's second-largest economy is on a firmer footing.
While the latest indicators point to the stabilization of the economy, China's economic activity was likely mixed with an uneven recovery across sectors, underscoring the need for further stimulus measures in fiscal, monetary and regulatory policies, analysts said.
Chinese factories are in full swing to meet overseas orders, striving to make a good start in the first quarter of 2024.
In Yuncheng, Shanxi province, Dayun Auto has ramped up production to increase revenue, in line with the city's emphasis on green and smart manufacturing.
China has remained the world's top manufacturing hub for 14 consecutive years, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said Friday.
The country's large manufacturing enterprises, each of which has an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about $2.8 million), saw their combined value-added output increasing 5 percent year-on-year in 2023, said Xin Guobin, vice-minister of MIIT, at a press conference.
The total value-added industrial output went up 4.6 percent year-on-year in 2023, up 1 percentage point from that of 2022, Xin said.
China will retain its position as a key global manufacturing hub, as the supply chain diversification moves by certain multinational companies are gradual and limited only to low-end sectors, according to senior analysts and business leaders.
They also emphasized that the country's continuous efforts to promote industrial upgrade and deepen opening-up will further cement its status in the global supply chains.
China is cracking down on negative commentary about the financial market and other sectors as the authorities seek to boost public confidence despite challenging economic headwinds.
China's manufacturing sector maintained recovery momentum and stable growth in the first three quarters of this year, marked by notable improvement in various indicators, officials and experts said on Wednesday.
Overall industrial production continues to improve and corporate revenues are recovering fast, but some industries are still under pressure, experts said, calling for more intensified policy support to further anchor market expectations and solidify the foundation of industrial recovery in the fourth quarter.
