China Posts Better-Than-Expected Q2 Growth

China reported stronger-than-expected economic growth in the second quarter despite its ongoing trade war with the United States, as efforts to diversify exports beyond the U.S. began to pay off, John Liu and Simone McCarthy reported for CNN.

China’s GDP grew 5.3% in the first half of 2025 versus the same period in 2024.

Gross domestic product (GDP) rose 5.2% in Q2 compared to the same period last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

That figure beat the 5.1% consensus forecast from a Reuters poll of 40 economists conducted recently. However, it marked a slight slowdown from the 5.4% expansion recorded in the first quarter.

Combined, China’s GDP grew 5.3% in the first half of 2025 versus the same period in 2024.

Sheng Laiyun, deputy commissioner of the NBS, said the growth was achieved “under the challenging circumstances of rapidly shifting international dynamics and significantly increased external pressure since the second quarter.”

He added that the country still faces internal structural challenges and that the foundation for continued economic stability must be further solidified.