Reference News Network, January 21 report: According to the Spanish newspaper "El País" website on January 19, despite the intense trade war between China and the United States, China's economy maintained a stable operating trend in 2025. Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China on the 19th showed that the world's second-largest economy continued to move forward at a growth rate of 5%. This growth rate fully met the expectations of the Chinese government.

The report said that the significant growth in exports effectively offset the impact of weak domestic demand and falling investment. At the same time, as the locomotive of global manufacturing, China maintained strong momentum and continuously explored new areas of growth. In 2025, China continued to strive to enhance its position in the global value chain, with notable achievements particularly evident in the production growth of advanced technology-related products, such as civilian drones (up 37.3%), 3D printing equipment (up 52.5%), industrial robots (up 28%) and new energy vehicles (up 25.1%).

Kang Yi, head of the National Bureau of Statistics of China, stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that in 2025, facing the complex changes in the domestic and international economic environment, China's national economy moved forward under pressure, toward innovation and optimization, achieving new results in high-quality development.

Kang Yi summarized the characteristics of "the world factory's" economic performance as: solid foundation, multiple advantages, strong resilience, and great potential.

According to another report from the Spanish newspaper "La Vanguardia" website on January 19, China's economy showed steady performance in 2025, growing by 5% compared to the previous year. This was due to the significant growth in exports. This good performance helped China successfully cope with the impact of U.S. tariffs and weak domestic demand.

Data shows that the growth in exports to regions other than the United States helped offset the impact of weak consumer spending and corporate investment. The net exports of goods and services contributed nearly one-third to economic growth.

In the context of reduced exports to the U.S., China's rapid export growth mainly benefited from increased exports to other trading partners.

Song Lin, chief economist for Greater China at ING, pointed out in a report: "The sustainability of this growth engine is key."

Official data also showed that in 2025, the added value of large-scale industries in China grew by 5.9% compared to the previous year, and the total retail sales of consumer goods increased by 3.7% year-on-year.

The Hong Kong "Asia Times" website reported on January 19 that the latest data released showed a situation that greatly differed from the traditional understanding of Washington trade hardliners. In 2025, China's trade surplus rose to a historical high of about $1.2 trillion (1 U.S. dollar is approximately 7.00 RMB — note from this site). In just December alone, the trade surplus reached $114 billion, driven by an unexpected 6.6% increase in exports.

The report pointed out that the facts prove that, in the face of external pressures, China's export engine did not fall into stagnation but instead demonstrated unprecedented strong momentum.

The report continued, saying that this situation puzzles ordinary observers. If the world's largest economy closed its doors to Chinese goods, why could China still achieve the best export performance in history? The answer indicates that the U.S. did not win this trade war, and the adaptability of China's economy far exceeded expectations.

The trade data of 2025 reveals a major shift in global trade flows. Last year, China's direct exports to the U.S. fell by 20%, and imports from the U.S. also dropped by 14.6%. While the door to the U.S. market gradually closed, China had already opened up multiple new trade channels.

Is this adjustment in the trade pattern a new phenomenon? The answer is no. Through the "Belt and Road" initiative, China has been continuously adjusting its trade network layout. This initiative promotes trade through investments in the construction of new land and sea channels.

Through this initiative, China is striving to reduce its dependence on Western markets.

The impact of the significant rise in China's trade surplus differs essentially from past situations. When China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, the outside world worried that China would flood the market with cheap textiles and toys.

Today, the focus of trade friction has shifted to high-value-added industries. The growth in China's exports in 2025 was mainly driven by automobiles and mechanical and electrical products.

China is no longer just the world's factory, but is gradually transforming into a supplier of high-tech products, and even becoming a competitor of developed economies in many fields. (Translated by Tian Ce, Yang Ke)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7597690782959436330/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.