Interview: China's economy demonstrates resilience, optimism prevails for future growth: ADB's country director for China

by Xinhua writers Ren Jun and Pang Yuanyuan

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's economy demonstrated remarkable resilience and vitality in 2025, achieving robust growth despite a complex domestic and international environment, said Asif Cheema, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s country director for China.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Cheema expressed confidence in the country's economic trajectory, noting that the ADB had upwardly revised its 2025 growth forecast for China in December.

China announced on Monday that its economy posted a 5-percent increase in 2025 amid domestic and external challenges, delivering on its 2025 growth target.

"China's economy is performing very well. It has shown quite a lot of resilience," Cheema stated, attributing the strength to a very strong export performance and vigorous industrial activity, particularly in high-tech and new energy sectors.

In 2025, China entered the top 10 of the Global Innovation Index and achieved an R&D spending intensity of 2.8 percent, surpassing the average level of OECD countries.

When asked to describe China's economy in a few key words, Cheema highlighted "resilience" and "innovation."

He said he was particularly impressed by the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). "China is leading in AI research as well as patenting," he said, emphasizing the deepening integration of AI with traditional industries, which enhances productivity and industrial transformation.

"AI is already a very strong growth engine for China's economy," Cheema noted, pointing to significant growth in corporate revenues turbocharged by AI.

The official, who oversees the Manila-based multilateral development bank's operations in China, also underscored the positive impact of China's macroeconomic policies.

He regards policy measures to enhance productivity, boost domestic consumption through building stronger social security nets, and further open up the economy as "very much needed and very welcome" for sustaining high-quality development.

Cheema also noted growing foreign investors' confidence in the Chinese market and Chinese assets, citing that in the first 10 months of 2025, offshore inflows into China stocks totaled 50.6 billion U.S. dollars, a substantial increase from the 11.4 billion U.S. dollars recorded for the full year of 2024.

Looking ahead, Cheema expressed strong optimism about the Chinese economy. "The outlook is very stable," he said, adding that continued efforts to boost domestic consumption and bolster high-tech sectors will ensure sustainable growth.

As the world's second-largest economy, largest exporter, and a major source of foreign direct investment, China plays a crucial role in the global economy, Cheema stressed.

"China's economy is injecting certainty into the global recovery and bringing new opportunities," Cheema said.

He noted that China is currently developing its high-tech sectors both through trade and through new overseas investments. "These foreign direct investments are not only creating new jobs, but also creating economic opportunities, as well as technology transfers." ■