STORY: A closer look at China's economic steadiness, vitality and potential
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: April 25, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:41
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Chinese economy related footage
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): DIAA HELMY, Secretary-general, Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BENJAMIN MGANA, Chief Editor of Foreign News of The Guardian, Tanzania
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): BRENDAN AHERN, Chief investment officer with U.S.-based asset management firm Krane Funds Advisors LLC
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): STEPHEN PERRY, President emeritus of Britain's 48 Group Club

STORYLINE:

China's economic performance for the first quarter of this year was unveiled.

Notably, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a 5.3 percent year-on-year GDP increase in Q1, exceeding market projections and surpassing the government's annual target of around 5 percent.

The performance is described as a promising start by experts, showcasing China's economic resilience and setting the stage for stable and prosperous development in 2024 and beyond.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): DIAA HELMY, Secretary-general, Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce
"China in the first quarter of 2024 had achieved positive results in its economy that has been recovering from international challenges."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BENJAMIN MGANA, Chief Editor of Foreign News of The Guardian, Tanzania
"One of the highlights (of Q1) is the steady growth in GDP. This growth is mainly driven by (China's) robust economic consumption, as evidenced by the strong retail sales figures."

Experts say that indicators such as the purchasing managers' index (PMI), foreign trade performance, and fixed-asset investment all signaled a growing momentum in China's economy.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): BRENDAN AHERN, Chief investment officer with U.S.-based asset management firm Krane Funds Advisors LLC
"We received over the weekend the official March PMI. It greatly exceeded expectations. It shows that following the Chinese New Year that you see this acceleration is taking place in China's economy.
I think the world is a beneficiary. (It) benefits from China's economic growth as well as China's exports."

China's value-added industrial output went up 6.1 percent year on year in the first three months of 2024, with the high-tech manufacturing sector expanding 7.5 percent.

Experts point out it indicates China's focus on innovation-driven development, which will contribute to the global economic landscape.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist
"One of the biggest categories of economic growth is new technologies, new innovations. And I think that's what China is trying to put into its economy, so that it grows faster, becomes more productive."
   
SOUNDBITE 5 (English): STEPHEN PERRY, President emeritus of Britain's 48 Group Club
"China is the greatest contributor to world growth, and there's no doubt that will continue for many years yet.
China is not just trying to create new technologies. They're trying to learn how to use them for their own needs. I think that Chinese growth is stable for the world."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)