China’s economy sees new growth and deep scars in past five years: NBS census

But the “census” conducted every five years by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also found many economic bright spots, including a resilient manufacturing sector and rapid growth in the high-tech sector and the digital economy, which helped offset the decline to balance out traditional growth drivers.

“Judging by the census results, China’s economy has withstood several internal and external risk tests in the past five years and generally maintained a stable and progressive development trend,” NBS Chief Executive Kang Yi said in Beijing on Thursday.

Kang also noted many positive changes in the size, structure, innovation, safety and environmental sustainability of the economy.

“The Chinese economy has shown solid foundations, strong resilience and great potential,” he said.

The bureau’s survey covered all companies operating in the country’s secondary and tertiary industries, from manufacturing and power generation to financing and real estate.