BEIJING: China's economy returned to growth in the second-quarter after a deep slump at the start of the year, data showed on Thursday, as lockdown measures ended and policymakers stepped up stimulus steps to combat the shock from the coronavirus crisis.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP jumped 11.5per cent in April-June, the National Bureau of Statistics said, compared with expectations for a 9.6per cent rise and a 10per cent decline in the previous quarter.China's economy, the first in the world to be jolted by the coronavirus pandemic, has been recovering slowly in the past two months, though the bounce from the virus-induced downturn has been uneven.
Authorities are expected to maintain policy support in the second half, despite concerns over rising debt risks. Rising coronavirus infections in some countries, including the United States, have overshadowed improved demand for Chinese exports while heavy domestic job losses and lingering health concerns have kept consumers cautious.