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Foreign visitors try out the massage chairs at the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province, Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

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China's economy grows at 5% in first quarter, shrugging off initial impact of Iran war

China's economy grows at 5% in first quarter, shrugging off initial impact of Iran war

China’s economy accelerated in the first quarter of this year, expanding 5% from a year earlier as it largely shrugged off impacts from the Iran war so far. The January-March data released by the government on Thursday, covering a period during which the Iran war began, was better than what economists expected and was up from the 4.5% growth seen in the October-December quarter. Economists expect China to be able to weather short term impacts from the Iran war, now in its seventh week, but longer term China may face weaker demand for its exports and other headwinds.