China's economy grew by 5% last year, meeting Beijing's annual target despite challenges in domestic spending and a property crisis. The growth was fueled by record exports, contributing to a trade surplus of $1.19 trillion (¥8.90 trillion), the world's largest ever, according to official figures released Monday.

The country's economic resilience was bolstered by a shift in export markets away from the U.S., as well as lower-than-expected U.S. tariffs following a tariffs pause agreement between Beijing and Washington. While China's manufacturers continued to boost exports, the country is grappling with an ongoing property crisis and rising local government debt.

China had set a growth target of "around 5%" for 2025. However, economic growth slowed to 4.5% in the final three months of 2025 compared to the previous year. The slowdown reflects ongoing domestic economic challenges.

Despite the overall growth, analysts remain cautious about the long-term sustainability of China's economic model, which has been heavily reliant on exports and investment. Concerns persist regarding the property sector and the potential impact of local government debt on financial stability.