More policy measures needed to expand China's domestic demand: Experts

Zhang Bin, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Economics and Politics, said it is necessary for China to roll out a basket of policies to effectively boost domestic demand and counter the economic downward pressure posed by a lackluster property sector and a potential slowdown in export growth.

China's export growth, though expected to maintain some resiliency, may nevertheless decelerate this year as overseas demand softens amid the tapering of stimulus packages in major economies, underlining the necessity to bolster domestic demand in China, Zhang was quoted as saying by a government-controlled media outlet.

"It is sensible for China's central bank to reduce policy interest rates as soon as possible to boost market demand for investment and consumption," he said, adding that fiscal policy should become more proactive in spurring infrastructure investment.

Such measures will be key to helping the Chinese economy achieve a reasonable economic growth of about 5.5 per cent this year—a necessary level to sustain a stable employment situation, Zhang added.

Specifically, the Caixin China general manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI), a privately surveyed gauge of manufacturing activity, rose to a half-year high of 50.9 in December, versus 49.9 in November, indicating renewed growth momentum of the sector amid rising production and sales levels.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while one below signals contraction.

However, the survey, released by Caixin media group, showed that the sector's workforce fell for the fifth month in a row in December at the fastest rate since February 2021, with company respondents citing that they were not particularly enthusiastic to fill vacancies left by staff resignations or retirements.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the official manufacturing PMI rose to 50.3 in December from 50.1 a month earlier due to raw material cost pressure and improving market demand. Yet the sector continued to see a contraction in new export orders and employment last month, the bureau said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)