China's GDP growth steadies at 6.4% in Q1 despite US trade war, debt battle

China's economy beat forecasts as growth remained steady in the first quarter despite tepid global demand, a US trade war and a debt battle, official data showed Wednesday.

The world's second-largest economy expanded by 6.4 per cent in the January to March period, faster than the 6.3 per cent forecast by economists in an AFP poll, according to official gross domestic product figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The rate is well faster than most nations can dream of and it shows China's economy has steadied after decelerating every quarter of last year.

"The national economy enjoyed stable performance with growing positive factors, and stronger market expectation and confidence," said NBS spokesman Mao Shengyong in prepared remarks.

Top policymakers huddled in Beijing last month announced major plans to support the flagging economy, announcing massive tax cuts, fee reductions, and financing support.

Beijing faces a delicate balancing act as it tries to support private businesses in need of credit, without further inflating its debt balloon.

New credit flooded into the financial system last month, with the growth of bank loans and total outstanding credit accelerating, though analysts say it will take about six months to spark an economic turnaround.

Premier Li Keqiang in March laid out a lower growth target for China this year of 6.0-6.5 per cent.

China's steady unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 per cent in March from 5.3 per cent in February.

Beijing is counting on consumers and renewed investment to stabilise the economy.

The latest data showed growth in retail sales for March rising 8.7 per cent on-year after stagnating for three months near 15-year lows.

But China's imports fell in the first quarter, adding to worries about weak demand. All eyes have been on Beijing's infrastructure spending which expanded 4.4 per cent in the first three months after plummeting to 3.8 per cent growth last year amid a campaign against debt and financial risk.

The broader fixed-asset investment indicator rose 6.3 per cent on-year for the first quarter, from 6.1 per cent in January-February.

Output growth at China's factories and workshops in March shot up 8.5 per cent on-year, from 5.3 per cent in the first two months, well above forecasts.

Another drag on the economy, the US-China trade war, appears to be approaching a resolution after nine rounds of high-level talks between American and Chinese officials.

The two sides have exchanged tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade, hurting manufacturers in China and farmers in the US. But no date has been set to bring together President Donald Trump and his counterpart Xi Jinping for a deal signing.