Fresh numbers from China’s top economic planner shows that the country’s economy continues to grow in a steady manner. NDRC also responded to media reports that restrictions on vehicle purchases will be relaxed in some major cities.

The latest data from China’s top economic planner shows that while the country’s first-quarter GDP grew by 6.4 percent, its power generation grew by over 4 percent in the first quarter, and electricity consumption rose by 5.5 percent.

While China’s growth remains positive, the global economy is facing greater downward pressure with the International Monetary Fund recently downgrading its global growth forecast. But a spokesperson said the worsening external environment won’t change the positive fundamentals of China’s economy.

Yuan Da, a spokesperson at the National Development and Reform Commission, said: “We have noticed the risks and challenges, but that won’t change China’s fundamentals and trends. There are three reasons for that: development momentum keeps getting stronger, new measures such as tax cuts are starting to show impact, and market confidence continues to grow.”

There have been some media reports this week that Chinese authorities are considering relaxing vehicle purchase restrictions to stimulate sales of passenger vehicles, given current headwinds in the auto market. Yuan said that NDRC is in the process of learning more about the situation. He added that all implemented measures will go through repeated trials as well as a survey of public opinion.

The Chinese economy has got off to a good start in 2019, and the headwinds for growth for the rest of the year remains strong. The government said it will intensify efforts to deepen reforms, to ensure sound economic growth and high-quality development.