BEIJING: China’s industrial output slowed during the first two months of the year as unemployment rose, official data showed on Thursday, while some indicators showed a slowdown in the world’s second largest economy stabilising.

The figures from the National Bureau of Statistics come as Beijing and Washington appear to be nearing a deal to resolve their painful trade spat, and Chinese leaders convene in the capital for an annual parliamentary session.

Output growth at China’s factories and workshops for the first two months slowed to 5.3 per cent on-year, from 5.7pc in December, a multi-year low and short of forecasts.

“We must be aware that there are many uncertainties and instabilities from the external environment,” said NBS spokesman Mao Shengyong.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2019