China GDP picks up pace with 4.5% expansion in Q1

SHANGHAI -- China's economy grew by 4.5% in the first quarter as consumption got a boost after Beijing abandoned years of COVID-19 curbs.

The year-on-year figures from China's National Bureau of Statistics -- which follow a 2.9% GDP rise in the fourth quarter -- beat expectations for growth of around 4% and marked the strongest expansion since early last year.