China's economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year, even as countries around the world feel the impact of the US-Israel war with Iran.
Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 5% in the period, compared to a year earlier, according to official data. Economists had expected the figure to come it at around 4.8%.
That came despite the conflict in the Middle East, which started on 28 February, severely disrupting global energy supplies, with Asian countries hit particularly hard.
It also marks the first release of official GDP figures since Beijing cut its annual economic growth target last month to a range of 4.5%-5%, its lowest expansion goal since 1991.
The rebound from a weaker expansion of 4.5% in the previous quarter was driven by manufacturing, while the world's second largest economy continues to be weighed down by falling property investment.
