China's economic growth is predicted to have slowed down in the second quarter of the year, according to a recent survey, although strong exports tied to a global artificial intelligence boom helped offset trade frictions and high energy prices amid the Middle East war.
The world's second-largest economy is increasingly reliant on foreign trade to expand as a prolonged property-sector slump and weak consumer demand continue to pose problems.
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran threatened growth as it choked off shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and natural gas normally passes, and sparked fears of a downturn that would have hit demand for Chinese exports.
But data due on Wednesday is expected to show the country's economy expanded 4.5% year-over-year in April-July, according to the median forecast of an Agence France-Presse (AFP) survey of experts.
That would represent a significant slowdown from the five percent recorded in the previous quarter but still leave the economy on track to reach the government's annual target of 4.5%-5.0%.
