China's economy: How it performed and the road ahead

China's gross domestic product reached 114.37 trillion yuan ($18 trillion) in 2021, an increase of 8.1 percent on a yearly basis, according to the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. Economists, experts, and analysts all said this performance beats expectations, especially amid the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic around the globe.

Xu Hongcai, deputy director of the Economic Policy Commission with the China Association of Policy Science, said the 8.1 percent GDP growth did not come easily. Xu said the CPI, employment and foreign trade performed the best.

According to Wen Bin, chief analyst at China Minsheng Bank, China's economic growth and pandemic prevention and control led the world in 2021, with major economic tasks fully fulfilled.

"China's economy has delivered a satisfactory report in 2021," said Yao Jingyuan, former chief economist at the NBS, adding that the country's economy is driven by internal driving force and vitality.

Let us take a look at the experts' views on China's economic performances in various sectors, as well as their expectations for 2022.