Beijing, 27 April 2026 – China’s artificial intelligence buildout is reshaping expectations for the world’s second-largest economy, with economists sharply upgrading import forecasts as Chinese companies accelerate purchases of high-end chips and technology components needed to power AI infrastructure.
Economists polled now expect China’s imports to rise by 5% in 2026, the strongest growth in five years. The latest forecast is more than double the March estimate and would follow four years of stagnation and decline, signalling that China’s AI investment cycle is becoming an increasingly important force in the country’s trade outlook.
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