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Key developments: A Reuters poll released on October 15 shows China’s GDP rose 4.4% year‑on‑year in the July‑September quarter, a modest rebound from a three‑year low, helped by fresh policy easing such as targeted interest‑rate cuts and mortgage subsidies. The same day, a long‑delayed four‑lane bridge across the Yalu River officially opened, linking China and North Korea for the first time in 12 years and expanding cross‑border trade.
Why they matter: The modest GDP gain signals that Beijing’s stimulus is beginning to work, but the pace remains below the lower end of the official 4.5‑5% target, leaving growth vulnerable to weak consumption and lingering property woes. The new bridge deepens economic ties with an isolated neighbour, potentially boosting Chinese export corridors and giving the government another lever in regional trade dynamics.
What to watch next: Analysts will monitor the upcoming release of detailed Q3 data on October 19 for signs of whether the stimulus can sustain a stronger expansion in Q4. Attention will also turn to how the bridge affects trade volumes with North Korea and whether it sparks further infrastructure cooperation or invites renewed international scrutiny over sanctions enforcement. [[1, 2]]