Parallel universe: China’s growth

A post-pandemic recovery feels like a distant dream for much of the world. China is the big exception. Not only is its economy growing, but it has nearly returned to its pre-covid pace. Data published today will show that GDP in the third quarter probably expanded by about 5% compared with a year earlier. Until vaccines are rolled out, other countries will struggle to match China’s feat. It got one critical thing right: by almost entirely stamping out the virus, it has been able to allow activity to resume with few restrictions in place. Schools are fully open, factories are running at full tilt and shopping malls are bustling. China is also fortunate in one critical dimension: as a continent-sized economy, it is better insulated from weak global demand than smaller countries such as New Zealand that have also done a good job of containing covid-19.

parallel: 平行的，并行的

post-pandemic: 流行病后

pace: 速度 节奏，步伐

with a year earlier: 较早一年

vaccine: 疫苗

roll out: 铺开，展开

feat: 成就，功绩

stamp out: 消灭，根除

at full tilt: 全速地，全力地

bustling: 繁忙的

dimension: 纬度，方面

continent-sized: 广大规模的

insulate: 使隔绝，使免除