China's national legislature holds news conference ahead of annual session

Journalists work at a news conference of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 4, 2025. [Photo by Kuang Linhua/chinadaily.com.cn]

China's defense expenditure as a percentage of GDP lower than world average: spokesman

Since 2016, China's annual defense spending has maintained single-digit growth for nine years in a row, said Lou Qinjian.

China's defense expenditure as a share of GDP has been kept under 1.5 percent for many years, he added.