China's Economy Faces Challenges Despite Moves to Stimulate Growth

China's working-age population, which peaked around 2014, is expected to fall by 0.2% a year until 2030, according to S&P Global Ratings.  REUTERS

China's recent steps to adjust Covid-19 controls and revive activity in the beaten-down property market stirred hopes that Chinese leader Xi Jinping is putting fresh emphasis on measures to support the economy, potentially leading to a strong rebound in growth next year.

But economists warn the moves so far haven't amounted to a broad shift in Mr. Xi's policies, and the messaging out of the recent Communist Party Congress only reinforced that the Chinese leader planned to stick to his goals of achieving economic self-sufficiency and "common prosperity" -- even at the cost of lower growth rates.