The GDP in the first quarter increased by 18.3% year on year, which was affected by the incomparable factors such as the lower base of the previous year and the increase of local staff on the new year's working day. The growth rate in the first quarter was 0.6% on a monthly basis and average growth of 5% in two years, indicating that China's economy recovered steadily. " Liu Aihua, a spokesman for the State Bureau of statistics and director of the General Statistics Department of the national economy, said at a news conference on the operation of the national economy in the first quarter held by the State Council press office.