Fitch Downgrades China's Sovereign Credit Outlook to Negative Amid Economic Growth Risks

Fitch has downgraded China's sovereign credit rating outlook to negative, citing risks to public finances as the country grapples with decelerating growth and increasing debt. The agency expects China's general government deficit to rise to 7.1% of GDP in 2024 and forecasts economic growth to slow to 4.5% in the same year. Despite tentative signs of economic recovery, Fitch warns of increasing risks to China's public finance outlook as it transitions to a more sustainable growth model, eroding fiscal buffers and raising contingent liability risks.