China's Statistics Bureau said on Monday that it expects the Chinese economy to improve in May and to accelerate the recovery in consumption.

China is steadily moving forward with the resumption of production in the areas affected by the coronavirus, said a spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics.

He added that the Chinese economy will maintain a relatively strong trend in the second quarter.

Economic activity slowed sharply in April after the expansion of lockdowns to tackle (Covid-19) led to huge losses in consumption, industrial production and employment, which increased Fears of a contraction in the economy in the second quarter.