China says economic recovery 'tortuous'
China said on Wednesday that its economic recovery "will be a bumpy and tortuous process", but insisted Western critics "will for sure be proven wrong".  The comments come after a raft of recent figures that have stoked concerns, and after US President Joe Biden said China's mounting economic problems made it a "ticking time bomb".  "After the smooth transition of the epidemic prevention and control, China's economic recovery is a wave-like development and a tortuous process, which will inevitably face difficulties and problems," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference.  "A number of Western politicians and media have hyped up the periodic problems in China's post-epidemic economic recovery process. But eventually, they will for sure be proven wrong," he added.  Officials have sought to boost domestic consumption in recent weeks, with the State Council last month releasing a 20-point plan to encourage citizens to spend more in sectors including vehicles, tourism and home appliances.  Speaking at a fundraising event last week, Biden had pointed to the country's high unemployment and ageing workforce, claiming "China is in trouble". (AFP)