BEIJING - China's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) saw improved business performances between October and December 2024, according to a report from the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises released on Sunday.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Index, based on a survey of 3,000 SMEs across eight major industries, stood at 89.0 in the fourth quarter of last year, 0.1 points higher than in the third quarter.

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The index also contains multiple sub-indexes to gauge the performances and expectations of SMEs.

The sub-indexes for industrial production, construction and transportation all showed improvement, while the sub-index measuring SMEs' confidence in the macroeconomy remained stable compared to the third quarter, according to the report.

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China's SMEs saw a gradual improvement in both confidence and market demand, leading to a surge in development vitality, according to the association.

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It emphasized the importance of expanding demand and boosting consumption in future efforts, while also calling for creating more opportunities and room for the development of SMEs.