China economy grows 2.3% in 2020 as rebound from virus gains

BEIJING (AP) — China's economy grew 2.3% in 2020 as a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic accelerated while the United States, Europe and Japan struggled with disease flare-ups. Growth in the three months ending in December rose to 6.5% over a year earlier, up from the previous quarter's 4.9%, according to official data released Monday. Activity contracted by 6.8% in the first quarter in 2020 as factories and shops shut down to fight the virus. The following quarter, China became the first major country to grow again with a 3.2% expansion after the Communist Party declared victory over the virus…