China’s value of imports and exports to Belt and Road countries rose by 17.8 percent in 2017 on a year-on-year basis, said Huang Songping, spokesperson for the General Administration of Customs at a press conference held by China’s State Council Information Office on Jan. 12, CRI Online reported.

China’s value of imports and exports to Belt and Road countries reached 7.37 trillion yuan ($1.14 trillion) in 2017, up 17.8 percent on a year-on-year basis, accounting for 26.5 percent of the country’s total value of imports and exports, said Huang.

The Belt and Road Initiative complies with the requirements of the era and Belt and Road countries’ wishes to accelerate development, which, therefore, will contribute to trade among the en-route countries, Huang noted.

The spokesman also disclosed that China will continue to strengthen cooperation with the en-route countries, optimize services concerning customs supervision, and actively engage in making international trade rules to build an open global economy.