China's foreign trade up 9.7% 2018

(Xinhua Photo)

China's foreign trade volume reached 30.51 trillion yuan in 2018, up 9.7 percent year-on-year, reaching a record high in import and export volume, said Li Kuiwen, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs (GAC), at a news conference of the State Council Information Office on Jan 14.

Li, also director-general of the Department of Statistics and Analysis of the GAC, said the country is expected to keep its No 1 position in the world in terms of trade in goods.

Exports jumped by 7.1 percent year-on-year to 16.42 trillion yuan in the past year, while imports grew by 12.9 percent to 14.09 trillion yuan, thanks to a number of policies and measures boosting steady foreign trade growth amid profound changes in the external environment, Li added.