China foreign trade surges 2.1pc, reaching record $2.81tn

RIYADH, July 20 (Arab News): China's total goods imports and exports surged 2.1 per cent year on year in the first half of 2023 to reach 20.1 trillion Chinese yuan ($2.81 trillion), up from 19.8 trillion yuan in the same period of 2022.
The is the first time the country's trade in goods exceeded 20 trillion yuan in a six-month period, according to a Chinese news outlet citing data from the General Administration of Customs.
The data indicated that exports grew by 3.7 per cent year on year to reach 11.46 trillion yuan.
Commenting on the growth, GAC spokesperson Lyu Daliang said that China adhered to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, steadily promoted high-quality development and saw stable economic recovery and sustained growth, despite facing a complicated external environment.
The country had 540,000 foreign trade companies with export and import records, marking a growth of 6.9 per cent.