China's foreign trade records steady performances in first two months

China's foreign trade recorded steady performance in the first two months of 2025, with total goods trade volume surpassing 6.5 trillion yuan (about 900 billion U.S. dollars), data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed on Friday.

The figures mark a stronger start to the year compared to 2024, when trade saw a slight dip in February before recovering and leveling off.

Exports rose 3.4 percent year on year to reach 3.88 trillion yuan, while imports declined by 7.3 percent to 2.66 trillion yuan, according to the data.

From Jan to February, exports to ASEAN countries, the European Union (EU), the U.S. and Japan increased by 6.8 percent, 1.8 percent, 3.4 percent and 2 percent, respectively, while exports to Belt and Road countries grew by 2.4 percent.

"In the first two months of 2025, various departments actively responded to the adverse impacts of the external environment, ensuring stable foreign trade. Compared with last year, there were two fewer working days in the first two months of this year. After excluding non-comparable factors, China's imports and exports grew by 1.7 percent, demonstrating the resilience of the country's foreign trade development," said Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC's Department of Statistics and Analysis.

China's foreign trade records steady performances in first two months

Iran's Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said on Monday that the first round of high-level talks between the U.S. and Iran in Switzerland had significantly advanced efforts to release frozen Iranian assets, while the U.S. side suggested the funds could be channeled toward American farm exports.

Hemmati told the country's semi-official Tasnim News Agency that "significant progress" had been made on the asset releases, with the relevant documents signed during the negotiations.

Referring to the unfreezing of the central bank's overseas assets as one of the most complex items on the agenda, the central bank chief said the funds will be phased into use in the coming days, in accordance with conditions and procedures established by the bank.

Regarding the export of oil and petroleum products, Hemmati said the two parties have agreed that the Office of Foreign Assets Control under the U.S. Treasury Department will be responsible for sanctions waivers for Iranian oil and petrochemical shipments.

After the U.S. and Iran held high-level talks at Switzerland's Burgenstock resort, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Monday that if the U.S. agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets, the funds could be used to purchase American soybeans, corn and wheat.

Iran reports significant progress on asset unfreezing as US eyes agricultural exports