China's air logistics sector has maintained robust growth this year, with cargo volume surging 11.7 percent year on year in the first quarter to 2.243 million metric tons, according to data released Friday by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).
The federation attributed the expansion to booming cross-border e-commerce, which accounted for 60 percent of air cargo sources, and an optimized export structure featuring more high-tech products.
"With industrial restructuring, exports of electronic products, biopharmaceuticals and some electronic components are surging. This has created explosive growth for air cargo, especially international air freight services," said Cui Zhongfu, chief economist of the CFLP.
A CFLP forecast report projects that over 80 percent of the respondents remain optimistic about 2025 prospects, expecting China's air cargo growth to outpace global rates.
China's air cargo demand sustains strong growth in Q1: industry data
China's air cargo demand sustains strong growth in Q1: industry data
China's air cargo demand sustains strong growth in Q1: industry data
China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.
In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.
"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.
This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.
By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.
China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.
The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.
"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.
China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting
