China's foreign trade sees steady growth, shows strong resilience: spokesman

China's foreign trade has seen steady growth and shown strong resilience this year in the face of a complex and volatile external environment, with exporters expanding their presence in new markets and exploring new forms of foreign trade, said He Yadong, spokesman of China's Ministry of Commerce, on Thursday.

He made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to media queries on China's foreign trade development in the first five months of this year.

Data showed that in the January-May period, China's exports to new and emerging markets had contributed more increment, with exports to Belt and Road partner countries, ASEAN countries, and Africa increasing by 4.2 percent, 9.1 percent, and 12.4 percent, respectively, further broadening diversified markets, He said.

Featuring quality and innovation, China's foreign trade has demonstrated enhanced competitiveness in products with high technology and high added value. From January to May, China's electromechanical products exports made up over 60 percent of the total volume and saw a 9.3 percent increase. Specifically, exports of integrated circuits, general machinery, electric vehicles, and ships increased by 18.9 percent, 9.5 percent, 19 percent, and 18.9 percent, respectively.

In addition, the Chinese government also rolled out policies to expand the bonded equipment maintenance industry, which is a new form of service trade that brings additional momentum to China's foreign trade development.

"In coordination with relevant departments, we have released the first list of products eligible for bonded maintenance in pilot free trade zones. Qualified regions can now carry out bonded maintenance services for high-value-added products such as aircraft and ships. By the end of May, more than 280 bonded maintenance projects had been launched nationwide," said He.

China's foreign trade players are vibrant. In the first five months, imports and exports by private enterprises grew by 7 percent, accounting for 57.1 percent of the total. Export-import volume of foreign-invested enterprises has recorded four consecutive months of growth, with the number of those engaged in import and export activities increasing to 73,000, the spokesman added.

China's foreign trade sees steady growth, shows strong resilience: spokesman

Cities across China have come to life with a surge of holiday shoppers, as consumption-boosting policies drive demand and lift confidence ahead of the Spring Festival.

The 2026 "Shopping in China" and Spring Festival Consumption Season was launched early this month, aiming to fuel a consumption boom through measures targeting goods, services, and diverse spending scenarios.

In downtown Xiamen City of east China's Fujian Province, a distinctive shopping district built on an old factory has become a popular new tourist attraction. It has introduced nearly 40 high-quality brands covering retail, entertainment, sports, and other fields, attracting a large number of citizens and tourists.

In north China's Tianjin Municipality, a newly built market space integrates cultural and creative product exhibitions, catering, leisure, and nearly 100 cultural performances, becoming a new choice for citizens and tourists during holidays. The city launched a three-month Spring Festival consumption season, creating a number of new consumption formats, models, and scenarios, such as exhibitions and ice and snow activities, to unleash consumption vitality.

In Liaoyang city, northeast China's Liaoning Province, an 80-hectare indoor temperature-controlled greenhouse garden brought a new cultural tourism format different from its iconic ice and snow season. Here, tourists can not only enjoy flowers and scenery but also buy local specialty agricultural products and watch Yangko dance performances.

This year, the eastern Chinese province of Anhui launched the 2026 Spring Festival consumption season for new energy vehicles (NEVs), reducing the cost of car purchases by issuing consumption vouchers together with trade-in subsidies.

In 2025, Anhui ranked first in the country in terms of automobile and NEV production, and maintained its leading position nationwide in vehicle exports which surpassed the one-million mark.

This year's Spring Festival begins on February 17, and heralds the Year of the Horse.

China’s 2026 consumption season fuels holiday shopping boom nationwide