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

At least 89 people were killed and about 200 others injured over the past two days in escalating clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes in southern Syria's Sweida province, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Syrian defense authority, in a statement carried by the state-run SANA news agency, put the death toll at more than 30 and the injuries at some 100.

Attributing the escalating clashes to a breakdown of institutional control, the Syrian defense authority stated that specialized military units had been deployed to separate the warring factions and secure evacuation routes for civilians. The defense authority urged restraint, warned that continued fighting would only deepen civilian suffering, and affirmed its commitment to restoring stability through coordinated operations with interior forces.

Footage shared by China Global Television Network (CGTN) showed armed fighters clashing late Monday in Sweida, with fierce exchanges of fire between the conflicting parties.

The root of the conflict lies in an earlier incident where a young Druze man was assaulted and robbed by armed Bedouins at a temporary checkpoint near al-Masmiyah. In retaliation, local Druze fighters detained several Bedouin members, escalating the situation.

89 killed in escalating Druze-Bedouin clashes in Syria's Sweida: war monitor