China has remained the top trader of goods around the globe during its 14th five-year plan period (2021-2025), and became the world's second largest trader of services last year, recent data has showed.
In this period, China's annual trade in goods reached the six-trillion-U.S. dollar threshold, surging more than 30 percent from 2020 to 2024 despite weakening global demand. Trade in services also surpassed one trillion U.S. dollars for the first time in 2024.
China's continued rollout of opening-up policies has become a key driver contributing to the momentum.
In 2024, trade in goods with the Free Trade Agreement partner countries accounted for 43 percent of the total amount.
Besides FTAs, China also eliminated all tariffs on goods from the least developed African countries.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) became China's top trading partner over the past five years, while trade with Belt and Road participating countries also took up over half the total last year.
Experts emphasized that digital technologies and platforms have played an important role in boosting cross-border trade.
"We have observed rapid growth in the trade of knowledge-intensive services. In 2024, services trade on digital platforms surged nearly 40 percent compared with 2020," said Wei Chu, dean of the School of Applied Economics at Renmin University of China.
Another key driver to the surge in cross-border trade is China's accelerated construction of pilot free trade zones such as the Hainan Free Trade Port, according to experts.
"The pilot free trade zones and free trade port mechanisms are driving China's high-quality opening-up. They not only propel trade, but also attract foreign investment," said Sang Baichuan, dean of the China Institute of Open Economy at the University of International Business and Economics.
Experts believe that in the next Five-Year Plan period, China will continue to keep opening up and sharing its growth with the rest of the world, while championing multi-lateral trade rules against the headwind of protectionism.
China’s annual goods trade surpasses 6 trln dollars during 14th Five-Year Plan period
China’s annual goods trade surpasses 6 trln dollars during 14th Five-Year Plan period
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
