China's foreign trade up 14.9 pct in Jan-April

China's foreign trade grew 14.9 percent year on year in the first four months of this year, data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed on Saturday.

The total value of goods imports and exports reached 16.23 trillion yuan during the period, according to the data.

In the January to April period, exports rose 11.3 percent year on year to 9.33 trillion yuan, while imports went up 20 percent to 6.9 trillion yuan, the data showed.

In April alone, the country's foreign trade in yuan-denominated terms grew 14.2 percent year on year, with the total value of goods imports and exports reaching 4.38 trillion yuan.

Exports rose 9.8 percent from the same period of last year to 2.48 trillion yuan, while imports went up 20.6 percent to 1.9 trillion yuan.

"China's imports and exports recorded double-digit year-on-year increase in April, and a 6.5-percent increase compared with March. Foreign trade has maintained a positive trend this year," said Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC's Department of Statistics and Analysis.

In the first four months, China's exports of electromechanical products totaled 5.92 trillion yuan, up 17.6 percent year on year, accounting for 63.5 percent of the country's total exports.

Among them, shipments of green and low-carbon products such as electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and wind turbines increased by 68.1 percent, 43.2 percent and 40.7 percent, respectively, while exports of industrial robots rose 30 percent.

During the same period, China's private enterprises handled imports and exports worth 9.31 trillion yuan, an increase of 15.9 percent year on year, accounting for 57.4 percent of the country's total trade.

China's foreign trade up 14.9 pct in Jan-April

China's foreign trade up 14.9 pct in Jan-April

China's foreign trade up 14.9 pct in Jan-April

China's foreign trade up 14.9 pct in Jan-April

As anticipation builds for the upcoming meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, international figures worldwide have expressed hope that the exchange will chart a course for stable China-U.S. relations and deliver positive ripple effects for global peace and prosperity.

At the invitation of Xi, Trump will pay a state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday.

The trip marks the first visit to China by a U.S. president in nine years, since Trump visited during his first term in office back in 2017.

In an interview with China Media Group, Eugene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, emphasized the vast cooperation opportunities between the United States and China, as well as the critical importance of sustained dialogue.

"The two largest economies in the world have much trade, cultural exchange and education opportunities. We, at the Port of Los Angeles, we'd like to see that continue to grow to new heights. At the Port of Los Angeles, 40 percent of our business portfolio is trade with China, so very important. When those policies were loosened and both sides started talking more, we saw cargo volume pick up again, so important to the American consumers, to American jobs and to bolster Sino-U.S. relations," said Seroka.

The sentiment is echoed far beyond American shores. Fernando Huanacuni, former foreign minister of Bolivia, described the upcoming leaders' meeting as "an important milestone" and "a watershed moment".

"The upcoming meeting between Chinese and U.S. presidents is an important milestone and a watershed moment. The agenda of this summit will focus not only on bilateral issues of mutual concern, but also on major international topics. As the world seeks balance across the global economy, technology, trade, and geopolitics, China is undoubtedly playing a crucial role. For this reason, the meeting has aroused widespread anticipation," said Huanacuni.

In Europe, Janusz Piechocinski, former deputy prime minister of Poland, underscored the necessity and significance of the presidential engagement, pointing to the tangible impact of last October's summit between the two leaders in Busan of the Republic of Korea.

"The U.S. president's visit to China and his upcoming meeting with President Xi Jinping are both highly significant and greatly necessary. Last year's summit between the two leaders effectively eased trade frictions, injected greater confidence into the world, and helped stabilize bilateral relations. We look forward to this meeting yielding positive outcomes and bringing greater stability and certainty to the world," said Piechocinski.

Int'l figures anticipate Xi-Trump meeting to be catalyst for stable relations, global prosperity