China's trade growth was faster than expected in April.

Foreign trade in goods was worth over nine trillion yuan for the first four months, that's almost nine percent more year on year. Exports increased six-point-four percent to seven-point-eight trillion yuan, and imports grew almost twelve percent to four-point-three trillion yuan. That led to a 24-percent decrease in trade surplus from January to April, at slightly over 500 billion yuan.  The European Union, the U.S. and ASEAN remained as China's three largest trading partners. But trade with Belt and Road countries rose at the fastest pace by nearly twelve percent to two and a half trillion yuan.

HUANG SONGPING GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF CUSTOMS "The world economy continues to recover while China's economy saw stable growth. Besides, China also eyes foreign trade in a stabilizing increase. Imports and exports continued their rapid growth over the past four months. China has taken measures to promote imports, which helped the country balance its foreign trade."