China faces a complex and grim trade outlook which is not likely to improve anytime soon, vice commerce minister Fang Aiqing warned on Saturday, despite buoyant trade figures in the first quarter.

The country’s foreign trade volume reached 6.2 trillion yuan (about 902 billion US dollars) in the first quarter in 2017, up 21.8 percent year on year.

Fang made the remarks at the opening of the 121st China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair. He said that factors of uncertainty and instability have notably increased facing China's trade and these difficulties are not short-termed.

To cope with the difficulties, Fang said that China will continue to push for structural adjustment in trade, carry on innovative reform, and coordinate the balanced development of trade and investment.

The Canton Fair is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou in southern China’s Guangdong Province. It is seen as a barometer of the country's foreign trade.

The current event will run from April 15 to May 5. Nearly 25,000 domestic and foreign companies have set up booths.‍