Exports up in first quarter

China's foreign trade volume rose 9.4 percent year-on-year to 6.75 trillion yuan ($1.07 trillion) in the first quarter this year, customs data showed on Friday.

Trade surplus stood at 326.18 billion yuan, a decline of 21.8 percent from the same period last year, Huang Songping, spokesman of the General Administration of Customs, said at a press conference.

The country’s exports increased 7.4 percent year-on-year to 3.54 trillion yuan, while imports expanded 11.7 percent to 3.21 trillion yuan, he said.

China's trade performance got off to a strong start this year, thanks to the steady recovery of the world economy, sustained demand in the domestic market and the Belt and Road Initiative, Huang said.