Minister: Trade growth sluggish

China's foreign trade grew at a slower rate in April compared to the same month last year, but there has not been a deficit so far, said Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming on Thursday.

"For one thing, international trade volume fell globally due to the economic slowdown. Additionally, the Labor Day holiday partly led to a slower growth rate," Chen made his remarks while attending the fourth round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

Chen said China's export growth in April was below 10 percent.

The country's year-on-year export growth slowed from 18.4 percent in February to 8.9 percent in March, according to statistics released by the General Administration of Customs.

"The demand from EU countries and Japan remains sluggish, but the trade volume between China and the United States is increasing," Chen added.

Chen said that US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner promised his country would substantially reduce controls on the export of high-tech products to China in the near future.

"I hope the US government will honor their commitment and will not make us wait too long," Chen said, adding that the United States now has restrictions on the export of 2,400 types of goods to China.