Trade tipped to grow by 8%

China pledged to maintain a steady growth in foreign trade this year amid sharp declines in external demand and a rise in international trade protectionism

Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday said in his government work report at the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress that the government will take a series of measures to help exporters address difficulties amid the global economic downturn and to ensure steady growth in foreign trade.

Another report released by the country's top planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, yesterday predicted that the country's foreign trade volume would grow by 8 percent year-on-year this year, compared to the 17.8 percent growth seen last year. That means the value of foreign trade would touch $2.76 trillion this year.