Emerging markets key to China's intl automotive growth

Chinese carmakers' efforts to expand into more emerging markets have spurred optimistic forecasts on export growth, amid strengthening international political ties.

The General Administration of Customs reported better-than-expected trade data for January as demand picked up abroad, with about 70,000 vehicles exported that month, 65.7 percent more than in the same month last year.

The overall annual growth rate of the nation's car exports is likely to hit 5 percent and the total volume could reach 750,000 vehicles in 2017, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.