Trade in services grows at rapid rate

China's trade in services jumped 11.9 percent year-on-year to 1.67 trillion yuan ($261 billion) in the first four months of 2018, a record growth rate so far this year, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.

Service trade saw a strong run from January to April, with both imports and exports delivering double-digit growth, according to the ministry's online statement.

"The rapid growth of trade in services indicates that the stronger global economy, as a whole, has driven demand in the international market and provided favorable external conditions for further development," an official at the commerce ministry was quoted as saying in the statement.