Nation's imports expand steadily

An expert forecast China's international trade will remain robust in the next half year, and its continued efforts to increase imports will meet domestic demand and shore up the world economy.

"The country's foreign trade volume has picked up steadily and is facing fresh opportunities. In the second half year, trade is expected to maintain solid growth," said Liang Ming, director of the institute of international trade at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

"Increased efforts are essential to further liberalize and facilitate trade and investment, as well as to help maintain the multilateral trading system," Liang said. "While stabilizing exports, we need to enlarge imports. ... Foreign trade can be developed in a balanced manner."