Trade to be optimized with new tools, markets

China has sufficient policy tools and new measures to further optimize its foreign trade structure and deepen ties with new markets, especially those involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, in the second half of the year, a senior customs official said on Friday.

"We face a series of challenges in achieving stable foreign trade growth," said Li Kuiwen, spokesman for the General Administration of Customs, at a news briefing.

He made the comment after customs released the country's trade data for the first half of the year. Foreign trade increased by 3.9 percent year-on-year, totaling 14.67 trillion yuan ($2.16 trillion), with exports growing by 6.1 percent year-on-year. Imports rose 1.4 percent, and the country's trade surplus widened by 41.6 percent year-on-year to hit 1.23 trillion yuan during the same period.