Growth entails successful transition

That China's total export-import volume has maintained a stable growth of 2.8 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Monday, offers more food for thought than usual.

On the one hand, with the World Trade Organization lowering its projection of the world's trade growth this year from 2.6 percent to 1.2 percent, China's foreign trade can still be called remarkable, especially in light of the performance of Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea and some other major players in trade.

On the other hand, although China is still the largest trader of goods, a weakening momentum is evident, as China's exports in September fell 3.2 percent from a year earlier, while imports declined by 8.5 percent compared with the same month last year.