China's foreign trade in goods expanded by 6.2 percent year-on-year to reach 24.83 trillion yuan ($3.46 trillion) in the first seven months of this year, hitting a new record in trade volume, customs data showed on Wednesday, buoyed by the country's manufacturing strength, rising overseas demand, as well as the diversification of its trade partners overseas.
The brisk data add to an array of fresh evidence underscoring that the world's second-largest economy has been maintaining steady growth momentum, despite facing internal and external challenges. It also underlines a bullish outlook for the country's trade engine, which observers expect could roar at a quicker pace in the second half of the year to support the economy to grow and reach the GDP growth goal of around 5 percent for 2024.
The magnitude of China's trade growth in recent months has also defied certain Western countries' protectionist measures and blatant tariff hikes imposed on Chinese goods. This underscores the resilience, competitiveness and inherent vigor of the world's largest manufacturing powerhouse, analysts said, while pointing to China's unfazed pivotal role as a stabilizer and locomotive of the global supply chain.
