He Yongqian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce Photo: Yin Yeping/GT

China's foreign trade achieved positive growth under pressure in 2025, fully demonstrating resilience and vitality, He Yongqian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), said at a regular press conference on Thursday in response to media inquiries about the strong performance of China's foreign trade last year and new measures to support trade this year.

There were numerous highlights for foreign trade in 2025, said He, noting that the growth momentum became more solid. According to customs statistics, the total value of China's foreign trade in goods reached 45.47 trillion yuan for the year, up 3.8 percent, marking the ninth consecutive year of positive growth.

Moreover, the country's innovation-driven momentum continued to strengthen, said He, noting that exports of mechanical and electronic products grew 9 percent, with their share surpassing 60 percent for the first time. The international competitiveness of green and low-carbon products improved markedly, while new business models such as cross-border e-commerce gained pace, said the spokesperson.

He said that China's trade partners have become more diversified, as China's imports and exports with more than 190 countries and regions expanded, with trade with BRI partner countries accounting for 51.9 percent of the total.

However, in 2026, China will likely face a profoundly complex external environment, with strategic opportunities coexisting with risks and challenges, and with greater uncertainty and unpredictability, He said.

Despite this, China's economy is built on solid fundamentals, enjoys many advantages, and demonstrates strong resilience and vast growth potential, meaning that the development of foreign trade still benefits from many favorable conditions, said the spokesperson.

The MOFCOM will step up efforts to promote the integrated development of trade and investment, foster new drivers of foreign trade growth, and do everything possible to stabilize the fundamentals of foreign trade, contributing to a good start and steady progress in the 15th Five Year Plan period (2026-30), said the spokesperson.

Global Times