BEIJING — China’s total goods imports and exports expanded 1.9 percent year-on-year to 32.16 trillion yuan (about 5 trillion USD) in 2020, hitting a record high despite a worldwide slump in shipments, official data showed on Jan 14.

Exports rose 4 percent, while imports went down 0.7 percent, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC). In December alone, exports surged by 10.9 percent year-on-year in yuan terms.

China emerged from the global economic and trade challenges in 2020 as the world’s only major economy to have registered positive growth in foreign trade in goods, GAC spokesperson Li Kuiwen told a news conference.

During the first 10 months of last year, the country’s foreign trade and exports accounted for 12.8 percent and 14.2 percent of the world’s total, respectively, both reaching historic highs, Li said, citing data from the World Trade Organization and available national statistics.