China reported that exports rose 12.4 percent year-on-year last month, beating expectations as Beijing copes with growing trade difficulties posed by US President Donald Trump.

That figure was more than double the 4.6 percent forecast in a Bloomberg survey, AFP reported.

Imports during the same period, however, fell 4.3 percent, Beijing's General Administration of Customs said.

Last month, China's top leaders set an ambitious annual growth target of around 5%. They pledged to make domestic demand the main driver of the economy.

The world's second-largest economy continues to struggle with slowing consumption and a prolonged debt crisis in the real estate sector.

This fragile recovery faces new challenges posed by the trade war initiated by US President Donald Trump. | BGNES