China's foreign trade climbs in 2019's first quarter

China's foreign trade climbed 3.7 percent year-on-year to 7.01 trillion yuan ($1.04 trillion) in the first quarter of this year, customs data showed on Friday.

During this period exports grew 6.7 percent to 3.77 trillion yuan, while imports increased 0.3 percent to 3.24 trillion, according to the General Administration of Customs.

The steady expansion of trade can be attributed to stable domestic economic growth and an increase in import and export prices, customs authority spokesman Li Kuiwen told reporters.

Trade with the United States stood at 815.86 billion yuan between January and March, down 11 percent year-on-year, according to the data.