Technological innovation provides strong impetus, August data released, stable growth in China's foreign trade

In August, China's foreign trade continued its rapid growth trend. The latest data shows that in RMB terms, China's imports and exports increased by 21.7% and 18.6% year-on-year in August, maintaining double-digit growth for four consecutive months. The monthly year-on-year growth rate of China's imports has exceeded that of exports for six consecutive months. The latest foreign trade data has attracted external attention. On September 8th, Agence France Presse reported that China's foreign trade has continued to grow this year, mainly due to the increased demand for semiconductors, computer hardware, and other products related to the artificial intelligence boom overseas. On the 8th, the Associated Press reported that compared to many other countries, China has better resisted the impact of the US Iran conflict. China's increasing exports to Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa have also eased the impact of the US tariffs. At the time of the release of the above data, multiple national level economic and trade events such as the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade and the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services have opened one after another. On the 8th, Zhou Wei, a researcher at the Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce, told Global Times reporters that against the backdrop of rising global trade protectionism and unilateralism, and increasing trade and investment barriers in some economies, China has held large-scale international economic and trade events such as the China International Fair for Trade in Investment and Trade in Services, sending a clear signal that the more it faces the headwinds of protectionism, the more it needs to adhere to open cooperation. China is fulfilling its commitment to openness with practical actions, setting an example for promoting an open world economy.

Import and export growth rate maintains double-digit growth

According to data released by the General Administration of Customs on September 8th, China's total goods trade in August was 4.65 trillion yuan, of which exports amounted to 2.73 trillion yuan and imports amounted to 1.92 trillion yuan. In the first eight months of this year, the total scale of China's goods trade reached 34.78 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 17.6%. Among them, exports amounted to 20.17 trillion yuan, an increase of 14.6%; Imports amounted to 14.61 trillion yuan, an increase of 22%.

According to Lv Daliang, Director of the Statistics and Analysis Department of the General Administration of Customs, China's goods trade growth remained stable in August. In terms of scale, the import and export value exceeded 4.5 trillion yuan for three consecutive months. In terms of growth rate, exports and imports have been growing in double digits for four consecutive months, fully reflecting the strong support of China's complete industrial system for foreign trade and the strong assistance of technological innovation capabilities in promoting foreign trade.

From the perspective of trading partners, in the first 8 months, China's exports and imports with 112 countries and regions increased, an increase of 17 compared to the same period last year, and ASEAN remained the largest trading partner. Over the same period, China's imports and exports to ASEAN, Latin America and Africa increased by 20.6%, 14.5% and 18.5% respectively year on year, and those to countries jointly building the "the Belt and Road" increased by 15.9%. In addition, in the first 8 months, the total trade value between China and the European Union was 4.2 trillion yuan, an increase of 8.1%; The total value of trade with the United States was 2.76 trillion yuan, an increase of 1.3%.

China's export momentum continues to optimize. According to Chinese customs data cited by the Associated Press, automobile exports increased by 43% year-on-year in August, while semiconductor exports surged by 129.8%. According to Luo Nianci, Senior Market Strategist for BNP Paribas Asset Management in the Asia Pacific region, China is highly competitive in the export of technology products. China has actively developed upstream in the value chain and has become a key force in the fields of artificial intelligence infrastructure and industrial automation. Song Lin, Chief Economist of Dutch International Group Greater China, believes that the strong performance of China's foreign trade in August is mainly due to the promotion of high-tech products. In addition, the diversified development of China's overseas exports continues to advance, and exports to the United States are recovering growth, while other markets are showing stable performance.

Dongfang Jincheng analyst Feng Lin told Global Times reporters that China's exports maintained high-speed growth in the first eight months of this year. On the one hand, the global investment boom in artificial intelligence continues to heat up, driving a significant increase in the export scale of related products such as chips; On the other hand, the transformation and upgrading of the domestic manufacturing industry has shown remarkable results, which can effectively promote the export of new energy vehicles and high-tech products.

Multiple economic and trade events have appeared one after another

Recently, a number of national economic and trade events with different themes have been held. China is implementing its commitment to opening up with practical actions, and building bridges for China to link the world and the world to share the development opportunities of Chinese path to modernization.

On the occasion of the release of customs data in August, the 26th China International Fair for Trade and Investment (CIFIT) opened in Xiamen, Fujian on the 8th, attracting more than 1200 government agencies and business delegations from 129 countries and regions, 30 international organizations to register and participate. In front of the entrance of Xiamen International Expo Center, a huge golden key sculpture stands out prominently. Chinese and foreign merchants stop to take photos with this 18 meter high golden key marked with the English letters "CIFIT". For many government representatives, entrepreneurs, and investors who came to attend the conference, entering here is also opening a "door to cooperation".

On the 8th, Najik Halilov, Chief Advisor of the Commercial Representative Office of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in China, who participated in the China International Fair for Trade and Investment for the third time, told the Global Times reporter, "I can intuitively feel that compared with previous years, the overall scale of this year's Fair is larger and the number of participants is also higher. Participants come from different fields such as economy and finance, including enterprises, experts, and government representatives. This is a great platform where new partners can be met through the Fair

We attach great importance to maintaining good relations with China, "Italian enterprise and" Made in Italy "official Amadio Titi told Global Times reporters at the China International Fair for Trade and Investment on the 8th. This is his first time participating in the fair, but he has visited China several times before. In his opinion, the Investment and Trade Fair is a very important event with wide international recognition.

Titi stated that Italy and China have a very good cooperative relationship, and there is still potential for further expansion of cooperation in areas such as automobiles, electric vehicles, batteries, and energy. We have learned a lot from China, especially its concept of technological development. China does not tell other countries to simply copy its development model, but instead engages in discussions and dialogues with an open attitude, seeking cooperation

On the second day of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services is scheduled to open in Beijing on the 9th. The theme of this year's Service Trade Fair is "Global Services, Mutual Benefit and Sharing". About 90 countries and international organizations have set up exhibitions, and more than 1800 companies have participated offline. Innovative technologies, products and services in multiple fields will achieve global debut and China's first exhibition.

Zhou Wei told Global Times reporters that this kind of openness is particularly practical for enterprises. The current tariffs, investment restrictions, and geopolitical factors continue to increase the uncertainty of cross-border operations. When companies seek growth opportunities, they not only value market size, but also increasingly attach importance to policy stability, the integrity of industrial and supply chains, and long-term growth potential. This is also an important reason why many multinational companies choose to deeply cultivate in China.

China's foreign trade continues to develop, with interests in all parties involved

After the release of foreign trade data in August, some Western media disregarded the objective reality of global industrial division of labor and deliberately ignored the global development dividends brought by China's foreign trade, repeatedly blaming China's exports for the problem of global trade imbalance.

Hu Qimu, a professor at the Maritime Silk Road Research Institute of Huaqiao University, told Global Times reporters on the 8th that some Western media have repeatedly hyped up the issue of trade imbalance, deliberately ignoring the fact that China has been steadily expanding imports, and turning a blind eye to the reality that foreign-funded enterprises have earned huge profits in China and have deeply integrated into the Chinese industrial chain. Their purpose is to package their internal anxieties - declining industrial competitiveness and rising costs of green transformation - as a "security threat" narrative, thereby providing legitimacy for protectionist policies. This selective narrative will ultimately undermine the stability of the global supply chain and the multilateral trade order.

At the just concluded G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People's Bank of China, stated that the rise of trade protectionism, the generalization of national security issues, and the unpredictable policy environment are important reasons for the intensification of global imbalances in recent years. Resolving global imbalances requires countries to promote their own structural reforms. All countries should formulate medium - and long-term policies and programmes, make clear commitments and firmly implement them, and avoid "turning over Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle)" back and forth. The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce recently responded to relevant questions by stating that China's export growth is not only due to the improvement of economies of scale and innovation capabilities, but also from the demand for green transformation and industrial development in various countries. The sustained development of China's foreign trade benefits all parties involved.