Full coverage: China's Economic Data

China's foreign trade rose in March after a dismal start to 2016. Data from the General Administration of Customs shows foreign trade in March rose by 8.6 percent to 1.9 trillion yuan from a year earlier.

Exports surged almost 20 percent to more than 1 trillion yuan, while imports slipped 1.7 percent to 855 billion yuan. For the first quarter, China's foreign trade dropped by about 6 percent to 5.2 trillion yuan.

Exports were down 4.2 percent while imports were down 8.2 percent. Trade with countries included in the One Belt and One Road Initiative recorded growth in the first quarter.

But trade with major trade partners such as the EU, the US and ASEAN countries was weak. The General Administration of Customs said China's foreign trade still faces difficulties amid weak global demand.