China records trade surplus

Surging textile exports contributed to China's trade surplus in March, which registered US$5.73bn, versus a deficit of US$8.43bn in the year-earlier period, state media reported, citing official statistics. China's trade volume reached US$295.2bn in the first quarter, increasing more than 23% from a year ago; exports increased 33%, to US$155.9bn, while imports grew 12.2% to US$139.3bn.