Chinese&nbsp;exports&nbsp;in January and February rose a combined&nbsp;16.3&nbsp;percent on surging global demand and a spike in trade with Russia&nbsp;in the run-up&nbsp;to the war in Ukraine, according to customs data released on Monday.

The growth rate exceeded economists' expectations of a 15.7 percent gain from a year earlier.

Shipments from the world's second-largest economy were valued at $544.7 billion in the first two months, the data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

Exports&nbsp;to&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;rose 41 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-ukrainian-girl-sings-let-it-go-moves-hearts-from-kyivs-bomb-shelter-459765">Watch: Ukrainian girl sings 'Let It Go', moves hearts from Kyiv’s bomb shelter</a>

Trade&nbsp;data for January and February is usually combined to even out the impact of the extended Chinese new year holiday, which usually begins in one of those two months.

Imports rose 15.5 percent&nbsp;to $428.75 billion in the first two months of the year, leaving a Chinese&nbsp;trade&nbsp;surplus of $115.95 billion.

Exports&nbsp;remain a bright spot for a Chinese economy that has slowed sharply in recent months due to virus outbreaks, a property market slump and regulatory crackdowns on key sectors.

China's leaders&nbsp; Saturday set a target of 5.5 percent GDP growth this year -- the lowest annual goal since 1991 -- with Premier Li Keqiang warning of a "grave and uncertain" outlook as the war in Ukraine threatens to damage global supply chains.

China's coal imports in the first two months doubled from a year earlier as Beijing scrambled to replenish supplies after a shortage late last year caused power cuts that paralysed large swathes of the economy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ukraine-under-attack-indian-student-shot-at-in-kyiv-crosses-into-poland-thanks-officials-459758">Ukraine under attack: Indian student shot at in Kyiv crosses into Poland, thanks officials</a>

Exports&nbsp;to&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;grew at the fastest rate among&nbsp;China's major trading partners in January and February, outpacing&nbsp;trade&nbsp;with the European Union and the United States.

Russia&nbsp;was also the second biggest source of imports for&nbsp;China, which buys energy products from its neighbour.

Trade&nbsp;with&nbsp;China&nbsp;has served as a lifeline for&nbsp;Russia, which had already faced Western sanctions over its 2014 seizure of the Crimea region from Ukraine.

Moscow's international isolation has deepened following its invasion of Ukraine that began late last month.

China&nbsp;has been&nbsp;Russia's largest trading partner for more than a decade, according to&nbsp;commerce&nbsp;ministry data.&nbsp;

Beijing approved Russian wheat imports just hours before the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine.

But analysts believe&nbsp;China&nbsp;will avoid dramatically increasing&nbsp;trade&nbsp;support to&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;to avoid running afoul of the global sanctions arrayed against Moscow.

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russian airstrike destroys airport in Vinnytsia

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-conflict-russian-airstrike-destroys-airport-in-vinnytsia-459757/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

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Chinese exports in January and February rose a combined 16.3 percent on surging global demand and a spike in trade with Russia in the run-up to the war in Ukraine, according to customs data released on Monday.

Chinese exports in January and February rose a combined 16.3 percent on surging global demand and a spike in trade with Russia in the run-up to the war in Ukraine, according to customs data released on Monday. The growth rate exceeded economists' expectations of a 15.7 percent gain from a year earlier. Shipments from the world's second-largest economy were valued at $544.7 billion in the first two months, the data from the General Administration of Customs showed. Exports to Russia rose 41 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. Also read | Watch: Ukrainian girl sings 'Let It Go', moves hearts from Kyiv’s bomb shelter Trade data for January and February is usually combined to even out the impact of the extended Chinese new year holiday, which usually begins in one of those two months. Imports rose 15.5 percent to $428.75 billion in the first two months of the year, leaving a Chinese trade surplus of $115.95 billion. Exports remain a bright spot for a Chinese economy that has slowed sharply in recent months due to virus outbreaks, a property market slump and regulatory crackdowns on key sectors. China's leaders Saturday set a target of 5.5 percent GDP growth this year -- the lowest annual goal since 1991 -- with Premier Li Keqiang warning of a "grave and uncertain" outlook as the war in Ukraine threatens to damage global supply chains. China's coal imports in the first two months doubled from a year earlier as Beijing scrambled to replenish supplies after a shortage late last year caused power cuts that paralysed large swathes of the economy. Also read | Ukraine under attack: Indian student shot at in Kyiv crosses into Poland, thanks officials Exports to Russia grew at the fastest rate among China's major trading partners in January and February, outpacing trade with the European Union and the United States. Russia was also the second biggest source of imports for China, which buys energy products from its neighbour. Trade with China has served as a lifeline for Russia, which had already faced Western sanctions over its 2014 seizure of the Crimea region from Ukraine. Moscow's international isolation has deepened following its invasion of Ukraine that began late last month. China has been Russia's largest trading partner for more than a decade, according to commerce ministry data. Beijing approved Russian wheat imports just hours before the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine. But analysts believe China will avoid dramatically increasing trade support to Russia to avoid running afoul of the global sanctions arrayed against Moscow. Watch | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russian airstrike destroys airport in Vinnytsia

China exports up 16.3% as trade with Russia surged

China's trade of goods rose by 8.8 per cent year on year to 11.63 trillion yuan (about 1.82 trillion US dollars) in the first five months of 2018, according to official data from China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) released on Friday.

Exports of cargo trade rose by 5.5 per cent year on year to 6.14 trillion yuan (approx. 0.96 trillion US dollars) in the January-May period while imports grew by 12.6 per cent to 5.49 trillion yuan (approx. 0.86 trillion U.S. dollars).

The numbers resulted in a trade surplus of 649.8 billion yuan, which narrowed by 31 per cent when compared to the same period last year, according to the GAC.

"Since the beginning of this year, China’s imports and exports have continued along a healthy trend towards stable growth and maintained relatively fast growth in the first five months. Meanwhile, domestic demand has been growing and the country has actively expanded imports, so the trade surplus has narrowed, and trade of goods has moved towards a more balanced development," said Huang Songping, the director of the GAC Department of Statistics.

In the first five months, the European Union (EU) remained China's top trade partner, with trade volume between the two sides increasing by 7.3 per cent to 1.7 trillion yuan (approx. 265.3 billion U.S. dollars). That number is followed by that of the United States at 1.57 trillion yuan (approx. 245.0 billion US dollars) and then the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at 1.49 trillion yuan (approx. 232.5 billion U.S. dollars).

China's trade with countries along the Belt and Road registered faster-than-average growth, with the trade volume standing at 3.21 trillion yuan, up 11.1 per cent from last year.

The numbers resulted in a trade surplus of 649.8 billion yuan, which narrowed by 31 per cent

China's trade of goods rose by 8.8 per cent year on year to 11.63 trillion yuan (about 1.82 trillion US dollars) in the first five months of 2018, according to official data from China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) released on Friday. Exports of cargo trade rose by 5.5 per cent year on year to 6.14 trillion yuan (approx. 0.96 trillion US dollars) in the January-May period while imports grew by 12.6 per cent to 5.49 trillion yuan (approx. 0.86 trillion U.S. dollars). The numbers resulted in a trade surplus of 649.8 billion yuan, which narrowed by 31 per cent when compared to the same period last year, according to the GAC. "Since the beginning of this year, China’s imports and exports have continued along a healthy trend towards stable growth and maintained relatively fast growth in the first five months. Meanwhile, domestic demand has been growing and the country has actively expanded imports, so the trade surplus has narrowed, and trade of goods has moved towards a more balanced development," said Huang Songping, the director of the GAC Department of Statistics. In the first five months, the European Union (EU) remained China's top trade partner, with trade volume between the two sides increasing by 7.3 per cent to 1.7 trillion yuan (approx. 265.3 billion U.S. dollars). That number is followed by that of the United States at 1.57 trillion yuan (approx. 245.0 billion US dollars) and then the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at 1.49 trillion yuan (approx. 232.5 billion U.S. dollars). China's trade with countries along the Belt and Road registered faster-than-average growth, with the trade volume standing at 3.21 trillion yuan, up 11.1 per cent from last year.

China's foreign trade up 8.8 % in first five months

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China exports up 16.3% as trade with Russia surged

China's foreign trade up 8.8 % in first five months