(Yicai Global) Aug. 8 -- China's foreign trade rose 4.2 percent annually to CNY17.41 trillion (USD2.47 trillion) in the first seven months.

Exports scaled up to CNY9.48 trillion in a 6.7 percent rise, while the country tallied CNY7.93 trillion in imports in the period, up 1.3 percent, China's General Administration of Customs announced today.

The EU remained China's largest trade partner, with commerce between the world's two biggest markets up 10.8 percent to CNY2.72 trillion, followed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which rose 11.3 percent to CNY2.35 trillion, and the US, which slid 8.1 percent to CNY2.1 trillion.

Editor: Ben Armour