The Hangzhou City Customs Administration in east China's Zhejiang Province said that the province recorded growth in its foreign trade volume during the first quarter of this year, taking advantage of the momentum gained by the economy with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

The directorate added that the province's total imports and exports recorded 1.13 trillion yuan (164.2 billion US dollars) during the period from January to March, an increase of 4.8 percent year on year, noting that its exports increased by 6.1 percent to 835.7 billion yuan, compared to a slight increase. Its imports increased by 1 percent to 296.9 billion yuan.

The stronger growth in March reversed a decline of 4.8 percent in the first two months of the year.

Amidst uncertain factors in the global economy, the customs administration said, Zhejiang Province has made all possible efforts to stabilize trade and investment and compete for export orders, with results beginning to bear fruit.

Exports of solar cells, electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries rose 46.2 percent year on year to 41.4 billion yuan, contributing 1.7 percentage points to the growth of foreign trade over the period.

The customs data results showed that Zhejiang Province's foreign trade volume with countries and regions along the "Belt and Road" initiative increased by 14.5 percent year on year to reach 440.2 billion yuan during the mentioned period, while the province's trade volume with CEP members in other regions increased. by 7.3 percent to 283.8 billion yuan.