China's exports rise in January

Beijing - China's export value rose 10.6% year-on-year in January, partly inflated by an appreciation of the nation's currency against the dollar, the government said on Wednesday.

Exports totalled $207.1bn in the month, while imports reached $175.28bn, up 10% year-on-year, the customs administration reported.

Measured in Chinese currency, exports climbed by 7.6% and imports grew 7%, the administration said. The difference in the two sets of trade figures reflected the appreciation of 3.1% in the Chinese currency against the dollar since January 2013, it said.

China's January economic data is also skewed by the week-long national holiday for the traditional new year, or Spring Festival, which falls on different dates in January or February according to a lunar cycle.

The ruling Communist Party is trying to promote domestic consumption and more sustainable growth as it tries to rebalance the economy away from its reliance on exports and investment in infrastructure.

Annual economic growth slumped to 7.7% in the last two years, the slowest since 1999, and is not expected to increase this year.