China's Trade Grew Faster Than Expected in April

China's trade grew faster than expected last month, official data show, with exports and imports both expanding beyond forecasts. The data indicate resilience against external pressures including the war in the Middle East. Exports to the United States, which had been declining, reversed course in April.

Booming trade has served as a key support for Beijing in recent years. This comes as the domestic economy has experienced slower growth. The latest figures provide an update on the performance of the world's second-largest economy. Further details on specific export and import values were not immediately detailed in the initial release.

Officials have not commented publicly on the drivers behind the April acceleration. The data will be examined by economists tracking China's recovery trajectory following earlier weakness.