A drone photo taken on Feb. 18, 2026 shows a container vessel loading and unloading containers at Qianwan Container Terminal of Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China"s Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

　　China"s total goods trade reached 7.73 trillion yuan ($1.12 trillion) in the first two months of 2026, with year-on-year growth returning to double digits at 18.3 percent, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Tuesday, maintaining a steady and positive momentum and underscoring the resilience of the world"s second-largest economy despite external headwinds.

　　This marks the first time China"s total goods trade has recorded double-digit growth in three years, since March 2023, the Global Times reporter observed.

　　The latest trade growth highlights the rising role of the world"s second-largest economy in international trade, signaling a steady rebound and bringing greater stability and predictability to a world overshadowed by geopolitical tensions and trade protectionism, a Chinese expert said.

　　The robust expansion also marks a good start of 2026, the inaugural year of China"s 15th Five-Year plan period (2026-30), during which policy priorities are geared toward expanding high quality development and continuously creating new quality productive forces, the expert said.

　　Robust growth

　　

　　According to data released by the GAC on Tuesday, both imports and exports experienced positive growth. China"s exports totaled 4.62 trillion yuan, up 19.2 percent year-on-year, while imports amounted to 3.11 trillion yuan, up 17.1 percent, per GAC.