This aerial photo taken on April 7, 2023 shows a container ship sailing at Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. (Photo by Han Xilong/Xinhua)

China's total imports and exports expanded 4.7 percent year on year to 16.77 trillion yuan in the first five months of 2023, official data showed Wednesday.

Exports grew 8.1 percent year on year while imports rose 0.5 percent in the first five months, it added.

In U.S. dollar terms, total foreign trade came in at 2.44 trillion U.S. dollars in the period, down 2.8 percent year on year, according to the General Administration of Customs.

In May alone, foreign trade increased 0.5 percent year on year.