BEIJING, June 12 -- China's foreign trade has demonstrated resilience and vitality this year despite a complex external environment, with growth in both the scale and quality of trade in goods, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

According to Ministry spokesperson He Yadong, in the first five months of this year, China's imports and exports with Belt and Road partner countries increased by 4.2 percent, ASEAN member states by 9.1 percent, and African nations by 12.4 percent.

He said at a regular press briefing that these figures demonstrate China's trade network is becoming increasingly diverse, with emerging markets contributing to incremental growth.

The country's high-tech and high-value-added products have become more...