China's economic strength continues, trade surplus with US narrows

Beijing

CHINA'S global imports soared and exports remained strong in January, while its trade surplus with the United States narrowed after reaching record levels last year, official data showed Thursday.

Imports for the month surged 36.9 per cent year-on-year, pointing to robust demand in the world's No 2 economy to start the year.

China's continued economic strength flies in the face of the authorities' campaign to limit credit growth and reduce winter pollution by cutting industrial production.

The wave of imports - buoyed by rising commodity prices - greatly surpassed analyst estimates of 10.6 per cent growth for the period, according to Bloomberg News…