BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- China's total goods imports and exports expanded 32.2 percent year on year to 5.44 trillion yuan (about 838.16 billion U.S. dollars) in the first two months of 2021, sustaining growth momentum in previous months, official data showed Sunday.

Exports jumped 50.1 percent while imports rose 14.5 percent in yuan terms, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

[caption id="attachment_56245" align="alignnone" width="900"] Aerial photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows the container terminal of the Lianyungang Port in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Geng Yuhe/Xinhua)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_56246" align="alignnone" width="900"] A worker is busy at the production line of a sports goods factory in Wulian County, east China's Shandong Province, March 2, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)[/caption]

In February alone, China's foreign trade totaled 2.42 trillion yuan, climbing 57 percent from a year ago, the GAC said.

The country saw double-digit growth in foreign trade volumes with major trading partners in the Jan. - Feb. period. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations remained China's largest trading partner during the period, with the combined trade volume rising 32.9 percent year on year.

A worker is busy at the production line of a sports goods factory in Wulian County, east China's Shandong Province, March 2, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Other major trading partners such as the European Union, the United States and Japan saw trade volumes with China surge 39.8 percent, 69.6 percent and 27.4 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, China's foreign trade with countries along the Belt and Road amounted to 1.62 trillion yuan in the first two months, up 23.9 percent year on year.

Imports and exports by private businesses stood at 2.57 trillion yuan during the same period, rising 49.5 percent year on year and accounting for 47.2 percent of the country's total.

[caption id="attachment_56247" align="alignnone" width="899"] Aerial photo taken on Feb. 8, 2021 shows staff members arranging the loading of "Qilu" freight train in east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_56248" align="alignnone" width="900"] A worker adjusts threads at a hat manufacturing shop in Ligezhuang Town in Jiaozhou, east China's Shandong Province, March 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_56249" align="alignnone" width="900"] Workers process products for overseas markets at a textile company in Juye County in east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_56250" align="alignnone" width="900"] Workers produce aircraft life jacket bags for export in Jimo District of Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 23, 2021. (Photo by Liang Xiaopeng/Xinhua)■[/caption]