(CGTN photo)

China's exports in yuan-denominated terms rose 15 percent year on year in the first half of this year while imports increased 25.7 percent, leaving a surplus of 1.28 trillion yuan (188 billion US dollars), according to General Administration of Customs data released on Thursday.

The Chinese economy in the first half of the year was stable, said Huang Songping, spokesperson for the customs authority, at a press conference. He added that the economy is expected to continue growing in the second half.

Huang Songping, spokesman for the General Administration of Customs, speaks at a press conference in Beijing? on July 13. /China.com Photo

Huang also mentioned that China has been strictly implementing the UN Security Council resolutions and has cut coal imports from the DPRK since February this year following missile tests by the country.

Chinese purchases of DPRK coal declined nearly 75 percent year on year in the first half this year, and all those imports occurred before February 18, official data showed.