BEIJING — China has seen notable expansion in foreign trade during the past decade amid the country's efforts to build an open economy, an official said on May 20.

The total imports and exports of goods have climbed from 24.4 trillion yuan (about $3.6 trillion) in 2012 to 39.1 trillion yuan in 2021, further consolidating China's role as the world's largest goods trading country, Wang Lingjun, deputy head of the General Administration of Customs said at a press conference.

China has remained as the world's largest goods trading country for five consecutive years since 2017, Wang said.

In addition to the sustained rise in trade volume, the country has also seen improvements to the structure of foreign trade, with new drivers successively emerging, Wang said.

"China's foreign trade has shown greater competitiveness in international competition, played a bigger role in driving economic growth and built a stronger foundation for long-term sound development," the official said.

During the past decade, efforts have been made in streamlining administrative procedures at ports, supporting the building of opening-up platforms, and promoting the orderly development of new forms of foreign trade, Wang noted.