BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Amid further containment of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, China is powering ahead in returning to work and resuming business and production. The following are the latest facts and figures:
-- China's foreign trade showed signs of stabilizing in March with export and import both beating bearish market expectations.
Exports dipped 3.5 percent year on year in yuan terms last month while imports climbed 2.4 percent, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.
-- China's Ministry of Commerce has inked a memorandum of understanding with the country's biggest commercial lender, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, to help foreign trade and foreign-invested firms counter the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic.
-- China's major development and policy financial institutions have increased bond issuance to replenish their capital while they provide more loans to support the economy against the shock from the COVID-19 epidemic.
In March, the China Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of China and the Agricultural Development Bank of China have issued up to 486.4 billion yuan (about 69.06 billion U.S. dollars) of bonds, data from financial information provider Wind showed.
-- China pledged to expedite the construction of a free trade port in south China's Hainan Province, as part of efforts to promote comprehensive reform and opening-up of the island. Enditem
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