CCTV9英语新闻：我国5月份出口总值同比下降2.8%（在线收听）

China's foreign trade continues to sustain pressure in May. 

China's total trade volume last month stood at 1.97 trillion yuan, down 9.7 percent year on year. The fall is smaller than April's figure, which had the worst performance in six years.

Imports continued a double digit drop of 18.1%, while exports slipped 2.8%.  That's narrower than April's result, suggesting improvement.

"The drop in April was 8.4 basis points narrower than March, and the drop in May is 3.4 basis points narrower than April," said Huang Songping, deputy director.

Officials are not too optimistic about foreign trade's trajectory. The official Exports Leading Index gauges the country's exporters' expectations and the number fell 0.9 points to 35 in May.

"It is the third straight month for the Exports Leading Index to drop. The pressure on China's foreign trade is huge. Therefore we must work to maintain healthy growth in the sector by cultivating new growth points and consolidating traditional advantages," Huang said.

The data also reflected some new trends. Export volume to several countries along the One Belt One Road region, including Egypt, Pakistan, Israel and Saudi Arabia grew at double digit rates.

"Our exports to emerging markets and the Belt and Road economies have outperformed the rest. This shows that China's export destinations are diversifying. It also shows that the strategy of One Belt One Road is gradually taking effect," Huang said.

China's trade with its traditional partners is showing a different picture. Trade volume with the US rose but trade with the EU, Japan and the ASEAN nations all posted negative growth.