Beijing is confident of hitting its 5% economic growth target this year despite the U.S. and China imposing hefty levies on each other’s exports.

Members of Donald Trump's cabinet gave conflicting messages on Sunday about whether negotiations with China over tariffs are taking place, as the Republican president has asserted. The Trump administration signaled openness last week to de-escalating a trade war between the world's two largest economies that has raised fears of recession.

China’s role in global trade has shifted significantly. In recent years, on a regional basis, Southeast Asia has surpassed it to become the largest trading partner. This shift has implications for China’s economic strategies and its international relationships,