Beijing typically combines January and February trade data to adjust for distortions caused by the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls on different dates each year.
China’s exports were boosted by strong demand for electronics while shipments of agricultural and manufactured goods also rose.
Trade with European countries grew by 27.8%, while exports to Asean countries – a group of South East Asian nations including Thailand, Singapore and Philippines – climbed by nearly 30%.
But China’s exports to America fell more than 10% as Trump imposed tariffs and other measures to address trade imbalances between the two countries.
Last week, China set an annual economic growth target of 4.5%-5%, down from its 5% goal in 2025, which had been met largely due to exports.
Exports have been the key driver of China’s economy, lifting it in spite of poor domestic spending and a property slump.
The meeting between Trump and Xi come as China, like many country’s in Asia, is dealing with the economic impact of the US-Israeli war with Iran, which has disrupted the global energy market.