China's foreign trade rose in March after a dismal start to 2016. Data from the General Administration of Customs shows foreign trade increased 8.6 percent to 1.9 trillion yuan from a year earlier.

It was the first time in nine months that China saw a growth in exports. The General Administration of Customs says China's March exports surged almost 19 percent to more than 1 trillion yuan.

Meanwhile, imports slipped 1.7 percent to 855 billion yuan, making the trade surplus about 195 billion yuan. That was higher than the 14.6 billion yuan surplus in the same month last year. A Customs spokesman says that at the same time, China's manufacturing sector is showing positive signals. 

"Manufacturing is changing positively. Export Managers confidence is strengthening," Huang Songping, Spokesperson of General Admin. of Customs said, "According to data, China's export Managers Index was 36.1, up 3.4 from a month ago. The New Orders Index was 35.7, up 3.8 month on month. The export Managers Confidence Index was 40.2, increasing 4.7 from a month earlier."

Huang also says China is facing a complicated global trade environment but that the country is making an effort to overcome the negative factors.

"We think that this year's trade situation is still very complicated," Huang said, "The downside pressure is still big. But some positive factors are taking effect. As more supporting policies are implemented, China's goods trade is very likely to stabilize and gradually recover this year."

China has implemented several measures to support foreign trade since last year. Analysts say that stable forex rates, lower trade fees and increasing Free Trade Agreements will all help Chinese traders regain ground in global markets.