Minister of Commerce Chen Deming gives a press conference on China's international trade and domestic consumption in Beijing, March 7, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's aggregate trade in January and February will increase by about 7 percent year-on-year and the trade situation will be "better in the next half", Commerce Minister Chen Deming said on Wednesday.

"China's exports in January and February will probably register a growth of 7 percent while growth in imports will be higher. China's overall trade will see a slight increase this year and the trade growth will be more satisfactory in the next half (of the year) since the trade situation will probably be better in the next half," Chen said at a news conference in Beijing.

China's export growth experienced a month-on-month decline since August, mainly because of the deepening European debt crisis and rising costs at home, according to Chen. China "can achieve a trade growth of 10 percent this year, a goal promoted by Premier Wen Jiabao, but hard work is needed to ensure the growth".