Exports increase 15 percent, leading to 1.28 trillion yuan trade surplus

China's foreign trade prospects are set to remain upbeat during the upcoming six months, after expanding at the fastest pace since the second half of 2011.

The General Administration of Customs said on Thursday that China's foreign trade was 13.14 trillion yuan ($1.94 trillion) from January to June, an year-on-year increase of 19.6 percent.