They would have been bad figures half a year go, but they are now regarded as light at the end of the tunnel.

Analysts say that China's latest import and export statistics, though still in negative territory, point the way toward gains later in the year.

China's imports fell 25.1 percent year-on-year in March to $71.73 billion, the fifth consecutive month to witness a double-digit decrease, according to figures released on Friday by the General Administration of Customs.