China’s exports edged higher in dollar terms last month as Beijing pinned its hopes on a manufacturing-led revival to boost flagging growth in the world’s second-biggest economy.The value of China’s exports climbed 1.5 per cent in April from a year earlier, reversing an annual decline of 7.5 per cent in March, when lower prices battered Chinese producers. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a gain in export value of 1.5 per cent.

The value of China’s imports jumped 8.4 per cent in April, ahead of analysts’ expectations of growth of just below 5 per cent.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration is leaning on high-tech manufacturing to offset an economic decline stemming from lower property investment, weak consumer confidence and inefficient infrastructure spending.