China's trade surplus jumped 45.9 percent from a year ago to 2.35 trillion yuan (about $379 billion) in 2014, although the world's second-largest economy missed its growth target for trade last year.

Exports rose 4.9 percent to 14.39 trillion yuan, but imports fell 0.6 percent to 12.04 trillion yuan, the General Administration of Customs said, without immediately giving figures in dollar terms.

China's net trade grew 3.4 percent last year, well below its annual target of 7.5 percent.

Chinese leaders have hinted that the country might miss its 2014 economic growth target for the first time in 15 years as the world's second-largest economy slows.

Zheng Yuesheng, a spokesman at the General Administration of Customs, told reporters that, "China's foreign trade maintained a steady growth and kept running within a reasonable range."

Zheng said China's trade this year "will grow faster than" last year. (Yonhap)