China's exports to the European Union, its largesttrade partner, rose 1.3% year-on-year during the first fourmonths of 2016, customs data showed Sunday. 

Exports to the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China's second- and third-largest trade partners respectively, both declined 3.5%. 

China's overall exports rose by 4.1% year-on-year in April, while imports dropped 5.7% , the General Administration of Customs said. 

The monthly trade surplus was 298 billion yuan about (45.9 billion US dollars), up from March's 194.6 billion yuan, according to the data. 

Total foreign trade values edged down 0.3% year on year to 1.95 trillion yuan in April, and dipped 4.4% to 7.17 trillion yuan in the first four months combined.