Premier Li Keqiang called for greater balance in foreign trade not only through promoting exports but also importing more high-quality goods. Li spoke at the start of a two-day visit to Weihai, a port city in Shandong province. “As a major trading country in goods, China wants a balanced foreign trade instead of intentionally pursuing a trade surplus,” he said. The year’s first three months saw trade in goods increase by 21.8% to CNY6.2 trillion year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs. Local officials reported to Li that Weihai’s exports in the first quarter far exceeded imports. Shandong’s imports and exports exceeded CNY419 billion last year, an increase of 28.9% year-on-year, the highest among the nation’s coastal provinces. In the first quarter, Weihai’s exports of food and agricultural goods grew quickly. Exports of vegetables and related products increased by 37.8% during the first three months, compared with the same period in 2016. Besides the Port of Weihai, Premier Li also visited Sunjiatong Hospital; the Dishang Group, a clothing manufacturer; and the local market regulatory office.