China's imports from US set record in first quarter, but their trade imbalance grows on strong Chinese exports (SCMPl, 13 April 2021)

Regarded as the world's factory and categorised as a developing economy, China has long faced overseas scepticism about its trade practice of selling more to other nations than it is buying.

However, the country's import growth rate in dollar terms rose 38.1 per cent in March - the same rate as in February, and the highest since May 2008 - far above the market expectations of a 24.5 per cent gain, according to official customs data released on Tuesday.

China's trade surplus narrowed to US$13.8 billion in March - the lowest total since the January-February period last year, when the country recorded a deficit at the height of its coronavirus outbreaks.

China trade surplus narrowed more than expected in March, do you think that it is good news to Chinese economy? Explain in detail.