国际英语新闻:Exports rise but outlook still cloudy

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, inflation in May slowed to 3 percent. Growth in industrial production was below 10 percent for the second consecutive month, the first time that has happened in three years.

Retail sales showed the smallest rise in almost six years, excluding the January and February holiday months. Fixed-asset investment, excluding rural households and not adjusted for inflation, rose 20.1 percent in the first five months, the weakest increase for a January-May period since 2001.

Changes pressing

"Time is pressing for the exporters to change their growth model," Zhang said.

"Demand in Europe has shrunk due to the global economic slowdown. But we have taken measures to maintain sustainable export growth," said Li Fucan, a marketing manager at Lapin Lighting Technology.

The Shenzhen-based lighting company exports almost 80 percent of its products to the European market, with sales reaching some $40 million last year.

"Our products are strictly in accordance with European standards. This has greatly helped us satisfy the demand in Europe," said Li, who also added the company will try to explore the domestic market opportunities to hedge against European demand falling further.

Lin Wei, general manager of Big Tree Toys Co based in Shantou, Guangdong province, said the outlook for the industry is not good.