BEIJING - China's cross-border e-commerce trade rose 9.6 percent year-on-year to 577.6 billion yuan (about $81.3 billion) in the first quarter of this year, data from the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) showed.

During the period, the country's e-commerce imports and exports with Silk Road e-commerce partner countries such as Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, Cambodia and Brazil, saw rapid growth, the ministry said.

The pace of international cooperation in e-commerce has accelerated, the MOC said, noting that for the first time, it organized Chinese e-commerce platforms to conduct roadshows in foreign countries. Through such an initiative, Chinese e-commerce firms connected with more than 60 small and medium-sized enterprises in Italy, according to the ministry.

ALSO READ: Cross-border e-commerce energizing export growth

In the first quarter, the national online retail sales reached 3.3 trillion yuan, an increase of 12.4 percent year-on-year, with service consumption continuing to lead the growth, the MOC said.