Cars run on a road near Beijing's central business district on Sept 20, 2019. (Photo: Sipa)

Beijing saw its exports rise 2.9 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year in a complex global economy, according to Beijing customs.

The total foreign trade of the capital was 1.13 trillion yuan ($161.4 billion) for the first half, down 18.7 percent year-on-year. Imports dropped 23.3 percent to 880.55 billion yuan, while exports rose 2.9 percent to 248.15 billion yuan.

Exports of private enterprises in Beijing rose 2.4 percent year-on-year for the first six months, which illustrates what the private sector can do in stabilizing foreign trade.

Foreign trade of State-owned enterprises in Beijing were down 23.7 percent from the previous year. Trade of foreign-invested enterprises dropped 5.7 percent.