In the annual government work report last Friday, Premier Wen Jiabao outlined China's trade policy, saying it will "develop exports in a steady way" this year.

"It means China will not ignore exports, but is considering the issue seriously," said Zhang Xiaoji, a CPPCC member and senior researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council. "It is no doubt good news for China's manufacturers and exporters", since many of them are still suffering from the fallout of the global financial crisis.

The country should continue its export-supportive policies and keep the Chinese currency, or yuan, at a "reasonable" level, Zhang Zhigang said.

However, overseas pressure - both from the United States government and currency speculators - is mounting for China to hasten the appreciation of its yuan, since they believe the yuan is undervalued.

Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the central bank, said on Saturday that China must be "very cautious" in resuming yuan appreciation, which stopped in the second half of 2008. Zhou said it is only a temporary measure for dealing with the crisis, which means that the door for yuan appreciation remains open, analysts said.

"But we are not sure whether it will come next week or the second half of this year," said Stephen Green, head of research of Standard Chartered Bank (China).