The State Council Information Office on December 7 released a white paper titled China's Foreign Trade, highlighting the country's achievements in boosting foreign trade and contributing to the world economy.

The white paper says that China will refocus the development model of foreign trade because low-cost advantages for export-oriented industries have been "greatly" weakened as the costs of labor, resources, energy and other production factors spiral upward.

Intellectual property protection and product quality are among two other pressing issues the government will seek to address in its pursuit of sustainable growth.