The fall in China's foreign trade would be lower than 20 percent in 2009 compared with the previous year, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Friday.

Because of a lower comparison basis in the fourth quarter last year and policies to ease and stimulate exports, the country's foreign trade would fall at a slower pace or even rise slightly during the rest of the year, MOC said in a report posted on its website.

However, MOC warned uncertainties and unstable factors China's foreign trade would face as world recovery would be complicated and the global demand would not improve in short term.