The government says China's e-commerce transactions totaled 2.1 trillion US dollars in 2014.

The spokesman of the commerce ministry says the number represents growth of 25 percent compared to 2013.

China has the world's biggest online population, 632 million as of last year.

Online shopping has exploded in recent years as consumers turn to the Internet for cheaper products and overseas goods that are believed to be safer than domestic options, such as baby formula.

Authorities have said they hope e-commerce will become a new "engine" for growth in the world's second-largest economy.