NANNING, May 18 -- Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region saw trade with countries along the Belt and Road Asian trade and infrastructure networks rise 20.4 percent during the first four months of this year, according to customs data released on Monday.

Trade between the region and countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, the land and maritime routes collectively known as the Belt and Road, reached 51.85 billion yuan (8.36 billion U.S. dollars) between January and April, the figures showed.

The private sector proved particularly adept at this trading, accounting for 80.6 percent of the total volume in the period.

Export surged 22.3 percent to 40.74 billion yuan while imports climbed 14 percent to 11.11 billion.

Trade with 47 countries on the land route rose 26.8 percent to 5.53 billion yuan while that with 32 countries on the sea route spiked 22.1 percent to 50.67 billion yuan.

Mechanical and electrical equipment, clothing and fabrics were the main exports from the border province, while machinery, crude oil and technical products were the main imports.

The Silk Road Economic Belt stretches from central and west Asia to Europe while the 21st century Maritime Silk Road extends through the South China Sea to countries in the South Pacific and through the Indian Ocean to Europe.