China plans to strengthen four key elements for foreign trade in addition to boosting exports and opening more sectors to overseas capital, Foreign Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng said in Beijing on December 22.

Speaking at a national conference on foreign trade, Shi said that it is imperative to further implement the strategy of expanding foreign trade through science and technology, improve the structure of import and export commodities, and expand the export of mechanical and electronic products and high-tech products.

It is also imperative to deepen reform of the foreign trade system, strengthen macro guidance of the reform of state-owned foreign trade enterprises, further promote overseas contracting project and labor cooperation, expand shares of the international market, and also offer greater assistance to foreign countries, Shi said.

He underlined the importance of further promoting economic and trade cooperation with developing countries and neighboring countries, saying that it is important to encourage qualified enterprises to invest overseas, and actively develop the overseas processing trade.

It is also essential to implement the strategy of fully developing western China, and to offer more support and guidance for foreign trade growth there, the Chinese foreign trade minister said.

Shi also stressed the importance of fully preparing for China's entry into the World Trade Organization, adding that it is also essential that China promote multilateral and bilateral economic and trade relations.

He said that it is imperative to create a favorable international economic and trade environment, strengthen the legal system as it relates to foreign trade, improve administration according to law, establish the service system for foreign trade information, and correctly implement foreign trade policy and development research. (Xinhua)