Beijing has set a target to export US$ 3.5 billion of goods this year -- a growth rate of 7.4 percent over the previous year.

Beijing will push forward e-commerce and encourage enterprises to make business transactions through the Internet, Beijing Vice-Mayor Zhang Mao said at a meeting on export and import Thursday.

Beijing will increase exports of high-tech products, exports by private businesses as well as exports of farm products. It will also promote exports of machinery and textile products to Africa, Latin America, Russia, and East Europe while cementing its traditional export markets of Japan, the United States, European Union and Hong Kong, which make up 70 percent of Beijing's export trade volume.

International chain businesses are also welcome to set up purchasing centers in Beijing, he said.

Statistics show that Beijing's imports and exports reached US$ 34.39 billion in 1999, up 12.7 percent compared with 1998.