Overseas-invested businesses in china chalked up US$174.5 billion in foreign trade in 1999, 48.4 percent of the country's total.

Total exports of the overseas-funded firms jumped 9.5 percent to reach US$88.63 billion, as compared to an export growth rate of 1.8 percent by state-owned enterprises.

According to report, electronics and machinery products top the list of export items.

Imports by overseas businesses in 1999 grew 11.9 percent to US$85.88 billion.

China's total trade value for 1999 was US$360.649 billion, including US$194.931 billion for exports, according to statistics released by the General Administration of Customs.

Exports by solely foreign-invested businesses were US$43.360 billion and imports US$37.846 billion in 1999.