East China Province Reports High Growth in Foreign TradeForeign trade in Zhejiang, a prosperous province in east China, increased 52 percent annually to total US$27.83 billion in 2000.The increase represents a growth of 20.5 percentage points more than the national average. The total volume included US$19.44 billion of exports, up 51.1 percent, and US$8.39 billion of imports, an increase of 54.4 percent. Local experts attributed the growth in both exports and imports to the province's efforts in improving its product mix and diversifying its international markets. Mechanical and electrical products, textiles, and garments accounted for two-thirds of Zhejiang's exports in the year. China's total trade volume reached US$474.3 billion in 2000, the highest since 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded, according to the latest statistics from the General Administration of Customs. Exports of the country were valued at US$249.2 billion, up 27.8 percent, while imports totaled US$225.1 billion, up 35.8 percent. The average growth rate of China's foreign trade is 13.4 percent in the past 20 years. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |