Trade between China and south Asian countries reached 7.5 billion USD from January to May this year, said an official of China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) on September 27.

Imports and exports between the two sides amounted to 12 billion USD in 2003, surging 45 percent over the previous year.

This is the result of the cooperation between China and its surrounding countries on economy, trade and technology. And this cooperation is in the interest of both sides, said the official.

He expressed China's hope to expand the bilateral trade.

By People's Daily Online