China's foreign debts (excluding those of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) totaled 267.46 billion U.S. dollars at the end of September this year, up 8.07 percent over the end of last year.

Latest figures from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange show that mid- and long-term foreign debts decreased by 801 million dollars over the end of 2004 to 123.49 billion dollars.

Short-term debts increased by 20.76 billion dollars over the end of 2004 to 143.97 billion dollars.

In the January-September period this year, China registered 208.08 billion dollars of new foreign debts, up 67.63 percent year-on-year.

The net inflow of foreign debts during the first nine months of this year were 11.84 billion dollars, down 37.17 percent from the same period last year.

China's foreign debts soared by record 35 billion dollars in 2004, up 18 percent over 2003.

Source: Xinhua