The statistics released by Swiss customs authorities in early February show that the country imported more from China than from Japan in 2005, making China the largest import source in Asia for Switzerland.

According to a report by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on its web site, in 2005, Swiss imports from China increased by 17.22 percent over the previous year to 3.31 billion Swiss Franc while its imports from Japan declined 4.16 percent to 2.8 billion Swiss Franc.

Swiss exports to China also rose last year. It sold 3.4 billion Swiss Franc goods to China, up by 14.36 percent.

China's exports to Switzerland are mostly electromechanical products, textiles, shoes, precision instruments, watches, jewelry, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

By People's Daily Online