Bilateral trade between China and its main trading partners has continued to grow rapidly this year, according to the latest statistics released by Customs on Monday.

The statistics show that during the first two months of 2007, the EU continued to be China's largest trading partner, and that bilateral trade between China and the EU was valued at US$51.08 billion, an increase of 42.7 percent from the same period of last year, and a 23.3 percent year-on-year increase. The United States was China's second largest trading partner with a total trade value of US$43.85 billion and a percentage increase of 32.2 from that of last year, and the year-on-year increase was 6.9 percent. Japan is China's third largest trading partner, with trade between the two countries valued at US$33.49 billion dollars, an increase of 22.4 percent from that of the same period last year and a 10.7 percent year-on-year increase.

In addition, the value of bilateral trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations totaled US$27.68 billion, an increase of 30 percent and 1.8 percent from last year. ASEAN nations remain China's fourth largest trading partner.

According to statistics, the total value of foreign trade in Guangdong province alone was US$83.55 billion in the first two months of the year, an increase of 31.3 percent, ensuring it retained its place as China's largest trade province. Jiangsu province and Shanghai were ranked second and third, with a total trade value of US$49.73 billion and US$40.74 billion, a percentage increase of 34.9 and 27.7 respectively.

By People's Daily Online