The Chinese government is aiming for a 20 percent rise in
imports and exports of high-tech commodities this year.
Chang Xiaocun, head of the science and technology division with
the Ministry of Commerce, disclosed the target in
an article in a magazine published to mark the 99th China Export
Commodity Fair that opened on Saturday in Guangzhou, capital of
south China's Guangdong Province.
Chang wrote that foreign trade in high and new technology
commodities should reach US$500 billion this year.
The value of import contracts should exceed US$23 billion, a
rise of 20 percent, said Chang.
Trade in high and new technology commodities topped US$416
billion last year, of which imports accounted for US$197.71
billion, up 22.5 percent. The value of contracts for imported
technologies reached US$19.05 billion in last year, a rise of 38
percent.
The Chinese Export Commodity Fair, a biannual event launched in
1957, consists of two phases: manufactured goods, textiles and
garments, foodstuffs and medicines in the first phase; and
souvenirs, gifts and household commodities in the second.
The 99th fair, with 30,058 booths, has attracted 13,686
exhibitors, an increase of 1,031 over last year. The first phase
will run from April 15 to 20 and the second from April 25 to
30.
It is estimated approximately 450,000 people will attend.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2006)