That figure represented an increase of 3.8 percent compared with that for 2000.

Guangdong sold US$95.42 billion worth of products abroad last year, up 3.8 percent while its imports totaled US$80.07 billion, a growth of 3.7 percent.

The province had a foreign surplus of US$14.35 billion in 2001.

Despite the September 11 terrorist attacks which affected world economic growth, Guangdong's exports to North America still increased 0.2 percent to US$24.77 billion last year. The province's exports to Asia and Europe also saw a 6.3 percent and 1.8 percent growth, or US$52.3 billion and US$13.97 billion respectively, in the past year.

Guangdong also sold US$1.05 billion worth of products to African nations and regions last year, up 8.3 percent from 2000.

But exports to Latin America and the Oceania saw a slight reduction, down 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, or US$2.12 billion and US$1.23 billion respectively, last year. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the United States, European Union, Japan and Southeast Asia continue to be Guangdong's top five trade partners in 2001.

Exports from State-owned enterprises in Guangdong reached US$36.13 billion, a decline of 7.3 percent last year, making up 37.9 percent of the province's total exports.

(China Daily January 24, 2002)