China exported more than US$44 billion worth of high-tech products in the first half of this year, a jump of 54.6 percent year-on-year, according to latest customs figures.

The amount accounts for about 23 percent of the country's total export during the period and the growth rate was 21 percentage points higher than that of the general exports.

Computer and telecommunications products contributed to 82.2 percent of the high-tech exports, growing 61.5 percent year-on-year to US$36.16 billion.

Other products displaying strong export momentum were mobile phones, electronic products and life science products.

The country's economically developed coastal areas have become the primary high-tech exporters. Guangdong Province in south China snatched the top place by exporting US$19.55 billion worth of high-tech products in the first six months, followed by Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin, Fujian and Beijing.

Foreign-funded enterprises, by exporting high-tech products valued at about US$37.1 billion, contributed to more than 84 percent of the country's total high-tech export in the same period.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2003)