The trade between southwest China's border province of Yunnan and ASEAN countries reached 3.03 billion U.S. dollars last year, indicating an annual growth of nearly 40 percent, local customs statistics show.

 

The Chinese province, bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, exported 2.17 billion dollars worth products -- mostly machinery and electronic products and fertilizers -- to ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in 2007, up 32.9 percent year-on-year, statistics with the Kunming Customs show.

 

Vietnam replaced Myanmar as the largest trading partner of Yunnan among 10 ASEAN countries last year, with the bilateral trade rising drastically by 90.9 percent to reach 970 million dollars, statistics show.

 

The trade with ASEAN took up the biggest share of the province's total trade with other countries and regions in 2007, or 34.5 percent.

 

"ASEAN has become the most dynamic market for Yunnan," a customs spokesman said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2008)