Shenzhen City in south China's Guangdong province has been placed at the top among Chinese cities in both foreign trade volume and export volume for a succession of 11 years.  

The city did US$117.4 billion worth of foreign trade last year, up 34.58 percent. Of the total, exports made up US$62.96 billion, a rise of 35.24 percent, said local sources.  

The city also had an inflow of US$5.04 billion of overseas capital in the past year, a record high. Out of the world's 500 top companies, 98 have made investments in this southern Chinese city.  

Multinationals have built nine regional headquarters and 26 research and development centers in Shenzhen, which faces Hong Kong across a river and is one of China's busiest land ports for exit and entry.  

There are now more than 3,400 companies doing foreign trade from Shenzhen. 

(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2004)