Exports by the province, which borders Shanghai, totaled 19.96 billion US dollars, up 23.3 percent over the same period of last year, while its imports grew by 25.5 percent to 15.8 billion US dollars with a trade surplus of 4.12 billion US dollars, an increase of 15.4 percent.

Monthly foreign trade statistics show the province's trade performance is improving rapidly.

The province's foreign trade volume for July reached 6.26 billion US dollars, an increase of 45.7 percent with exports up 42.7 percent to 3.4 billion US dollars, and imports up 49.5 percent to 2.85 billion US dollars.

Analysts with Nanjing Customs attributed the fast foreign trade growth to improving world economic situation and China's proactive fiscal policy.

Overseas-funded and private firms have become the driving force behind the growth as they account for 25 billion US dollars, or 69.8 percent of the province's total foreign trade.

Solely funded overseas firms contributed 42 percent to the province's exports during the seven-month period, or about 8.39 billion US dollars, and 52.3 percent to imports totaling 8.61 billion US dollars.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2002)