Central China's Henan Province did US$1.28 billion in imports and exports in the first quarter of this year, up 33.6 percent year-on-year, reporting a favorable balance of trade at US$284 million, according to local customs.

The United States remains the largest trade partner with Henan with bilateral trade reaching US$228 million, up 46.8 percent year-on-year, followed by the European Union countries with US$162 million, Hong Kong with US$117 million, Japan with US$115 million, and the Republic of Korea with US$102 million.

Trade with the five partners, combined US$724 million, accounted for more than half of local total foreign trade.

Local exports to other destinations were also on the rise during the first three months of this year, with the volume to ASEAN nations going up 20 percent year-on-year to US$72 million, the volume to India rising 47 percent to US$290 million, and that to Taiwan soaring 71 percent to US$240 million.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2004)