Trade between China's Guangdong Province and France surged 31.7 percent year-on-year to reach US$2.89 billion last year, accounting for 21.6 percent of the total trade volume between China and France. 

Among European countries, France is the fourth biggest trade partner of Guangdong.

The trade volume between Guangdong and France, reached US$19.22 billion in the 10-year period from 1994 to 2003, customs figures show.

Guangdong has reported increasing exports to France since 1995, with the annual trade surplus reaching US$350 million between 1995 and 2001.

Benefiting from China's entry to the World Trade Organization in late 2001, Guangdong's exports to France expanded, with its trade surplus surging to US$540 million in 2002 and US$1.33 billion last year.

Guangdong's exports to France reached US$2.11 billion last year, compared with the annual export volume of US$1.07 billion for the previous nine years.

The province's export commodities have expanded from traditional labor-intensive products, such as handbags and boxes, plastic products and toys, to high-tech products including mobile phones, printing equipment, laptops and microwave ovens.

Guangdong mainly imports advanced technological equipment such as parts for generators, aircraft, nuclear reactors and mobile phones.  

(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2004)