China's export of high and new technology products reached US$37 billion in 2000, surging 50 percent year on year and accounting for 15 percent of the country's total exports that year, sources from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) said in Beijing Saturday.

Statistics provided by the General Administration of Customs show that China's total import and export of high and new technology products were amounted to US$89.55 billion.

Analysts in Beijing attributed the rapid growth in high-tech product export to China's strategy of promoting foreign trade by relying on science and technology.

In recent years, China has adopted a series of policies to boost the export of high and new technology products, which, in combination with other policies in support of science and technology development and technological renovation, have encouraged domestic enterprises to sell their high-tech products overseas.

China's achievements in tapping the international market have also led to the increase of high-tech exports. Last year, the country hosted four major high-tech fairs in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen as well as Shaanxi Province. Governments at all levels organized enterprises to promote their products overseas through exhibitions and trade fairs.

The sound growth of China's overall national economy, the increase of exports in general and the world economic development also helped increase China's high-tech exports, analysts say.

According to MOFTEC officials, China's high-tech exports are mainly IT products, which include computers, telecommunication systems and accessories.

(Xinhua 01/20/01)