German industrial group Linde, a leading maker of forklift trucks, said on Monday it will increase the export of spare parts made in east China's Xiamen, aiming to make the city its global production base.

Insiders say that the port city is to play a more important role in Linde's corporate plan in coping with the changeable international exchange rates.

"We will produce more spare parts here for our global customers. The varieties and export orientations of our products will be increased." said Chen Jinping, director of the sales department of Linde China.

In the meantime, the corporation is considering to buy more spare parts in China's market for factories worldwide.

"Xiamen is to become Linde's purchasing center in China." Chen said.

Earlier this year, the corporation built a R&D center in the city, the only R&D center of Linde outside Germany.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2005)