The Chinese mainland surpassed the United States to become Japan's biggest trade partner in fiscal 2006 for the first time ever, according to a report released by the Japanese Finance Ministry on Wednesday.

 

In fiscal 2006, Japan's exports to the Chinese mainland climbed 21.2 percent to a record high of 11,314.5 billion yen (about US$95.9 billion), while imports from the Chinese mainland surged 13.0 percent to a record 14,113.1 billion yen (about US$119.6 billion), according to the preliminary report.

 

A ministry official was quoted by Kyodo News as expecting the trend to be continued, given recent growth in Japan's exports to and imports from the Chinese mainland.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2007)