Opening to the outside world has greatly promoted the development of China�s foreign trade. Between 1979 and 1999, China�s foreign trade volume increased by 15.3 percent annually. In 2000, the three targets directly related to the import and export trade all exceeded the US$ 200-billion mark for the first time, with the total export volume coming to US$ 249.2 billion, the total import volume US$ 225.1 billion and Customs duties US$ 242.1 billion.
In 2001, China�s import and export trade volume topped the US$ 500-billion mark, to attain the grand total of US$ 509.47 billion, the export volume being US$ 266.16 billion and import volume US$243.61 billion. At present, more than 220 countries and regions in the world have had trade exchanges with China. China�s 10 major trade partners are: Japan, the United States, the European Union (EU), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Republic of Korea, Taiwan Province, Australia, Russia and Canada.
