China-E.U. trade volume in 2005 to exceed US$200 billion

Jan. 11, 2006 (China Knowledge) - The bilateral trade volume between China and the E.U. is expected to reach a new high of US$200 billion for the year of 2005, as reported by the Information Office of China’s Ministry of Commerce.

In the first 11 months of 2005, the bilateral trade volume between China and the E.U. reached US$196.78 billion, up 23.6% over the same period in 2004. This accounted for 15.3% of China’s total foreign trade volume.

Of the China-E.U. trade volume from January to December in 2005, China’s export value totaled US$130.2 billion, up 35.9% compared with the same period in 2004 and its import value totaled US$66.56 billion, a rise of 5% over the same period in 2004.

In 2005, the E.U. remained as China’s largest trade partner while China was the E.U.’s second largest trade partner.