Beijing's trade volume hits record high

Beijing's total foreign trade volume reached US$429.1 billion in 2013, up 5.1 percent compared to 2012, according to the statistics recently released by the Municipal Customs House, Chinanews.com reported. The total sum hit an all-time high, with US$63.2 billion in export, up 6.1 percent, and US$365.9 billion in import, up 5 percent. The city's trade deficit rose by 4.8 percent, up to US$302.7 billion. It's the first time that the city's export numbers have exceeded US$60 billion, thanks to the implementation of the development strategy which focuses on S&T as well as cultural innovation. The export of high-tech and cultural products stood at US$20.64 billion, accounting for 32.7 percent of the city’s total export volume. The city imported cultural producs worth US$620 million, up 39.2 percent. It topped the country in terms of cultural product imports, accounting for 29.8 percent of the national total. Trade volume between Beijing and the United States rose by 3.6 percent, up to US$35.35 billion