China's exports to grow 15 percent in 2009

    China's export volume is expected to achieve a growth rate of around 15 percent in 2009 despite the impact of the financial crisis??global economic downturn, a trade expert with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has said.



"It is true that coastal provinces such as Guangdong have been facing much pressure as global dem f traditional commodities has weakened significantly," Mei Xinyu, an expert with the MOC Academy of International Trade??Economic Cooperation.



In China, the so-called "traditional commodities" of export refer to garments, accessories, textile, shoes??furniture, among others.



It is also true that China's exports of electrical??electronic products has maintained a 20-percent growth rate this year, Mei said.



"The electrical??electronic manufacturing industry, featuring advanced technology, holds the key to the development of the Chinese economy. As long as the exports of electrical??electronic products continue to grow, China's export prospect won't be too bad," Mei said.



Figures??the China General Administration of Customs show China's exports of electrical??electronic products were worth 288.89 billion U.S. dollars in the first 10 months, jumping 21 percent??the same period last year.



During the economic crisis, multinationals in the manufacturing industry are likely to speed up the process of moving their production into China??source more made-in-China products in an effort to cut cost, he said.



In addition, the Chinese government had raised tax rebate rates f exports three times since late July to??more favorable environment f exporters, he said. He predicted that the government would adopt more favorable policies in the future to encourage both exports??imports.



CGAC figures showed that China's foreign trade volume in the first 10 months to October hit 2.189 trillion U.S. dollars, up 24.4 percent over a year earlier. The volume was larger than that f the entire year of 2007, which stood at 2.174 trillion U.S. dollars.



The total comprised 1.202 trillion U.S. dollars in exports, up 21.9 percent year on year,??986.34 billion U.S. dollars in imports, soaring 27.6 percent.



Guangdong, in South China, has long been the country's export powerhouse. In the first 10 months, Guangdong recorded 577.83 billion U.S. dollars in foreign trade volume, accounting f 26.3 percent of the country's total, according to the CGAC.



xinhua