China's export volume of foreign trade ranked the world fifth in the year 2002, one place higher than the previous year. The import volume ranked the world sixth, the same with previous year, as is known lately from the nation's Customs General Administration.

In the year China realized an export volume of US$325.6 billion, 22 percent higher than previous year, with its percentage in world total export rising from 4.3 percent in 2001 to 5.1 percent in 2002, according to WTO statistics. The top four world exporters are the US, Germany, Japan and France.

In 2002 the import volume for China is US$295.2 billion, up 21 percent and its percentage in world total trade volume rising from 3.8 percent in 2001 to 4.4 percent. The top five world importers are the US, Germany, Britain, Japan and France.

Since currently there is no authoritative institution on trade ranking, the UN and WTO usually publish in February and March statistics reported by each country for the world reference.

(People's Daily April 6, 2003)