China: a big exporter, and an even bigger importer.

1. Generally, China’s export of high quality clothes and textiles at comparatively competitive price will increase the welfare of the whole world.
2. The majority of developing countries are still at a very low level of development, and the average income and living standard are also low. As is known to all, there are complex historical reasons lying behind, and this should not be attributed to China’s rapid economic and trade development, not to mention the export in textile and clothing industry.
3. China is striving to build a market economy, and the textile and clothing industry has been fully opened to free competition. Chinese enterprises take the opportunity to develop and upgrade their facilities and technology, and thus establish their competitiveness in this process. Undoubtedly, there is competition within developing countries in the textile and clothing market. However, it is not China’s intention to drive any developing country out of the market. In fact, many textile and clothing factories in developing countries were set up under the help of China. China has taken measures to improve the design and quality of its clothing and textile products, so as to establish its own brands and avoid the competition with other developing countries. Besides, with the rapid growth in its IT industry, the importance of clothing and textile industry has been decreasing.
4. China is committed to construct a harmonious world, which means that, among others, less developed countries should develop hand in hand. As a developing country, China will never forget the days we fought against colonialism and imperialism for independence and liberation; also, China will never forget the help and support from our developing countries that helped China recover the seat at the UN. China has been maintaining good cooperative relationship with developing countries in UN, WTO, as well as other international forums and work together for the common interests of all developing countries. China has been making tremendous efforts to help other developing countries by financial and technical assistance, reciprocal bilateral trade, and any other possible means. Now China has provided duty-free and quota free market access for most products from LDCs, and China imports more from developing countries than exports to them. (See the table below).

China Trade Statistics 2005

(Unit: Billion US $)

Region Import Export Balance
Asia 441.5 366.4 -75.1
Chinese Taipei 74.7 16.5 -58.2
Republic of Korea 76.8 35.1 -41.7
Japan 100.5 84.0 -16.5
Hong Kong, China 12.2 124.5 112.3
Oceania 18.0 12.9 -5.1
Australia 16.2 11.1 -5.1
New Zealand 1.3 1.3 0
Africa 21.1 18.7 -2.4
Latin America 26.8 23.7 -3.1
North America 56.3 174.7 118.4
Europe 96.5 165.6 69.1
EU 73.6 143.7 70.1
Total 660.1 762.0 101.9

Source: China Custom Statistics