¡¡¡¡BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhuanet) -- China exported machinery and electronic products worth 55.49 billion U.S. dollars in the first five months of 2002, up 22.9 percent from the same period last year.

¡¡¡¡Statistics from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) show that during the January-May period, China's electric equipment and electronic products exports stood at 22.64 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year growth of 20.1 percent, while machinery products totaled 18.61 billion U.S. dollars, up 45.3 percent.

¡¡¡¡According to the GAC, exports of traditional staple goods continued to grow steadily. Clothing exports reached 13.71 billion U.S. dollars, up 4.6 percent, textile products 7.68 billion U.S. dollars, up 10.4 percent, shoes, 4.15 billion U.S. dollars, up 2 percent, plastic products, 2.33 billion U.S. dollars,up 16.2 percent, and toys, 1.75 billion U.S. dollars, up 8.4 percent.

¡¡¡¡Machinery and electronic products make up 47.8 percent of China's total exports and are the main force in China's export market. They have contributed to domestic industrial adjustment, the promotion of technology in enterprises, market prosperity and social stability as well as the development of national economy, experts say. Enditem