The total import and export value of Quanzhou, Fujian province, in the first 11 months of 2019 reached 188.709 billion yuan ($27.02 billion), according to the statistics released by the Quanzhou Customs. 

The value of imports and exports trade with countries along the Belt and Road totaled 93.677 billion yuan, an increase of 18.2 percent over the same period last year, accounting for 49.6 percent of Quanzhou's total import and export value. 

Quanzhou's foreign trade industries put main emphasis on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries, and the volume of import and export to the Philippines, the European Union and Saudi Arabia continued to increase this year. 

The import and export to South Africa was 8.358 billion yuan, an increase of 24.5 percent, and to the United States 19.065 billion yuan, a decrease of 10.3 percent year-on-year. 

Statistics shows that in the first 11 months of this year, Quanzhou's exports were mainly traditional labor-intensive products. The city's traditional advantageous export commodities were still welcomed by the foreign customers. 

Products such as textiles, clothing, furniture, luggage and plastic products worth 82.396 billion yuan were exported to the ASEAN countries, a year-on-year increase of 15.0 percent.

While exports of high value-added machinery products and electronic products have also increased significantly. For example, exports of machinery and equipment increased by 25.5 percent, and exports of electrical and electronic products increased by 57.3 percent.

It is worth noting that Quanzhou's private economy and export-oriented economy have mutually benefited from each other. In the first 11 months, the total value of imports and exports of Quanzhou private enterprises reached 50.377 billion yuan, an increase of 33.5 percent year-on-year, said officials.

Foreign trade between Quanzhou and the countries along the Belt and Road has become a new driving force for the economic development of Quanzhou, according to officials.

Foreign trade between Quanzhou and the countries along the Belt and Road becomes a new driving force for the economic development of Quanzhou. [Photo/szb.qzwb.com]