State think tank sees record trade surplus

A CHINESE government think tank says the country's trade surplus is likely to rise to a record US$275 billion, a state newspaper reported yesterday.

The forecast by the State Information Center would be an increase of nearly 55 percent over the US$177.5 billion surplus reported for 2006.

Total trade this year is likely to grow 23.1 billion to US$2.2 trillion, according to the forecast reported by the Shanghai Securities News.

Exports are projected to grow about 26 percent to US$1.2 trillion, while imports should rise 19.5 percent to US$946 billion, the report said.

The State Information Center is part of the country's main planning agency, the Cabinet's National Reform and Development Commission.