Canadian exported more to China

CANADIAN exports to China grew strongly last year, Canada's trade minister said yesterday.

Exports rose about 27 percent according to preliminary figures, David Emerson said following a ceremony to open a new Canadian Embassy commercial annex in Beijing.

Two-way trade between Canada and China hit C$42.1 billion (US$42.4 billion) in 2006. The trade level made China Canada's second-largest export market after the United States, according to Emerson's ministry.

Canada recorded a C$26.8-billion trade deficit with China in 2006 against an overall trade surplus of C$43.6 billion.