Southwest China's Guizhou Province reported US$1.5 billion of foreign trade in 2004, up 53.8 percent year-on-year.
  
According to the Guizhou provincial commercial department, exports of the province topped US$867 million in 2004, up 47.4 percent year-on-year, or 12 percentage points higher than the national average.
  
While imports topped US$647 million, up 63.3 percent, or 27.3 percentage points higher than the national average.
  
The foreign trade growth in the province has displayed two outstanding characteristics, said the department source.
  
The province witnessed sharp increases in imports and exports through processing trade which topped US$410 million in 2004, up 134.3 percent over the previous year, or 80.5 percentage points higher than provincial average.
  
Also imports and exports through processing trade accounted for 27.4 percent of the province's total foreign trade in 2004, in comparison with 18 percent in 2003 and 14.5 percent in 2002.
  
Secondly, collective and private enterprises have become a driving force in boosting the province's foreign trade growth.
  
In 2004, foreign trade by collective and private enterprises topped US$105.2 million and US$102.76 million, up 99.3 percent and 254.6 percent year-on-year. 

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2005)