Xi'an's foreign trade tops 300 billion yuan in nine months

Xi'an, capital city of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, saw a year-on-year increase of 26.1 percent in its total foreign trade to 324.84 billion yuan ($50.88 billion) in the first three quarters of the year, according to Xi'an Customs.

Of that, exports came in at 171.3 billion yuan and imports totaled 153.54 billion yuan, rising 32.6 percent and 19.6 percent year-on-year, respectively.

South Korea continued to maintain its position as the largest trading partner with Xi'an. In the first three quarters, Xi'an's trade with South Korea came in at 73.14 billion yuan, an increase of 8.9 percent, accounting for 22.5 percent of the city's total foreign trade.

Xi'an's trade with other major trading partners, namely the European Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States, respectively hit 39.65 billion yuan, 30.03 billion yuan, and 26.77 billion yuan.

Meanwhile, the city's foreign trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative reached 50.8 billion yuan, up 28.2 percent year-on-year.

Foreign-invested enterprises were still the main driving force in the city's foreign trade, with their operations responsible for 63.9 percent of the city's total foreign trade.

In addition, the comprehensive free trade zones in the city reportedly had a dynamic role in stimulating the overall performance. The foreign trade handled by the city's comprehensive bonded zones reached 210.17 billion yuan, up 21.5 percent.