For the first time, the annual imports and exports in Beijing exceeded RMB three trillion. According to the statistics released by Beijing Customs District of China on January 21, the imports and exports volume of Beijing (including that of the central Party committee and state controlled entities in Beijing, the same below) totaled RMB 3.04 trillion in 2021, an increase of 30.6% over 2020, with imports from and exports to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries reaching RMB 1.61 trillion and accounting for 53% of the total volume over the same period.

In 2021, Beijing saw steady progress in its foreign trade. The annual imports of Beijing were RMB 2.43 trillion, representing a year-on-year increase of 30.4%, 8.9 percentage points higher than the national average growth rate over the same period. The exports were RMB 611.85 billion, registering an increase of 31.2%, 10 percentage points higher than the national average growth rate over the same period.

The import and export volume of Beijing for the first three quarters of 2021 was RMB 683.23 billion, RMB 747.15 billion, and RMB 805.84 billion respectively, maintaining a good upward trend with stable increments. In the fourth quarter of 2021, the import and export volume was RMB 807.82 billion, securing stable operation at a high level. In the second half of 2021, the monthly import and export growth in Beijing remained above 30% year-on-year, demonstrating stability as well as strong resilience in foreign trade of the locality.

Beijing has seen rapid growth in its imports from and exports to BRI partner countries. In 2021, that number reached RMB 1.61 trillion, up by 37.3% and accounting for 53% of Beijing's total imports and exports during the same period. The city's exports to BRI economies reached RMB 371.78 billion, an increase of 44.6%, which was 13.4 percentage points higher than the overall export growth rate in Beijing over the same period.

During the same period, Beijing's imports from and exports to its top five trading partners, which are the European Union (excluding the United Kingdom), the United States, ASEAN, Australia and Saudi Arabia, all kept growing.

In 2021, primary goods became the "stabilizer" of foreign trade in Beijing. Beijing's annual imports of agricultural produce, crude oil, natural gas, coal and lignite, metallic minerals and ores totaled RMB 1.51 trillion, an increase of 39.2%, accounting for 62% of Beijing's total imports over the same period.

Private enterprises in Beijing have shown greater resilience and vitality in foreign trade. In 2021, the imports and exports of private enterprises in Beijing reached RMB 290.31 billion, a 29% increase. With the exports of COVID-19 test kits totaling RMB 8.17 billion, COVID-19 test kits became the most exported commodity of private enterprises in Beijing.

(Reporter: Xu Jing)