China does not pursue trade surplus: vice minister

BEIJING: China does not deliberately pursue a large trade surplus and plans to do more to increase imports, a vice trade minister said on Friday.

Wang Chao also repeated Beijing's long-standing calls for other countries to relax restrictions on high-tech exports to China, now the world's second-largest economy and importer.

China's trade surplus fell sharply in August from July's 30-month record, as exports pulled back while imports jumped to record high, customs data showed last week.

August's number also marked China's first reduction in its trade surplus since February.

"The Chinese government does not pursue a large and continuous trade surplus. We will continue reforming our import system, to make trade activities more free and convenient," Wang told a conference to commemorate the 10th anniversary of China's admission to the World Trade Organisation.

Noting rising protectionism after the global financial crisis, Wang called all WTO members to do their best to help restore world economic growth and push ahead the Doha round of negotiations.

China will contribute its own part to open domestic markets and facilitate imports to help balance its trade, he added.

"China's attitude to continue opening up its domestic market is firm and clear," he told the conference.

"We call on other countries to loosen unnecessary restrictions on exports," Wang said.

Wang did not name any countries, but Chinese officials have long complained about US and European bans on exports of high-tech products to China that can have dual use for military applications.

Copyright Reuters, 2011