Trade expansion "reasonable": official

The expansion rates of China's exports and imports are "reasonable", Huo Jianguo, a deputy director in the foreign-trade division of the Ministry of Commerce, told a conference Sunday. China's exports rose 25% in the first half of 2006 from a year earlier, while imports were up 21%. In January-June 2005, exports rose 33% and imports were up 14%. Huo said export expansion could experience further slows due to exchange reform and companies� costs, while imports could maintain their current levels. But he added that pressure on the country's trade surplus remained large. China's trade surplus hit a monthly record of US$14.5 billion in June and reached US$61.45 billion for the first six months of the year – more than half of the US$102 billion recorded for 2005.