Shanghai, September 18 (Xinhua) — Statistics released by Shanghai Customs on the 18th show that in the first eight months of this year, Shanghai's import and export growth with Belt and Road partner countries expanded, while the decline in its imports and exports with Europe and the United States narrowed.

　　According to statistics, in the first eight months of this year, Shanghai's imports and exports with Belt and Road partner countries totaled 999.87 billion yuan (RMB, the same below), up 4.3% from the same period last year (the same below), with the growth rate expanding by 0.8 percentage points from the first seven months; its imports and exports with the European Union and the United States totaled 530.93 billion yuan and 313.31 billion yuan respectively, down 6.9% and 1.9% respectively, with the declines narrowing by 1.2 percentage points and 1 percentage point respectively from the first seven months. During the same period, Shanghai's imports and exports with ASEAN, Taiwan region of China and South Korea all maintained growth.

　　In the first eight months of this year, Shanghai's total imports and exports reached 2.81 trillion yuan, up 0.6%. Among them, exports were 1.17 trillion yuan, up 2.9%; imports were 1.64 trillion yuan, down 1.1%.

　　In the first eight months of this year, the import and export value of foreign-invested enterprises accounted for 57.1% of Shanghai's total imports and exports. During the same period, the import and export value of private enterprises accounted for more than 30%, and that of state-owned enterprises accounted for more than 10%.

　　Statistics show that mechanical and electrical products are important foreign trade commodities for Shanghai. In the first eight months of this year, mechanical and electrical products accounted for 68.6% of Shanghai's total export value, and they also accounted for more than 40% of imported goods.