The mainland says it will cut its surplus with the United States this year.
The Economic Information Daily said competition from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that had devalued their currencies would slow the growth rate of mainland exports to the United States, because they exported similar goods.
Its front-page article said the mainland would increase its imports because Washington would ease restrictions on hi-tech exports.
It said the United States had already partly lifted export restrictions on hi-tech products such as civilian-use nuclear technology.
The rapid increase in mainland imports would be supported by implementation of a central government policy to encourage the import of high- and new-technology products from the United States.
Mainland statistics for 1997 show exports to the US rose 22.5 per cent over the year, while imports grew by only 0.9 per cent.
Imports from the US consisted of US$3.36 billion in raw materials and manufactured products amounting to $12.94 billion, consisting of $8.26 billion of machines, including $1.27 billion of aircraft and aircraft parts, machine tools and microchips.
