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China's foreign trade is expected to grow by 15 percent in 2005, with imports and exports balanced, according to a draft plan for national economical and social development reaching Saturday.

The report predicts "new vitality will be injected into China's export" as a result of the fact that the government has lifted all controls over the right to engage in foreign trade.

Last year, China's foreign trade volume reached 1.1548 trillion US dollars. Exports increased by 35.4 percent to 593.4 billion US dollars, and imports grew by 36 percent to 561.4 billion dollars.

Exports of electromechanical and high-tech products increased rapidly last year, according to the report.

China's foreign trade has been expanding in recent years but still stands at less than 850 US dollars per capita, far lower than the global average of 2,400 dollars.

Editor: Catherine