A foreign trade industry's 2006 annual dinner was held in Guangzhou yesterday (February 15). It was organized by Guangdong Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Department, Guangdong Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Guangdong Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment and Guangdong Chamber of International Commerce.

Officials from Consulates-General and representatives from overseas financial organizations in Guangzhou attended the event.

Last year Guangdong achieved a foreign trade volume about 428 billion US dollars, up 20 percent compared with 2004 and accounting for 30 percent of the nation's total. Export product value was about 238 billion US dollars, up 24 percent and ranking first in Chinese mainland for the consecutive 20th year.

Actual foreign investment was about 12.4 billion US dollars with a growth rate of 23 and a half percent.

Editor: Yan