China's trade surplus in November was slightly smaller than reported last week but still the second-highest on record, according to data released Monday.

Figures from the General Administration of Customs showed a November surplus of US$22.9 billion, below the US$23.4 billion reported Thursday by the Xinhua News Agency. There was no immediate explanation for the US$500 million discrepancy.

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The report comes ahead of a visit to Beijing this week by a U.S. delegation led by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who is under pressure from American lawmakers and businesses to push Beijing to open its markets more to foreign goods and loosen its currency policies.

Exports in November grew 32.8 percent while imports were up 18.3 percent, according to the General Administration of Customs.

The total surplus for the first 11 months of the year totaled US$156.5 billion, according to the customs data.

China's trade surplus for all of 2005 was US$102 billion.

Economists had forecast a surge in China's trade surplus due to government efforts to rein in an investment boom in real estate and some other industries that Beijing worries could ignite inflation or lead to a debt crisis.

Economists say investment and credit controls would slow imports of equipment and raw materials, while foreign demand for China goods boosts exports.

China's six biggest monthly trade surpluses on record all have occurred this year.

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