Trade with Africa gallops

China's bilateral trade with Africa in 2008 rose 45.1 percent year-on-year to $106.8 billion, a historic high, the General Administration of Customs said yesterday.

China exported goods worth $50.8 billion to Africa last year, up 36.3 percent over 2007, while imports from the region rose 54 percent to $56 billion.

The record high bilateral trade also means that the goal set by the Chinese government of reaching $100 billion trade value with Africa by 2010 has been achieved beforehand.