China has gradually adopted international trade practices and established an open foreign trade system over the past three decades. That’s according to a white paper released by the Chinese government this morning.

The paper, entitled "China’s Foreign Trade", says the volume of Chinese imports and exports volume reached over 2.97 trillion U.S. dollars in 2010. That figure is 143 times the volume in 1978, when China first began to adopt its economic reforms and opening up policy. Currently, Chinese exports account for more than 10 percent of the global total, and imports over nine percent.

The nation has become the world’s largest exporter and second-largest importer. Since China’s accession to the WTO in 2001, the government has taken steps to lower tariffs and reduce non-tariff measures.

By 2010, China’s overall tariff level had been lowered to 9.8 percent. By 2010, all of China’s commitments made upon entry into the WTO had been fulfilled, and its efforts have been commended by a majority of WTO members, according to the white paper.

Source:cntv.cn