MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

China's exports surged 42% last January.

China which in 2004 became the world's third trading power behind United States and Germany in January reported a 42% increase in exports compared to the same month a year ago.

Overseas sales reached 50, 8 billion US dollars, with imports totalling 42, 8 billion US dollars the lowest since last May, reported the Chinese Customs.

Favourable business conditions, a disciplined labour force, a currency fixed to the weakened US dollar and a booming economy have attracted massive foreign investment to China which last year only almost reached 60 billion US dollars. But the fixed parity of 8,27 Yuans to the US dollar since 1995 has caused insistent claims from trade partners, particularly the US, demanding the Chinese currency should be left to float (and revalue).

Beijing is also planning to build an additional 26,000 kilometres of railways in the next fifteen years completing a total of 100,000 kilometres by 2020, reported the Chinese official news agency Xinhua.

The project which will link by land all of China including the autonomous region of Tibet in the Himalayas will have an estimated cost of 241 billion US dollars, according to the National and Reform Committee.

"Trains are the most adequate transport system for China because they have great capacity, they are secure, don't demand much land or energy and do not contaminate", said Xinhua adding that "railways in the last few years have lagged compared to the money invested in highways and a trucking system".

This year the plan anticipates investing 12,5 billion US dollars in 58 new railway projects and the extension of another existing 48 lines.

The improvements should help increase the cruising speed of trains in China some of which in the old lines can only travel at 25 miles per hour.