Imports contributed 496.71 billion yuan to China's fiscal revenue last year, up 17.7 percent or 74.71 billion yuan from the previous level.

Related readings: China to end tariff exemptions on some imported equipment Commerce Minister: Huge trade surplus to be reduced lTrade surplus reaches US$177b

The growth rate is seven percentage points higher than that of 2005 and approaches the 20-percent hike in last year's imports volume, Commissioner Xie Xuren of the State Administration of Taxation told a press conference here on Wednesday.

The country's total fiscal revenue surged 21.9 percent year-on-year, or 677 billion yuan to the record high of 3.7636 trillion yuan (482.5 billion U.S. dollars) last year.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)