Exports to ASEAN countries up 20.1%

China's exports to the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2012 rose 20.1 percent year-on-year to $204.27 billion, the fastest export growth amid China's top 10 trade partners, Zheng Yuesheng, spokesman of the General Administration of Customs told a news briefing on Thursday.

China's imports from ASEAN member countries increased 1.5 percent year-on-year to $195.82 billion in 2012. China's trade surplus with the ASEAN was $8.45 billion in 2012, while in 2011 China's trade deficit with the ASEAN was $22.84 billion, Zheng said.

The ASEAN was China's third-largest trade partner in 2012, with bilateral trade at $400.09 billion, up 10.2 percent year-on-year.