China hopes the U.S. makes "solid steps" to...>

CHINA: China hopes the U.S. makes "solid steps" to reduce restrictions on

exports to China and facilitate a balanced, stable and healthy development of

Sino-U.S. trade, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng said Thursday according

to the ministry's website. In the first eight months of the year China's imports

from the U.S. rose 20.1% to $100.4 billion -- the highest in almost five years

and higher than the 13.5% overall Sino-U.S. trade growth rate as well as the

11.2% growth rate of China exports to the U.S., Gao said. China has never

purposely pursued a trade surplus with the U.S. and current conditions are the

result of market forces, Gao said.