China published a new list of imports that it is targeting at, such as much-needed technology, equipment, key parts, rare natural resources and environmentally friendly products.

The import list covers 209 types of high technology, including design and production of high-performance computers.

The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce jointly issued the new list yesterday.

China has been beefing up efforts on growing imports to balance its trade. In the first four months, its imports rose 29.6 percent annually to US$545 billion, and this helped cut its trade surplus by an annual 32.8 percent.

China will continue to bolster imports through signing more free trade agreements and offering streamlined government services, Yao Jian, a commerce ministry spokesman, said yesterday.

"For example, we have made it possible for exporters to declare their goods at customs seven days a week. The same should be done for importers," Yao said.

He urged the West to relax their export barriers on China.