China's trade surplus soared 73 percent in May from a year earlier to US$22.45 billion, Xinhua reported, citing data from the customs bureau.

That's more than the US$19.5 billion median estimate of 18 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The surplus would bring the gap for the first five months to US$85.76 billion, an 84 percent increase on a year earlier.

The Chinese government last month said it will boost imports to narrow a trade surplus with the U.S. that last year reached US$232.5 billion. The Ministry of Finance raised export taxes on 142 products and cut tariffs on 209 types of imports from June 1.

The World Bank last month raised its estimate for China's growth this year to 10.4 percent from 9.6 percent because of improved prospects for exports to Europe and developing countries.

China's economy, the world's fourth largest, expanded 11.1 percent in the first quarter. The trade surplus may swell to US$250 billion-US$300 billion in 2007 from a record US$177.5 billion last year, according to a forecast by the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planner.

Notes

soar vi.剧增

customs bureau海关

gap n.缺口

boost vt.推进

tariff n.关税

swell vi.膨胀，增加