Jane Chen/ Shanghai Daily news

Shanghai is playing a strong role in China's foreign trade with its export-import volume exceeding US$207.2 billion in the first 11 months of this year, accounting for a quarter of the nation's total.

The trade volume is 3.8 times that of 2001, when China joined the World Trade Organization, according to Shanghai Foreign Trade and Cooperation Committee.

Exports have increased 25 percent to US$104.4 billion and imports grew 19 percent to US$102.8 billion.

High-tech products made up 39 percent of exports, nearly double the rate of five years ago.

Foreign-invested firms' contribution amounted to two-thirds of the city's total exports.

Privately run exporters now number some 23,000 in Shanghai, over half of which were founded after the country's entry into the WTO.