Shandong will be working hard this year on opening-up so that foreign trade will grow by about 10 percent, the governor has said.

Jiang Daming made the prediction in his report to a session of the 11th Provincial People`s Congress, which concluded on February 17.

Shandong`s foreign trade under the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) amounted to $699.6 billion, the provincial commerce bureau has reported.

The successes in foreign trade largely come from the province`s impressive business connections with some 190 countries and regions, especially Japan, South Korea and the United States.

Agriculture contributes a lot to this trade - more than $13.9 billion worth of farm produce went overseas last year, making Shandong China`s largest ag-exporter.

To increase the competitiveness of its ag exports, it will increase the amount of land devoted to higher-quality, safer produce, Jiang said.

Another area adding strength to its foreign trade is the software industry. More than 600 businesses involved in outsourcing have settled in Shandong, thanks to its outsourcing demonstration and IT training bases,.

Shandong plans to make its economic development zones more accommodating to international business, this year.

It has seven State-level economic development zones, including a high-tech park, an export-processing park, and a bonded area. About 70 percent of the export-oriented enterprises are located in these parks.