Chinese-manufactured commodities currently account for 15 percent of the total sales volume in China's duty-free shops, according to the China Duty-Free Goods Group Company, the state-authorized exclusive operator of duty-free shops since 1984.

Duty-free shops first appeared in China in 1979. China now has about 150 such shops, located mainly in major entry-exit port cities across the country.

The shops offer duty-free goods mainly for overseas tourists, sailors, foreign diplomatic officials, visiting foreign experts, journalists and foreign officials of Chinese offices of foreign companies.

The duty-free sector has generated foreign exchange of over US$ 2 billion over the past 20-plus years, and its annual revenue reached US$ 200 million last year.

China's duty-free business has successfully joined the world duty-free market by setting up long-term and stable links with more than 100 name-brand goods producers both at home and abroad.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2001)