Passage 1 The US dollar value of Chinese exports increased at an average rate of almost 18 per cent per annum between 1978 and 1983, while imports increased by approximately 11 per cent per annum. As a result, the visible trade surplus rose sharply from US $1.4 billion in 1981 to US $4.4 billion in 1982 and US$3.7 billion in 1983. Exports grew much faster than imports during this period not only because of the p emphasis placed on exporting by China’s economic planners, but also because a number of industrial projects were postponed in 1979. Official recognition that foreign technology could play a major role in modernising the Chinese economy had caused imports to rise by more than 50 per cent in 1978 placing undue strain on the national economy. Grain imports have fallen sharply over the past few years—China became a net grain exporter in 1984—and in 1983 the country started to export soyabeans and cotton.
Why did the more than 50% rise in imports of 1978 place undue strain on China’s national economy
