JINAN, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The foreign trade volume of east China's Shandong Province rose 7.8 percent year on year to 1.31 trillion yuan (185 billion U.S. dollars) in the first eight months of this year, according to local authorities.

The province's export totaled 714.4 billion yuan during the period, up 7.1 percent, while the import rose 8.6 percent to 597.8 billion yuan, said the customs in the city of Qingdao.

The combined trade volume of private enterprises rose 12.7 percent to 842.6 billion yuan, accounting for 64.2 percent of the province's total.

The province's trade with countries along the Belt and Road reported robust growth of 16.9 percent in the first eight months to 373.8 billion yuan, accounting for 28.5 percent of the total. Enditem