SHIJIAZHUANG, July 1 -- The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region saw its foreign trade increase by 5.9 percent year on year to 2.07 trillion yuan (around 287 billion U.S. dollars) in the first five months of this year, according to Shijiazhuang Customs.

The region's foreign trade accounted for 12.3 percent of the country's total in the period.

From January to May, the region's imports reached 1.53 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4 percent, while its exports amounted to nearly 542 billion yuan, up 11.6 percent year on year.

During the period, mechanical and electrical products accounted for about half of the total export value, while refined oil products posted robust export growth, up 81.7 percent year on year.

Meanwhile, crude oil is the region's major import item, occupying over one-third of the total import value. Imported high-tech products and agricultural products also registered rapid growth during the period.

China initiated the strategy of coordinating the development of the national capital of Beijing and neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province in early 2014 to create a model with a better economic structure, a cleaner environment, and improved public services.