JINAN - China's Shandong province saw its foreign trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative rise 45.5 percent year-on-year to over 423.48 billion yuan ($65.47 billion) in the first half the year, official statistics have shown.

The province's trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) accounted for more than 45 percent of its total trade volume with Belt and Road countries during the period, according to statistics announced at a press conference held by the provincial government.

Exports to Belt and Road countries hit 227.58 billion yuan, up 41.8 percent year-on-year, and imports from these countries grew 50.1 percent to 195.9 billion yuan.

The top commodities exported to Belt and Road countries were mechanical and electrical products, as well as steel.