China announced approval for 20 national hi-tech trade bases on Monday to boost exports of hi-tech products and improve competitiveness in international markets.

The new bases, mostly hi-tech development zones in such major cities as Shanghai, Chongqing, Wuhan and Xiamen, have more than 300 national scientific research institutes each, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and Ministry of Science and Technology.

They included the information technology, biological medicine, manufacturing, fine chemicals, new materials and new energy sources sectors.

With 18 bases approved last year, the move brings the number of national hi-tech trade bases to 38.

The MOC would help these bases develop products for overseas markets by providing support in research funding, personnel training, export credit, commercial information and protection of intellectual property rights, said MOC official Zhang Ji.

Official figures said China's exports of hi-tech products jumped 31.8 percent year-on-year to $314.4 billion in the first 11 months.