HEIHE, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- In 2023, the Heihe Area of China (Heilongjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone saw a remarkable surge in foreign trade, achieving a total import and export value of 24.482 billion yuan (about 3.4 billion U.S. dollars), marking an annual growth of 56.9 percent. Meanwhile, a total of 16 foreign-funded enterprises were attracted to the area, resulting in a direct utilization of foreign capital totaling 1.273 million U.S. dollars, up 27.3 percent year on year.