the more important metric is value added of the export vs import. china import raw material, which is naturally cheaper than the finished goods that they export, hence the disparity and trade surplus. if all you export is raw material, then use that to import finished product, then you'll get much less bang for the buck, as you're essentially trading raw material for finished goods with next to no value added. see also the india export "boom" through retrading russian oil. their industry is still stagnant, their people is still poor, and nothing about the foundation of their economy has changed, even though they "export" more.
United States