| [00:00.10] |
From VOA Learning English, |
| [00:02.60] |
this is the Economics Report. |
| [00:06.09] |
Recent Chinese trade information |
| [00:09.07] |
shows that China's exports to North Korea |
| [00:12.76] |
decreased by more than 30 percent |
| [00:16.00] |
during the first six months of 2013. |
| [00:20.52] |
This is the first time in four years |
| [00:24.26] |
that exports have fallen. |
| [00:26.80] |
Exports decreased by about $1.6 billion |
| [00:32.42] |
from January to June, |
| [00:34.91] |
compared to the same period last year. |
| [00:38.20] |
The last time exports from China |
| [00:41.78] |
to North Korea dropped was in 2009, |
| [00:45.66] |
because of the world financial crisis. |
| [00:49.29] |
This year, there was a large decrease |
| [00:53.13] |
in shipments of unprocessed oil to North Korea. |
| [00:57.66] |
Lu Chao studies at the Liaoning |
| [01:01.89] |
Academy of Social Sciences, |
| [01:03.93] |
based on government data, |
| [01:06.86] |
he says China is the biggest oil provider to North Korea. |
| [01:12.44] |
He said last year China exported |
| [01:16.06] |
500,000 tons of oil to the country. |
| [01:20.00] |
Mr Lu says China place trade restrictions |
| [01:28.56] |
on North Korea this year, after its third nuclear test. |
| [01:33.74] |
He says the Chinese government made the decision |
| [01:38.02] |
based on a U.N. Security Council resolution. |
| [01:43.14] |
North Korea's decision to carry out |
| [01:46.58] |
its third nuclear test earlier this year |
| [01:49.91] |
has affected the relationship between the two countries. |
| [01:54.99] |
Following the test, Chinese students called on |
| [01:59.66] |
the government to completely cut ties with North Korea. |
| [02:04.19] |
protesters denouncing what they felt |
| [02:07.92] |
was Chinese government acceptance of a nuclear test. |
| [02:13.54] |
However, Chinese officials have condemned the test. |
| [02:18.02] |
They have also repeatedly called |
| [02:20.55] |
for the continuation of six-nation talks |
| [02:24.14] |
aimed at ending the country's nuclear weapons program. |
| [02:28.92] |
In May, the government operated People's Bank of China |
| [02:34.14] |
announced it was no longer doing business |
| [02:37.18] |
with North Korea's foreign trade bank. |
| [02:40.55] |
Last week, China's Vice President Li Yuanchao |
| [02:46.43] |
visited North Korea for the first time |
| [02:49.57] |
since Kim Jong Un became North Korea's leader. |
| [02:54.59] |
The two were seen together, smiling |
| [02:57.63] |
and waving to crowds during ceremonies |
| [03:01.01] |
marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. |
| [03:06.44] |
Mr Lu says, although the Vice President visited North Korea, |
| [03:12.31] |
relations between the two countries are still developing. |
| [03:16.99] |
He says the old alliance is now turning into |
| [03:21.47] |
a normal friendly relationship between two countries. |
| [03:26.10] |
Recently, officials from the United States and South Korea met. |
| [03:31.82] |
They announced their plan to continue |
| [03:34.91] |
placing restrictions on North Korea, |
| [03:37.60] |
and to seek more assistance from China in the process. |
| [03:43.28] |
And that's the Economics Report from VOA Learning English. |
