China's exports to North Korea decreased-英语听力

[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.