JAPAN EARTHQUAKE REDUCES EXPORTS
Japan's exports to China rose 4.7 percent year-on-year to 15.99 billion U.S. dollars in April, down from a 26.4-percent surge in the first quarter, as the effects of the Japanese earthquake on bilateral trade became more apparent.
On April 8, China banned imports of agricultural products and food from 12 regions located close to the site of Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant, which was critically damaged during the recent earthquake and tsunami.
"It's an emergency measure for the world to ban food imports from Japan. China and Japan will discuss how to promote bilateral trade during Commerce Minister Chen Deming's visit to Japan this week," Yao said.
The European Union overtook Japan to become the biggest source of imports into China during the January-April period.
"The ministry has noticed the change. China will strengthen its economic and financial ties with Japan and participate in Japan's reconstruction," Yao said.
He added that Premier Wen Jiabao is due to attend the fourth trilateral summit of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea in Japan, which will be held from May 21 to 22.
Yao also said that China's trade surplus has fallen over the past three years as the country has increased its imports. The trade surplus accounted for 3.1 percent of China's gross domestic product last year, according to Yao.
Japan's exports to China rose 4.7 percent year-on-year to 15.99 billion U.S. dollars in April, down from a 26.4-percent surge in the first quarter, as the effects of the Japanese earthquake on bilateral trade became more apparent.
On April 8, China banned imports of agricultural products and food from 12 regions located close to the site of Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant, which was critically damaged during the recent earthquake and tsunami.
"It's an emergency measure for the world to ban food imports from Japan. China and Japan will discuss how to promote bilateral trade during Commerce Minister Chen Deming's visit to Japan this week," Yao said.
The European Union overtook Japan to become the biggest source of imports into China during the January-April period.
"The ministry has noticed the change. China will strengthen its economic and financial ties with Japan and participate in Japan's reconstruction," Yao said.
He added that Premier Wen Jiabao is due to attend the fourth trilateral summit of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea in Japan, which will be held from May 21 to 22.
Yao also said that China's trade surplus has fallen over the past three years as the country has increased its imports. The trade surplus accounted for 3.1 percent of China's gross domestic product last year, according to Yao.
