CRI听力：China s Import and Export Volume Down 29 Percent in Jan

Anchor: China's General Administration of Customs says the country's total volume of imports and exports decreased by nearly 30 percent year-on-year in January. Experts say that although China's foreign trade is continuing a downward trend, indications show that exports may again be on the rise.
 
Tu Yun has more.

Reporter:
Official statistics show that China's exports fell more than 17 percent year-on-year in January. The import volume fell by more than 40 percent. The trade surplus more than doubled to exceed 39 billion US dollars during the period.

However, the customs administration says, after deducting the effect of the week-long Spring Festival holiday during which a considerable amount of business transactions were suspended, the export volume actually grew by nearly 7 percent in Januray.
 
Zhang Yansheng, a senior economist on foreign trade with the 'National Development and Reform Commission', says China's export volume has shown signs of increases.

"Compared with the fourth quarter of last year, the export growth rate this month has given us confidence. The figure shows that at a time of global economic crisis, efforts by the central government to ensure the stability of exports and economic growth began to take effect in January."

Since last year, China has raised export tax rebate rates four times for some products, including textiles and garments, and has taken measures to help medium and small export companies to raise funds.

Zhang Yansheng says the outlook for China's foreign trade depends on both external demand and the success of government's stimulus measures.(www.hXen.com)

"The external demand is shrinking because the economy of the Untied States, the European Union and Japan is still sliding. Besides, policies launched by the government to ensure economic growth need time to take effect."

In January, bilateral trade volumes between China and its major trade partners, namely, the U.S., the EU and Japan, fell more than 15 percent respectively.

But Zhang Yansheng predicts that China's import situation will improve in the second quarter since the government's massive stimulus package worth over 580 billion US dollar, will soon yield results.

Tu Yun, CRI news.