An international environmental organization says China is trying to stop illegal logging in northern Burma by closing its borders to timber trucks coming from the region.
The British-based group Global Witness says China is "showing the way forward" by instituting border controls, and for ordering Chinese loggers to leave Burma.
Global Witness estimates that more than 300 million dollars' worth of illegal lumber shipments from Burma entered China last year. Recently, however, most Chinese border checkpoints have barred access to logging trucks from Burma.
Some Burmese timber is reaching China through back roads, Global Witness says, but overall shipments have been greatly reduced.
Unregulated logging is illegal in Burma, but such trade has flourished in recent years.
Global Witness says China's action is a major breakthrough for those working to stop the exploitation of Burma's forests. The group has previously accused Beijing of not doing enough to punish Chinese firms that illegally transport timber into China.
Information for this report is provided by AP.
