US, China agree on Energy Cooperation

US, China agree on Energy Cooperation

中美达成能源合作协议

Cabinet-level officials from Washington and Beijing Wednesday concluded two days of talks in Annapolis, Maryland with a commitment to cooperate on energy and environmental issues and begin work on a bi-lateral investment treaty. VOA's Barry Wood reports there was also discussion about financial markets and currency values.

来自北京和华盛顿的内阁级别官员星期三在马里兰州安纳波利斯结束了两天的会谈. 双方承诺在能源和环境问题上展开合作并启动双方投资协议工作. VOA记者巴里伍德报道说还有关于金融市场和货币价值的讨论.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson hailed the achievements of the talks, the fourth round in a strategic economic dialogue launched two years ago. He said the 10-year energy and environmental agreement is particularly significant as the US and China are the world's biggest oil consumers and biggest emitters of green house gases. The investment treaty-which will take some time to negotiate-would enhance each nation's access to the other's market. The two countries already have a huge and growing trade relationship. The Chinese delegation was headed by Vice Premier Wang Qishan.

美国财政部长保尔森对谈判成果称赞有加, 这是两年前启动的中美战略经济对话的第四轮. 他说四年的能源与经济协议非常有意义, 因为中美是世界上最大的石油消费国也是最大的温室气体排放国. 需要花些时间谈判的投资协议会让两国更好地进入对方市场. 两国已经形成了庞大并逐渐增长的贸易关系. 中国代表团由副总理王歧山带领.

Treasury Secretary Paulson praised the Chinese for allowing their currency to appreciate 20 percent against the dollar over the past three years. That appreciation, he said, should continue as it will bring benefits to Chinese policy makers. “ They're going to be able to manage their economy much more effectively if they have a market-driven currency," said Henry Paulson. "It's going to be better in fighting inflation, you know, monetary policy will be more effective."

美国财政部长保尔森赞扬在过去的三年中中国允许人民币对美元升值20个百分点. 他说人民币升值应该继续, 因为它会给中国的决策者带来好处. “如果他们拥有有市场主导的货币, 他们将有能力更有效地掌控本国经济. 这能更好地遏制通货膨胀, 你知道货币政策将会更有效.”

Paulson sad the Chinese remain committed to having a market-based exchange rate and that bi-lateral differences concern only the pace of appreciation.

保尔森说中国继续致力于由市场主导兑换利率, 双边的分歧担忧的只是升值的速度.

For their part, the Chinese called attention to the weakness of the dollar and called for action to bolster the dollar against other leading currencies. Paulson said the ongoing credit crisis that erupted last August with bad loans in the US housing sector tarnished the US reputation as a leader in financial services.

在中国方面, 中国要求关注美元贬值问题并呼吁采取行动巩固美元对应其它主要货币. 保尔森说去年八月因美国住房领域的不良贷款而爆发的持续的信贷危机败坏了金融业里美国作为领头人的名誉.

The Chinese, said Paulson, had regarded the US as a teacher in global financial matters. Now they see that the teachers aren't perfect," he said. "So, we had a lot of discussion. They want to learn from our mistakes." US and European financial institutions made risky housing-related loans that have gone bad, causing hundreds of billions of dollars of losses.

保尔森说中国过去一直把美国看作全球金融业务的导师. 现在他们发现导师并不完美, 因此我们有很多的讨论. 他们想从我们的错误中猎取教训. 美国和欧洲的金融机构造成的冒险性不良住房贷款, 导致了千美元的损失.

Private sector economists are supportive of the U.S.- China economic dialogue, which they believe will deepen the bi-lateral relationship and possibly prevent misunderstandings and conflict. The dialogue was launched, in large part, to deter the US Congress from enacting restrictive trade measures against the Chinese, who are perceived as having an unfair advantage in competing against higher-cost US companies.

私人部门经济学家支持中美经济对话,  他们相信这会加深双边关系,并尽可能地避免误解和冲突. 这次对话的启动, 很大程度上是为了防止美国国会对中国制定限制性的贸易措施. 中国与高成本的美国公司竞争中, 被察觉获得了不平等的优势.

VOA Standard English / By Barry Wood / Washington / 18 June 2008

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