US Envoy Urges China to End Barriers to Pollution Technologies

美国促中国废除环保产品进口限制

　

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has urged Beijing to scrap barriers on imports of pollution-reducing technology. The secretary praised China's appreciating its currency, but said it should continue.

　

美国财政部长保尔森星期四在北京发表讲话，敦促中国废除那些针对污染减排技术所设立的进口限制措施。保尔森同时赞扬中国允许人民币升值，并且说人民币还应该继续升值。

Secretary Paulson said high tariffs and other trade barriers are preventing the latest anti-pollution products from entering China.

　

保尔森指出，中国政府设立的高关税和其他贸易壁垒妨碍着最新的防污染产品进入中国。

He praised China's energy and emission reduction goals, but said high technology is needed for China's severely polluted air and water. He noted that China is home to 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities, and is to surpass the United States as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

　

他对中国政府制定的节能减排目标表示赞赏，但是又说，中国需要高新技术来解决严重的空气污染和水源污染问题。保尔森指出，在全世界20个污染最严重的城市中，16个是中国城市；而且中国即将超过美国，变成世界上排放温室效应气体最多的国家。

Speaking at China's Academy of Sciences, Paulson said the technology would improve the health and well being of the Chinese people.

　

保尔森在中国科学院发表讲话时强调，科学技术可以改善中国人民的健康和福祉。

"There is something that does not seem economically sensible, and does not seem morally right to, to not be using clean technologies and charging a tariff on them," he said. "So, I think that is one area where we can all work together."

　

他说：“有些事情从经济上讲是不可理喻的，从道德上讲是不正确的，那就是不但不利用清洁技术，而且还向它们征收关税。因此我认为，在这个领域，我们是能够携手合作的。”

Chinese officials have argued Washington's restrictions are the problem. The United States limits exports of technology believed to have a dual military use.

　

然而中国官员反驳说，华盛顿的出口限制措施才是这个问题的关键所在。美国政府限制军民两用技术的出口。

Paulson met with China's President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao during two-days of meetings. They discussed closer U.S.-China cooperation on energy conservation and an upcoming round of bilateral trade and economic talks.

　

保尔森在他这次为期两天的中国之行中会见了中国国家主席胡锦涛和中国政府总理温家宝。他们讨论的议题包括美中两国在能源节约方面加强合作以及下一轮有关贸易和经济问题的双边对话。

The United States is hosting a fourth round of the twice a year Strategic Economic Dialogue in June.

　

美国将在6月主持召开第四轮一年两次的美中战略经济对话。

Paulson said it is important that the two countries increase cooperation to target problems they are both facing.

　

保尔森指出，至关重要的是，美中两国扩大合作来解决双方共同面临的问题。

"Long-term structural challenges confront both of our economies," he said. "For the United States the challenge is to save more and spend less, for China the challenge is to save less and consume more."

　

他说：“我们两大经济体都面临着长期的结构性挑战。对于美国来说，我们面对的挑战是：如何增加储蓄和减少开支；对于中国来说，你们面对的挑战是：如何减少储蓄和增加消费。”

He welcomed China's letting its currency, the yuan, rise in value and said it should continue.

　

保尔森还表示，欢迎中国允许人民币升值，并且希望人民币继续升值。

The yuan has increased in value by 18 percent since Beijing ended its fixed exchange rate with the dollar in 2005. The currency is four percent higher against the dollar this year.

　

自从2005年北京取消了人民币对美元的固定汇率制度以来，人民币迄今为止已经升值18%。仅仅在今年第一季度，人民币对美元汇率就攀升了4%。

The yuan is believed by many economists to be undervalued. Washington partly blames the exchange rate for its record trade deficit with China.

　

很多经济学家认为，人民币的价值被大幅度低估。华盛顿一直抱怨说，美国对华贸易赤字连年打破记录，部分原因就是人民币对美元存在不合理的汇率偏差。