提示:点击播放器中的“精听”即可进入听写训练。
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。
Ghana arrested more than 100 Chinese nationals this month, they were accused of illegally mining gold. In February, Zambia seized a Chinese mine because of safety concerns. And Gabon is set to seize property from three foreign oil companies - including one from China.
加纳本月初逮捕了100多名中国公民,他们被指控非法开采黄金。今年2月,赞比亚因为安全问题查封了一家中国控制的矿山。而加蓬计划查封三家外国石油公司的资产,其中包括一家中国公司。
Some observers say these and other incidents appear to be part of reaction by African government against Chinese investment on the continent. China became Africa’s top trade partner in 2009. Yet some Africans believe they are exporting valuable resources to China but not getting enough in return.
一些观察人士表示,这些以及其它事件似乎是非洲政府针对中国在非洲大陆投资的一部分回应。2009年中国成为非洲最大的贸易伙伴。然而一些非洲人认为他们把宝贵资源出口到中国,却没有得到充分回报。
Bright Simons is the director of development research with the IMANI group. He says China is no longer known only for giving loans and sending workers to build hospitals and roads. He says China is now a business partner.
布赖特·西蒙斯是IMANI组织的发展研究部门的负责人。他表示,中国不再仅仅以提供贷款和派遣工人修建医院和道路而著称。他称中国现在是一个贸易伙伴。
"My view is that it has just gone to another phase, a more mature phase, where Africans are much more sober about what it will take to engage China on a level playing field."
他说,“我的观点是,它只是进入了另一个更为成熟的阶段。这个阶段非洲人对在公平竞争环境下采取什么措施应对中国更为清醒了。”
Ghana has taken steps against foreigners involved in small-scale gold mining, also called "shallow mining." Only Ghanaians can get government approval for this kind of mining. Bright Simons says Ghanaians then "rent" the permits to foreigners who have the money and training to actually get the gold.
加纳已经采取措施反对外国人参与小规模金矿开采,这也被称为“浅层开采”。只有加纳人才能获得政府批准进行这类开采。西蒙斯表示,加纳人随后把许可证“租”给拥有足够资金和培训的外国人去实际开采黄金。
Observers say nations like Niger and Gabon, just want to get more for their natural resources - more money for the state, more local jobs and better living conditions. Worldwide demand for oil, coal, iron ore and uranium has made their negotiation position stronger. Some nations are also concerned about abusive or illegal operations.
观察人士表示,像尼日尔和加蓬等国家只是想从它们的自然资源中获得更多回报 -- 更多税收,更多本地就业机会和更好的生活条件。对石油、煤炭、铁矿石和铀的全球性需求使得他们的谈判地位更为强势。一些国家还担心滥采和非法开采。
Ben Payton is an Africa expert for the risk study group Maplecroft, he says ties between China and African governments are for the most part "very good and getting stronger." But he says the reported poor treatment of local workers by Chinese businesses could test those relations.
本·佩顿(Ben Payton)是风险研究组织Maplecroft的非洲问题专题。他表示,中非政府之间的关系很好并越来越强。但他说,中国企业提供给本地工人待遇差的报道可能会考验它们之间的关系。
"In places like Zambia, like Ghana, there’s a lot of resentment towards the Chinese and a lot of pressure on the government to avoid granting concessions to Chinese companies. In the longer term, pressure from below really is going to be the challenge for the China-Africa relationship."
他说,“在赞比亚和加纳等地,对中国人的反感很大,也有很大压力要求政府避免对中国公司做出让步。长远来说,来自底层的压力即将成为中非关系的挑战。”
He says African nations are limiting the number of foreign employees and demanding that investors process natural resources locally. In Gabon, the government says it is planning not to extend operating promises for oil fields held by three companies, including Addax, which is part of China’s Sinopec. The government blames Addax for reducing Gabon’s cut of the profits. Addax has denied this.
他说,非洲政府正在限制外籍员工数量,并要求投资者在当地加工自然资源。在加蓬,政府声称正计划不延长三家公司旗下油田的经营许可,其中包括中国石化公司分支Addax公司。政府指责Addax公司降低了加蓬的利润份额。Addax公司对此予以否认。
Ben Payton says this dispute shows Gabon’s desire to get more from its own natural resources. Despite the recent problems, most experts believe the partnership between China and African will grow - but perhaps on more equal terms.
佩顿表示,这一争端显示了加蓬从自有自然资源获得更多回报的愿望。尽管有最近这些问题,多数专家认为中非伙伴关系将会增强,但可能会基于更平等的条款。