12-15-06

美中保证缩小贸易不平衡 (US, China Pledge to Narrow Trade Imbalance)

美国财政部长保尔森说，美国和中国同意努力缩小两国间的贸易不平衡状态。保尔森星期五在北京结束了与中国国务院副总理吴仪两天的高层经济会谈后对记者说做出以上表示。他说，两国同意采取措施，通过增加美国的国民储蓄以及增加中国的国内消费和人民币汇率的灵活性来解决全球的贸易不平衡。

美中两国官员还同意，容许纳斯达克和纽约证券交易所在中国开设正式代表处。保尔森及其率领的美国代表团受到了来自美国公司的压力，他们能在人民币汇率和市场准入方面对中国采取强硬立场。华盛顿说，人民币汇率过低，使中国出口产品在国际市场上享有不公平的优势。

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the United States and China have agreed to work towards narrowing the trade imbalance between the two nations. Paulson talked to reporters Friday after wrapping up two days of of high-level economic talks with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi in Beijing. He said that the two sides agreed to address global imbalances through greater national savings in the United States, and to increase consumption and exchange rate flexibility in China.

U.S. and Chinese officials also agreed to allow the Nasdaq market and New York Stock Exchange to open formal business offices in China. Paulson and his delegation were under pressure from U.S. companies to take a hard line with China over the value of its currency and market access. Washington says the yuan is undervalued, giving Chinese exports an unfair advantage in international markets.

日本国会通过防卫厅升级议案 (Japan's Parliament Approves Defense Ministry Bill)

日本国会通过议案，将日本防卫厅升级为省。日本国会参议院星期五批准的这项法案将把原来隶属于内阁府的防卫厅变成了一个有预算和政策制定权的省。这项立法还将使海外维和行动成为日本国防力量除了国防和国内赈灾以外的经常活动。

日本国会众议院11月份批准了这项立法。日本的和平宪法规定，日本武装只限于执行非战争任务。日本宪法二战以后制定，日本的保守派说，这部宪法已经过时。日本首相安倍晋三承诺，要争取修改宪法中“不参与战争”的条款。

Japan's parliament has passed legislation to upgrade the country's defense agency into a full ministry. The measure approved Friday by Japan's upper house will transform the defense agency from an affiliate of the Cabinet Office to a policy-making ministry with a budget. The legislation would also make overseas peacekeeping activities a regular part of the defense forces' activities along with defense and disaster relief at home.

The lower house approved the bill last November. Japan's military is restricted to non-combat missions, as stipulated in the country's pacifist constitution. The constitution was shaped after World War Two. Conservatives say it is outdated. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promised to work toward revising the constitution's "no war" clause.