VOA双语新闻：美促中国企业加强在美国直接投资

　　U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez is urging Chinese companies to step up their foreign direct investment in the United States. At the same time, he noted 1 that the huge U.S. trade deficit 2 with China is fueling protectionist sentiment in the United States.

美国商务部长古铁雷斯敦促中国企业加强对美国的直接投资。与此同时，他指出，美国对中国的巨大贸易逆差，助长了美国的保护主义情绪。

U.S. companies have invested $22 billion in China. In contrast, Chinese companies, flush with cash from the country's economic boom, only invest about $550 million in the United States.

美国企业在中国投资了220亿美元。相比之下，受惠于经济蓬勃发展而资金充足的中国企业，在美国的投资却只有大约5亿5千万美元。

In a speech to the American Chamber 3 of Commerce in China and the U.S.-China Business Council, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez encouraged more Chinese investment in the United States.

古铁雷斯在中国美国商会和美中商业委员会发表演说时敦促中国企业更多地在美国投资。

"We can't say it enough, please come to the U.S. Invest in the U.S. You will find no better market in the world in which to build a business, create wealth and create opportunities," Gutierrez said.

古铁雷斯说：“我们不能说这已经够了，请到美国来，在美国投资。你们将会发现，全世界没有比美国更好的市场，让你们做生意，创造财富，以及创造机会。”

The secretary said the U.S. government is preparing a 10-city series of programs to introduce Chinese investors 4 to opportunities in the United States. At the same time, Washington is also trying to streamline 5 the application process for U.S. visas for Chinese businesspeople.

古铁雷斯部长说，美国政府正在准备一项对十个城市的系列介绍，向中国投资者介绍美国的机会。与此同时，华盛顿也在努力简化中国商人来美国的签证程序。

One concrete development the U.S. official touted 6 was the implementation 7 of an agreement for Chinese tour groups to go to the United States.

有一项古铁雷斯感到高兴的实质发展是，已经落实了中国旅游团前来美国的一项协议。

"That's a big deal for us," Gutierrez said. "That's the first group travel, first group travel. Not only is it good for business, it will increase business on both sides, but think of what it will do for the understanding amongst both peoples."

他说：“这对我们来说是一件大事。这是我们首次组团出访，它不仅可以促进双方的商业活动，而且有利于两国人民的相互了解。”

The first Chinese tour group heads to the United States in June. Gutierrez said tourism is an important business for the United States because the United States has a tourism surplus.

第一个中国旅行团将于今年6月抵达美国。古铁雷斯说，旅游业对美国来说是一个重要的产业，因为美国在旅游业方面是顺差。

Gutierrez acknowledged that the U.S. trade deficit with China went down slightly in the most recent reporting period. But he warned that it is still $256 billion and warned that it is fueling American protectionist sentiment.

古铁雷斯承认，美中贸易逆差在最近的报告期内略有下降，但是他警告说，目前仍然存在的2560亿美元的美中贸易逆差，给美国的保护主义情绪火上加油。

Some U.S. lawmakers are calling for legislation to impose punitive 8 tariffs 9 on Chinese goods if Beijing fails to act on complaints about trade barriers and currency controls.

一些美国国会议员呼吁，如果中国不对有关中国贸易壁垒以及人民币汇率的抱怨采取行动的话，就应该通过对中国产品实施惩罚性关税的立法。

The U.S. official was in Beijing to meet his new Chinese counterpart, Chen Deming, and Vice 10 Premier 11 Wang Qishan, Beijing's envoy 12 to long-running trade talks with Washington.

商业部长古铁雷斯在北京和中国商务部长陈德明以及副总理、美中长期贸易谈判特使王岐山举行了会谈。