12-15-06

美中保證縮小貿易不平衡 (US, China Pledge to Narrow Trade Imbalance)

美國財政部長保爾森說，美國和中國同意努力縮小兩國間的貿易不平衡狀態。保爾森星期五在北京結束了與中國國務院副總理吳儀兩天的高層經濟會談後對記者說做出以上表示。他說，兩國同意採取措施，通過增加美國的國民儲蓄以及增加中國的國內消費和人民幣匯率的靈活性來解決全球的貿易不平衡。

美中兩國官員還同意，容許納斯達克和紐約證券交易所在中國開設正式代表處。保爾森及其率領的美國代表團受到了來自美國公司的壓力，他們能在人民幣匯率和市場準入方面對中國採取強硬立場。華盛頓說，人民幣匯率過低，使中國出口產品在國際市場上享有不公平的優勢。

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.

日本國會通過防衛廳升級議案 (Japan's Parliament Approves Defense Ministry Bill)

日本國會通過議案，將日本防衛廳升級為省。日本國會參議院星期五批准的這項法案將把原來隸屬於內閣府的防衛廳變成了一個有預算和政策制定權的省。這項立法還將使海外維和行動成為日本國防力量除了國防和國內賑災以外的經常活動。

日本國會眾議院11月份批准了這項立法。日本的和平憲法規定，日本武裝只限于執行非戰爭任務。日本憲法二戰以後制定，日本的保守派說，這部憲法已經過時。日本首相安倍晉三承諾，要爭取修改憲法中“不參與戰爭”的條款。

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 Conservatives say it is outdated.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.