英闻天下——448 The Frontline of Russian-Chinese Trade

 　　The fact China's new President Xi Jingping chose Russia as his first foreign visit is no surprise to some. The two countries have been strengthening ties for many years.

 

　　Tourism's growing, there's talk of further energy cooperation, and in 2011 trade volume between the two topped 80 billion dollars, a figure expected to double in a few years.

 

　　North China's Heihe city is literally¹ at the front line of this cross border trade. CRI's Dominic Swire recently visited and brings us this report.

 

　　"We are standing² literally on the northern tip of China what you see behind me is Heilongjiang River, and if it wasn't for some fences and security³ guards I could just walk across there and it would take about 15 minutes to get into the Russian Federation⁴."

 

　　Walking on the river is no problem when the outside temperature is minus 30 degrees celcius. But most Russians prefer to drive. And many of them come here.

 

　　This is an indoor market the size of an aircraft hanger⁵. And it's been designed with Russians in mind.

 

　　"This market literally sells everything under the sun. And a good illustration⁶ of that is this shop here. I mean, just by the entrance you've got some telescopes, and turning round you have some Russian products, you've got your alcohol⁷ on the shelf here, you have some Russian dolls, you've got your Russian chocolate just down here and, if you have a spare ten thousand renmingbi, you can also pick up a moose's head."

 

　　Russian student Gerna studies across the river in the Russian city Blagoveshchensk. He says this place is well known.

 

　　"From Moscow people come to Blagoveshchensk and travel to China to Heihe."

 

　　Why?

 

　　"Because it's a good place, it's a good city. There are many places to relax."

 

　　For example?

 

　　"Saunas, clubs, different restaurants and, of course, prices."

 

　　Russians say products sold here are four to five times cheaper than back home. And locals don't need a visa to visit.

 

　　Guan Zhaohui's been selling Russian food and drink here for 10 years. She makes over 8 thousand dollars per year.

 

　　"Of course, cross boarder trade has made a big difference in Heihe. Everything's changed in the last three years. Russian trade has helped our economy develop fast. For example, there are now more people taking taxis; and hotels and health spas are also booming⁸. All of this contributes to Heihe's economy."

 

　　The local government runs the market. Wu Bo is Vice⁹ Deputy¹⁰ of the commerce¹¹ department.

 

　　"We promote policies that guarantee Russian shoppers equal treatment. Every item here has a bilingual label with a clear price. There may be some crime, but the Departments of Commerce and Public Security are working to stop this. The market's business model is becoming more like a supermarket where items are paid for collectively¹²."

 

　　As Chinese and Russian leaders discuss further cooperation on an international level, this small city of Heihe is benefiting directly.

 

　　There are already plans to increase transport connections, share energy and introduce tax benefits to further develop China's north and Russia's Far East.

 

　　For CRI, I'm Dominic Swire.

1 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

4 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

5 hanger   

n.吊架，吊轴承；挂钩

参考例句：

• I hung my coat up on a hanger.我把外衣挂在挂钩上。
• The ship is fitted with a large helicopter hanger and flight deck.这艘船配备有一个较大的直升飞机悬挂装置和飞行甲板。

6 illustration   

n.说明，例证；图解，插图

参考例句：

• Illustration by example is better than explanation in words.用实例说明比用词语解释清楚。
• He used photographs as illustration for his talk.他用照片为他的演讲作图片说明。

7 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

8 booming   

adj.急速发展的v.激增( boom的现在分词 )；猛涨；发出隆隆声；以低沉有力的声音说话

参考例句：

• The opera singer has a deep, booming, masculine voice. 这位歌剧演唱家有一副深沉而又浑厚有力的嗓音。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He is booming as a teacher. 作为一位教师，他日趋成功。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

10 deputy   

n.代理人，代表，副职；adj.代理的，副的

参考例句：

• John will act as a deputy for me during my absence.我离开期间，约翰将代理我的职务。
• She is the deputy headmistress of the school.她是那所学校的代理校长。

11 commerce   

n.商业，贸易；社交

参考例句：

• Commerce binds the two countries together.贸易把这两国结合在一起。
• They drew up plans aimed at expanding commerce.他们拟定了发展商业的计划。

12 collectively   

adv.全体地，共同地

参考例句：

• All members of the Cabinet are collectively responsible for decisions taken. 所有内阁成员对所作决定集体负责。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They collectively abstained (from voting) in the elections for local councilors. 他们在地方议会议员选举中集体弃权。 来自《简明英汉词典》