VOA慢速英语2015 外国公司觉得在中国不受欢迎

Foreign Companies Feel Less Welcome in China 外国公司觉得在中国不受欢迎

About 500 American companies operating in China say they are making a profit. But top-level officials with the companies say they increasingly feel unwelcome and targeted by the Chinese government.

大约500家在中国的美国公司称在盈利，但这些公司的高管称越发感到中国政府对他们不欢迎了。

The American Chamber¹ of Commerce in China released the results of a survey of its members earlier this week. Fifty-seven percent of top-level managers said they feel Chinese officials are concerned about investigating foreign companies. The survey said that 47 percent of the officials felt unwelcome doing business in the country. That was an increase from 44 percent in the group’s report last year. However, most businesses asked -- 70 percent -- said they remain “profitable²” or “very profitable.”

中国美国商会本周早些时候发布了对其会员调查结果的报告，57%的高管称他们感觉中国官方对调查外国公司表示担忧。调查称47%的高管感觉在该国做生意不受欢迎，去年该组织的报告显示这个数字为44%。不过，70%的被调查企业都表示仍然“获利”或“非常获利”。

James Zimmerman is chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, also known as AmCham China.

詹姆斯·齐默曼是中国美国商会主席。

“People are making money. But there are always challenges. For the last 35 years there have been challenges. Anyone that says there was a time when there was no challenges or there was that golden era forgets that there has always been challenges here.”

"人们还是在赚钱，但总是会遇到挑战，在过去35年间一直有挑战。那些说过去没有挑战或者是黄金时代的人忘记了，其实一直都有挑战的。"

In China, the investigation³ of foreign companies has become common since President Xi Jinping took power. Under his leadership, China has launched a campaign to improve food safety, and against official corruption⁴. Chinese officials have examined the operations of Microsoft, Qualcomm, Audi, McDonald’s and other foreign companies.

在中国，自习大大上台以来，对外国公司的调查开始变得司空见惯。在他的领导下，中国发起改善食品质量和反腐的运动。中国官方还检查了微软、高通、奥迪、麦当劳等外国公司。

James Zimmerman says he does not believe the government is targeting such companies on purpose.

詹姆斯·齐默曼说他认为政府并非故意针对这些公司。

AmCham China represents more than 1,000 U.S. businesses. Its representatives often meet with U.S. and Chinese officials.

中国美国商会代表了1000多家美国公司，其代表们经常和美、中官员会面。

Mr. Zimmerman has been working on China-related trade issues for more than 20 years. He says that he was personally involved in developing China’s Anti-Monopoly⁵ Law.

齐默曼解决与中国相关贸易问题已经20多年了，他说他个人还参与了中国反垄断法的制定。

He says many of the cases against foreign companies were not raised first by the government.

他说很多针对外国公司的案例并非首先由政府提起的。

It can be difficult for private companies to operate in China’s business environment. The companies have trouble competing against state-owned businesses. The country has experienced huge changes since it moved from a planned economy to one that is more market-driven. However, the state still has a strong influence in business.

对私企来说，在中国的商业环境下运作可能不容易。这些公司在与国有企业竞争方面有困难，自从计划经济转为市场经济以来，中国已经发生了巨大变化。不过，政府对企业的影响仍很大。

The study found that 83 percent of those who gave answers noted⁶ concerns about the effects of Internet censorship on their business. Mr. Zimmerman says that companies are mainly concerned about how Internet controls can affect the flow of information. Those are things that affect everyone, he says.

这项研究发现，83%的受访者表示担心互联网审查对本公司的影响。齐默曼说这些公司主要担心互联网控制对信息流动的影响，他说这些事情影响到每个人。

“Those are things that affect me, that I find from time to time. But it seems to be more of an issue over the last six months where the Internet has slowed down or has been blocked in access to basic information has impacted on what I can do in my business.”

“这些事情影响到我，我一直都意识到。但过去6个月以来这个问题似乎更严重，互联网开始变慢或者被封，无法获得基本的信息，这就影响到我的工作。”

He adds that Internet censorship affects some businesses more than others. However, services industries that depend on information are among the hardest hit.

他说互联网审查对一些企业的影响比较大，不过依赖信息的服务业受影响最大。

China’s economic slowdown

As China’s growth slows, a growing number of foreign companies say they do not plan to increase investment in the country.

随着中国发展的减速，越来越多的外国公司称他们不准备增加在中国的投资。

The report notes that the percentage of companies that see China as one of several places in which to invest is increasing. In the new study, 27 percent of business said they consider China one of several places in which to invest. Nineteen percent said China is their top investment destination.

这份报告提到希望增加在中国等地投资的公司的比例，在新的研究中，27%的公司称他们认为中国是值得投资的几个国家之一，17%的公司称中国是其投资的首选目的地。

Words in This Story

targeted - adj. something that you are trying to achieve; something at which an attack is aimed

challenges - n. tests of ability or strength

monopoly - n. having complete control of the supply of goods or services in an area or market

1 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

2 profitable   

adj.有益的，能带来利益的，有利可图的

参考例句：

• That business became profitable last year.那项生意去年变得很赚钱。
• The convention business is very profitable for the hotel industry.承办会议业务能给旅馆业带来很高的利润。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

5 monopoly   

n.垄断，专卖，垄断物（商品），专卖商品

参考例句：

• His monopoly of shipbuilding in that country has been established.他对那个国家造船业的垄断已经建立起来。
• In many countries,tobacco is a government monopoly.在许多国家，烟草由政府专营。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。