(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.
Ghana arrested more than 100 Chinese nationals this month, they were accused of illegally mining gold. In February, Zambia seized a Chinese mine because of safety concerns. And Gabon is set to seize property from three foreign oil companies - including one from China.
Some observers say these and other incidents appear to be part of reaction by African government against Chinese investment on the continent. China became Africa’s top trade partner in 2009. Yet some Africans believe they are exporting valuable resources to China but not getting enough in return.
Bright Simons is the director of development research with the IMANI group. He says China is no longer known only for giving loans and sending workers to build hospitals and roads. He says China is now a business partner.
"My view is that it has just gone to another phase, a more mature phase, where Africans are much more sober about what it will take to engage China on a level playing field."
Ghana has taken steps against foreigners involved in small-scale gold mining, also called "shallow mining." Only Ghanaians can get government approval for this kind of mining. Bright Simons says Ghanaians then "rent" the permits to foreigners who have the money and training to actually get the gold.
Observers say nations like Niger and Gabon, just want to get more for their natural resources - more money for the state, more local jobs and better living conditions. Worldwide demand for oil, coal, iron ore and uranium has made their negotiation position stronger. Some nations are also concerned about abusive or illegal operations.
Ben Payton is an Africa expert for the risk study group Maplecroft, he says ties between China and African governments are for the most part "very good and getting stronger." But he says the reported poor treatment of local workers by Chinese businesses could test those relations.
"In places like Zambia, like Ghana, there’s a lot of resentment towards the Chinese and a lot of pressure on the government to avoid granting concessions to Chinese companies. In the longer term, pressure from below really is going to be the challenge for the China-Africa relationship."
He says African nations are limiting the number of foreign employees and demanding that investors process natural resources locally. In Gabon, the government says it is planning not to extend operating promises for oil fields held by three companies, including Addax, which is part of China’s Sinopec. The government blames Addax for reducing Gabon’s cut of the profits. Addax has denied this.
Ben Payton says this dispute shows Gabon’s desire to get more from its own natural resources. Despite the recent problems, most experts believe the partnership between China and African will grow - but perhaps on more equal terms.
And that’s the Economics Report, I’m Christopher Cruise.
文本为51VOA听写整理
译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
词汇解释
1.sober adj. 冷静的，清醒的；未醉的
The lessons learned at the cost of blood helped to sober us.
血的教训使我们的头脑清醒了。
2.level playing field 公平竞争的环境；平等的竞争环境；公平竞技场；平等状态
What we need here is a level playing field.
我们需要一个公平的游戏场所。
3.resentment n. 愤恨，怨恨
She harboured resentment against her stepmother.
她对继母怀有怨恨。
4.concession n. 让步；特许（权）；承认；退位
As a concession to his reasonable demand, the doctor allowed him to work.
医生向他的合理要求让步了， 允许他工作。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。
加纳本月逮捕了100多名中国人，他们被控非法开采金矿。二月份，赞比亚因安全问题查封一处中国控制的矿场，加蓬计划查封三家外国公司的资产，其中一家是中国的。
有的观察家称，这些事件和其他事件似乎说明，非洲政府在采取行动反对中国在当地的投资。2009年中国成为非洲的头号贸易伙伴，但有的非洲人称本国的宝贵资源出口到中国，但得到的回报不多。
布赖特·西蒙斯是IMANI集团发展研究主任，他说中国不仅仅向这里提供贷款，送来工人修建医院和道路，如今还是商业伙伴。
“我认为目前进入一个更成熟的阶段，在如何与中国在更公平的环境下相处这个问题上，非洲人更加清醒了。”
加纳已采取措施反对外国人从事小规模的金矿开发，即“浅层开采”，只有加纳人才能得到政府批准进行此类开采。布赖特·西蒙斯称加纳人把特许权“租”给有钱有培训力量的外国人来开采。
观察家称向尼日尔和加蓬这样的国家只想从自然资源中获取更多税收、更多当地的就业就会和更好的生活条件。全世界对石油、煤炭、铁矿和铀的需求使得这些国家处于更有利的谈判地位，有的国家还担心滥采和非法开采。
本·佩顿是风险研究组织Maplecroft的非洲问题专家，他说中非政府之间的关系在很大程度上是越来越好越来越强，但他说，据说中国企业对当地工人待遇差，这可能会对双方关系造成影响。
“在赞比亚和加纳这样的国家，人们对中国有很多不满，他们对政府施压要求阻止向中国公司授权许可。从长远来看，来自民众的力量将是中非关系要面临的一个挑战。”
他说，非洲国家正在限制外国员工的数量，要求投资者在当地加工自然资源。加蓬政府称计划不延长三家公司旗下油田的经营许可，其中包括中国石化公司分支Addax公司。政府职责Addax减少了加蓬的税收，该公司表示否认。
本·佩顿说，这些争议显示加蓬希望从本国的自然资源中获利更多，尽管目前存在的各种问题，大多数专家认为中非关系还会继续发展，但会是在更公平的条件下。
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道，我是克里斯多夫·克鲁斯。
