Norilsk Nickel is in advanced talks with Chinese companies in the hope of securing financing for a large new copper mine, in a demonstration of how Russian groups are increasingly looking east for funds.
诺里尔斯克镍业(Norilsk Nickel)正在与一些中国企业进行深入谈判，争取资金开发一座新的大型铜矿。这凸显出俄罗斯企业在融资时日益将目光投向东方。
Western sanctions imposed on Russia last year because of the crisis in Ukraine had “accelerated the process” of moving closer to China, said Vladimir Potanin, the chief executive and largest shareholder of Norilsk.
诺里尔斯克镍业首席执行官、最大股东弗拉基米尔•波塔宁(Vladimir Potanin)表示，西方去年因为乌克兰危机对俄罗斯实施制裁，“加快了（俄罗斯向中国靠拢的）进程”。

“I think it was already in the minds of our leaders and our government but sanctions accelerated this process,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times.
他在接受英国《金融时报》采访时表示：“我认为我们的领导人和政府本来就在考虑这样做，但制裁加快了这一进程。”
Norilsk is the world’s largest nickel producer with a market value of more than $30bn, and it is hoping Russia’s Chita region — the home of its new Bystrinsky copper mine — can become a hub to service the Asian market.
诺里尔斯克镍业是世界最大镍生产商，市值逾300亿美元。该公司希望俄罗斯赤塔地区——其新的贝斯特里茨基(Bystrinsky)铜矿所在地——能够成为服务亚洲市场的一个枢纽。
The company has not been directly affected by the western sanctions imposed after Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. However, Andrei Klishas, former president of Norilsk Nickel, was included on a list of Russian individuals targeted by the US and European sanctions.
西方在俄罗斯干涉乌克兰事务之后实施的制裁，并未对诺里尔斯克镍业造成直接影响。然而该公司前总裁安德烈•克利夏(Andrei Klishas)被美国和欧洲列入针对俄罗斯个人的制裁名单。
Norilsk is currently in discussions with Chinese companies that would buy copper from the Bystrinsky mine, which is located about 100 kilometres from the Chinese border.
诺里尔斯克镍业眼下正与一些可能从贝斯特里茨基铜矿购买铜的中国企业谈判。该铜矿距离中俄边境约100公里。
Norilsk hopes such purchase agreements will help draw in long-term cheap lending from China’s banks for the mine.
诺里尔斯克镍业希望此类购买协议将帮助其从中国的银行获得长期廉价贷款，以开发贝斯特里茨基铜矿。
To lower the potential risks for any Chinese financial institution, the company is also talking with Russian state-owned banks including Vnesheconombank. Lender VTB has already agreed to provide $1bn for the Bystrinsky mine.
为降低任何中国金融机构面临的潜在风险，该公司还在与俄罗斯对外经济银行(Vnesheconombank)等一些俄罗斯国有银行谈判。俄罗斯外贸银行(VTB)已同意为贝斯特里茨基铜矿提供10亿美元贷款。
“With the Chinese partner and the access to Chinese finance we could explore more around the [Bystrinsky mine],” said Mr Potanin. “It’s a matter of longer-term and cheaper money . . . they have deep pockets.”
“有了中国合作伙伴以及从中国获取贷款的途径，我们可以在（贝斯特里茨基铜矿）周边进行更多勘探，”波塔宁表示，“这意味着更长期、更廉价的贷款……中方的财力底气很足。”