2016年CRI Harbin to Become Central City for Sino-Russian Cooperation

 

Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang, is one of the largest cities in northeast China.

The city, most famous internationally as the home of the annual ice festival, was also a critical link in the country's industrial sector¹ after the founding of the PRC in 1949.

However, Harbin, like many cities in the Chinese northeast, fell victim to outdated² industrial capacity, forcing itself to remodel³ to fit today's realities.

Part of this has included a realization⁴ by local officials that Russia could hold the key.

Located just a few hundred kilometers from the Russian border, Harbin is home to a significant ethnic⁵ Russian population who migrated to China in the 1920's.

As such, the State Council, China's cabinet, officially approved plans last year to allow the city to actively⁶ promote itself as the main center for cooperation between China and Russia.

Harbin Mayor Song Xibin says trade between Russia and China, through Harbin, is now much easier.

"Last year, a freight rail service between Harbin and Europe was launched. This year, on February 27th, the first Harbin-Russia international cargo⁷ train started operating. The train service between Harbin and Europe has so far brought trade benefits of around 140 million U.S. dollars. All those channels have provided support for not only northeast China's revitalization, but also cross-border economic trade, which contributes to enhance the city's economic development."

Harbin's GDP last year came in at over 570 billion yuan, or around 87 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 7.1 percent year on year.

On top of rail connections, Mayor Song Xibin says air travel to Harbin is also expanding.

"Currently there are 12 air routes linking Harbin and Russia, meaning people from 12 different Russian cities have access to a flight traveling to Harbin. This will provide transport convenience to help develop the local tourism industry, as well as attract tourists from Russia or northeast Asia."

Municipal officials in Harbin have also launched e-commerce cooperation agreements with several Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg.

This year's China Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair will, for the first time, be held in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.

For CRI, I'm Liu Mohan.

1 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

2 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

3 remodel   

v.改造，改型，改变

参考例句：

• Workmen were hired to remodel and enlarge the farm buildings.雇用了工人来改造和扩建农场建筑。
• I'll remodel the downstairs bedroom first.我先要装修楼下那间房间。

4 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

5 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

6 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

7 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。