VOA常速英语2015--经济繁荣给泰缅边境带来希望（在线收听）

经济繁荣给泰缅边境带来希望

MAE SOT, THAILAND— Thailand and Myanmar are working on big plans to boost trade and entice businesses to locate along their long land border. The influx of money is reshaping a region that has suffered from long-running ethnic conflicts.

In western Thailand, where the Moei (Thaunggin) river marks the Myanmar border, economists estimate trade at this key border crossing reached more than a billion dollars last year.

在泰国西部与缅甸接壤的莫伊河，经济学家估计去年这个关键边境通道的贸易额已超过10亿美元。

With Thailand’s economy stalling following last year’s coup, the ruling junta is focusing on boosting growth with development projects and free trade zone deals to increase cross-border trade.

去年政变后泰国的经济开始停滞，执政的军政府为促进发展，开始通过开发项目和自由贸易协定来促进边贸。

A second bridge is under construction for heavy trucks, which backers hope could quickly double trade in Mae Sot.

目前正为重型卡车建造第二座桥，赞助方希望能借此令美索地区的贸易翻倍。

Meanwhile, there are ongoing efforts in Thailand’s neutral territory to resolve the long-running conflict between ethnic-rebel armies and the Myanmar military.

同时，泰国的中立地区仍在努力解决种族叛军和缅甸军方之间长期的冲突。

Thai 4th Infantry Division commander Nopporn Reungjan sees the investment, infrastructure and talks as stepping stones to permanent peace.

泰国第4步兵师指挥官Nopporn Reungjan认为这些投资、基础设施和对话是实现永久和平的基础。

“The booming economy can help to solve the problems with all ethnic groups," he said. "This is a tool to speed up the talks. We open the special economic zones for easier cross-border trading for both countries. Open the world economy to benefit everyone."

“经济繁荣能帮助解决与所有种族组织的问题，也是加快对话的工具。我们开启特别经济区的目的就是让两国家的边贸便利化，开放全球经济能令每个人都受益。”

Incentives like tax breaks and quick work permits also have been introduced to attract businesses. And a recent trade fair promoting exporter potential has attracted ethnic business leaders, like Soe Thein.

同时还采取减税和快速工作许可证等激励措施来吸引企业，最近意在促进出口潜力的贸易展销会吸引了Soe Thein等少数族群商界领袖。

“Recently, we have achieved peace in our area. Our region will start developing now as we have enough human resource and natural resources," said Thein. "Therefore, we need to put even more efforts towards the region’s development.”

“我们地区最近实现了和平，因为我们有足够的人力资源和自然资源，我们地区现在开始发展。因此，我们需要在地区发展上面做出更多努力。”

Despite the economic investments, more than 120,000 Karen refugees are still languishing in nine border camps without land back in Myanmar to return to.

尽管目前出现经济投资，还有12多万克伦邦难民目前仍滞留在9个边境难民营，回去也没有土地。

Some refugees lost their land long ago. One man who fled Karen state 30 years ago and declined to give his name, said he received word that a Karen militia force now aligned with the government re-sold the village land to Burmese businesses.

一些难民很久前就失去了土地，一名30年前就逃离克伦邦的男子拒绝说出姓名，他说听说现在一个克伦邦民兵团正与政府合作将村里的土地重新卖给缅甸企业。

For now, he can only see his former home from a Google map.

现在他只能从谷歌地图上看到自己过去的家园。

“If we go back the price of the land must be higher because it is close to the border and also the development area so we think we cannot afford to buy it back so we have to look for a new place where we can stay,” said the refugee.

“如果我们回到这片土地上，那么土地价格会更高，因为那里接近边境和开发区，所以我们觉得现在买不起，我们只好寻找新的立足之地。”

With the new investments, business is booming for some in Myanmar, but not for all.

随着新投资的来到，企业繁荣令缅甸的一些人受益，但并不能让每个人受益。