2015年CRI Seattle Ready to Host Xi

 

Many Chinese got to know Seattle through two films: Sleepless¹ in Seattle and Finding Mr. Right.

Now, the city comes back into the limelight with Chinese President Xi Jinping set to arrive for his first official state visit to the United States.

Seattle Mayor Edward Murray is proud of the role his city plays in boosting bilateral² trade and cooperation.

"When the United States and China normalized relations, the first ship from China came to Seattle. Washington State is where Seattle sits. Our No.1 trading partner is China and we do more trade with China than any other state in the United States. In addition, we have a large Chinese-American population and feel proud of their heritage. And we share so many things in common in regard to our technology, our interest in innovation and addressing issues of climate sustainability."

Tao Wenzhao with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says there are multiple reasons for the city to be picked as the first stop of President Xi Jinping's visit.

"Seattle plays an important role in boosting trade, commercial and academic exchanges between China and the US. We know the city is home to giant companies like Boeing and Microsoft. So it's not strange for the city to become President Xi Jinping's first stop this time."

During his time in Washington State, the Chinese leader will also make a stop in the port city of Tacoma

Tacoma City formed sister-city ties with China's Fuzhou City 21 years ago with the support from Xi Jinping, the then party chief of Fuzhou.

Connie Bacon, commissioner³ of Tacoma Port, still keeps photos she took with Xi Jinping after the signing ceremony for the sister-city agreement over two decades ago.

Bacon will be present at the welcome dinner held for President Xi Jinping when he visits the State of Washington.

She says she will like to express her gratitude⁴ to Xi Jinping.

"I wanted to thank him for his support in making the sister city arrangement happen. Because had he not been willing, it wouldn't have happened. And because it happened, we have the long-standing, very successful, very mutually beneficial opportunity."

China is a significant source of income for Washington State.

Trade between the state of Washington and China hit close to 3-billion yuan last year.

1 sleepless   

adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的

参考例句：

• The situation gave her many sleepless nights.这种情况害她一连好多天睡不好觉。
• One evening I heard a tale that rendered me sleepless for nights.一天晚上，我听说了一个传闻，把我搞得一连几夜都不能入睡。

2 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

3 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

4 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。