Business Channel 2007-03-11&13

Henry Hank Paulson has visited China more than 70 times, but it's his first trip to a Shanghai financial market as US Treasury¹ Secretary. Paulson toured the Shanghai Future Exchange Thursday, the final stop of his three-nation swing through Asia. The exchange is about to offer investors² a way to make more complicated trades, a sign that markets here are advancing, exactly what Paulson thinks China needs.

I believe increasing the pace of reform in your financial services markets is in the best interest of China's future.

Since last July, Paulson has been thinking a lot about China's future as well as the future of the US. The former chief of investment bank Goldman Sachs is trying to improve the two countries' economic relations while coming under huge pressure from the US Congress to take action against the growing trade deficit/ with China.

Paulson's got a trade balance, you know, because on one hand, you want to encourage the mainland authorities to continue these powerful gradual liberalization and reform, but at the same time, you got a political agenda.

There has been increasing acrimony between the two countries, because some US politicians are blaming China for unfair trade practices. US officials in recent years have been highly critical of China's restrictive currency regime. The currency is blamed for keeping Chinese products artificially competitive. But on this trip, Paulson comes with a different softer message.

Allowing more foreign participation³ in China's financial markets would speed reform, as well as the stability and prosperity it would bring.

Some reforms Paulson would like to see: more open trade in stocks, bonds, and China's currency. And China looks as though it's interested in some changes.

Notes:

balance of trade
n.
The difference in value between the total exports and total imports of a nation during a specific period of time

Futures Market:
An auction⁴ market in which participants buy and sell commodity/future contracts for delivery on a specified⁵ future date. Trading is carried on through open yelling and hand signals in a trading pit

Bond:
A bond is simply a loan, but in the form of a security, although terminology⁶ used is rather different. The issuer is equivalent to the borrower, the bond holder⁷ to the lender, and the coupon⁸ to the interest. Bonds enable the issuer to finance long-term investments with external funds. Debt securities with a maturity⁹ shorter than one year are typically bills. Certificates of deposit (CDs) or commercial paper are considered money market instruments.

1 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

4 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

5 specified   

adj.特定的

参考例句：

• The architect specified oak for the wood trim. 那位建筑师指定用橡木做木饰条。
• It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。

6 terminology   

n.术语；专有名词

参考例句：

• He particularly criticized the terminology in the document.他特别批评了文件中使用的术语。
• The article uses rather specialized musical terminology.这篇文章用了相当专业的音乐术语。

7 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

8 coupon   

n.息票，配给票，附单

参考例句：

• The coupon can be used once only.此优惠券只限使用一次。
• I have a coupon for ten pence off a packet of soap.我有一张优惠券买一盒肥皂可以便宜十便士。

9 maturity   

n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期

参考例句：

• These plants ought to reach maturity after five years.这些植物五年后就该长成了。
• This is the period at which the body attains maturity.这是身体发育成熟的时期。