Cautious welcome for Biden administration's new China trade policy By Target Language Translation Services | Updated: 2021-10-09 15:00 Trade groups and experts have given a cautious welcome to the Biden administration's new China trade policy, which includes "recoupling" with the world's second-largest economy instead of "decoupling", but they said it was "distressing" that US tariffs on Chinese goods would remain. In a highly anticipated speech on Monday, the Biden administration's top trade official, Katherine Tai, said that she plans to hold "frank" talks with Chinese officials in the coming days, and that the tariffs are to remain in place and could be bolstered by additional rounds, but a "targeted tariff exclusion process" would be reinstated for companies hard hit in the trade war. She also put forward a new phrase to frame the future of the trade relationship－"durable coexistence", and called for a "recoupling" of the two economies, a clear swerving from the calls for "decoupling" that US trade hawks have advocated for years. "We liked her focus on dialogue with her Chinese counterparts and the desire to continue targeted tariff exemptions. Overall, her remarks ...were pragmatic, especially the desire to recouple, not decouple the world's largest economies," said Doug Barry, director of communications at the US-China Business Council. The council, a trade association representing more than 200 US companies doing business in China, is among a multitude of US organizations calling for an end to the punitive tariffs imposed on goods flowing between the two countries. "The exclusion process is important to both US and China businesses and to supporting workers. We hope the promise of more high-level talks will eventually create conditions for lifting the tariffs," Barry said on Tuesday. The United States retains tariffs imposed by the Trump administration covering over $135 billion－or 93 percent－of imports of intermediate inputs from China, noted Chad Bown, a senior fellow with the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. Tariffs on such parts and components increase costs for US companies seeking to compete not only for business from US consumers, but also globally and in China through exports. The Trump administration granted some product exclusions, but most of the waivers have expired, according to Bown. Gary Hufbauer, a senior fellow and trade expert at the institute, said the nuances of Tai's speech on China trade policy were constructive, as she offered reopening the exclusion process, with no rhetorical decoupling, which set a constructive tone for upcoming talks. But new tariff exclusions will be narrow, which is "very different" from repealing the Trump tariffs. "My guess is that the best we can hope for is no new tariffs or export restrictions," Hufbauer said in an email interview. Jake Colvin, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, a Washington-based business organization, said it was "encouraging" t...

Non-English research overlooked in areas of biodiversity, says Australian scientist By Target Language Translation Services | Updated: 2021-10-08 14:00 After reviewing biodiversity studies written in 16 languages other than English, researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) and Monash University have concluded that significant scientific knowledge lies outside the English-speaking world. The study looked at over 400,000 peer-reviewed papers in 326 journals, and the results indicated that some 1,234 of them contained scientific knowledge on saving species and ecosystems that are not available in English research. Dr. Tatsuya Amano from UQ, lead author of the paper published in PLOS biology on Friday, said the research was a result of the collaboration of a number of multilingual scientists. "This research would not have been possible without the tremendous contribution from our 62 collaborators, who are collectively native speakers of 17 languages," said Amano. Papers reviewed in the project were written in languages including Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, French, and German. The report pointed out that many world-changing discoveries were first published in a language other than English. "The structure of the Nobel Prize-winning antimalarial drug was first published in simplified Chinese." Amano told Xinhua that 115 papers written in simplified Chinese were identified as containing effective conservation actions. "Examples include papers on crested ibises, Chinese giant salamanders, red-crowned cranes (all seriously threatened species)," he said. The findings hold particularly important implications for conservation work in non-English speaking countries where English-language knowledge for local ecosystems and species is often scarce. Amano said this can be a "game-changer," noting that it could expand English knowledge of ecosystems by as much as 25 percent, and 32 percent for species. However, he also noted non-English research often does not gain attention and utilization that they would afford if published in English and shared his advice on how the global scientific community could tear down the barriers of language. "Anyone who is involved in broad-scale studies, assessments, or databases should be aware of the potential importance of scientific information available only in non-English languages." "In culturally-diverse academia, it is surprisingly easy to find native speakers of diverse languages, allowing us to use the best available evidence around the world." This article is reprinted from China Daily. If there is a copyright, please inform us in time, we will delete it right the first time.

Nord Stream 2 to secure all certification before commercial commissioning of the pipeline By Target Language Translation Services | Updated: 2021-10-07 14:00 Germany's energy regulator said the Nord Stream 2 pipeline must show it would not break competition rules by limiting which suppliers use it, and could face a fine if it began to pump Russian gas to Germany without securing the necessary approvals. Bundesnetzagentur, or BNetzA, the regulation authority for gas in Germany, said it had asked the pipeline operator, Swiss-based Nord Stream 2 AG, to show it was meeting all regulatory requirements before the pipeline entered into service. "This relates in particular to issues of nondiscriminatory network access and the integration of the interconnector into the German market area," said BNetzA, referring to rules that include ensuring that the operator did not restrict access to other gas suppliers. Nord Stream 2, a project led by Russian gas giant Gazprom, will pump the fuel under the Baltic and bypassing Ukraine, which is embroiled in a long-running territorial dispute with Moscow. Construction is completed and tests are underway, but the project has faced opposition from the United States and some European nations that said it will make Europe too reliant on Russian gas, which accounts for about a third of European needs. Opponents also said Russia has applied pressure to try to speed up the German approval process by not supplying extra gas to Europe when the region faces an energy crunch, as global gas demand surges and prices hit record levels. However, the Kremlin said it has been meeting its obligations. BNetzA, which said in September it had four months to complete the certification, said it could not rule out that Nord Stream 2 operations could begin soon, adding that all technical requirements had been met. But it said the operator could be fined if it began before it secured the necessary certification, which will only be given if regulatory requirements are met too. A spokesperson for the German government said successful completion of the certification procedure was a prerequisite for the commercial commissioning of the pipeline. The Court of Dusseldorf earlier had dismissed a complaint from Nord Stream 2 AG and did not grant an exemption for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from the revised EU gas directive. The company filed an appeal against the decision to the Supreme Federal Court of Germany on Tuesday. Analysts said Nord Stream 2 was unlikely to significantly ease gas prices that threaten to translate into hefty bills for European customers this winter. Gazprom, Europe's largest supplier of natural gas, has said it could pump 5.6 billion cubic meters of gas via Nord Stream 2 by year-end. According to data from the International Currency Exchange, the gas price in Europe broke the record again, reaching $1,300 per 1,000 cubic meters during Tuesday's trade. This article is reprinted from China Daily. If there is a copyright, please inf...

Strong vitality and creativity of BRI receive wide praise By Target Language Translation Services | Updated: 2021-10-05 11:00 On Oct 3, 2013, President Xi Jinping proposed building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road during a speech at the Indonesian parliament. A month earlier, he had put forward the strategic framework for building the Silk Road Economic Belt. The Belt and Road Initiative, as the two together are known, has become the most well-received international public good and the largest platform for international cooperation over the past eight years. As of Aug 23, more than 200 cooperation agreements with 172 countries, regions and organizations have been signed under the BRI framework. As the world faces the combined impacts of changes unseen in a century and the COVID-19 pandemic, the BRI has demonstrated strong vitality and creativity and will continue to provide impetus for the global economic recovery and contribute to global sustainable development, observers said. Xie Fuzhan, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, expressed that Belt and Road construction, which aims for the common development and prosperity of all, has brought concrete benefits to countries and regions along the routes. The outcomes in the past eight years have demonstrated that the BRI conforms to the trend of the times, the law of development and the interests of all countries, thus enjoying broad prospects, Xie said at a seminar in September. Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce present that from 2013 to 2020, the trade volume of goods between China and countries participating in the BRI surpassed $9.2 trillion. China's direct foreign investment to participating countries reached $136 billion, and 330,000 local jobs were created by BRI programs invested in by Chinese companies. "Thanks to the BRI, East Africa now has its first motorway, the Maldives has built its first inter-island bridge, Kazakhstan is connected to the sea, Southeast Asia is constructing a high-speed railway, and the Eurasian (region) is benefiting from the longest-distance freight train service," Cong Peiwu, the Chinese ambassador to Canada, said in June. The fruitful results reflect President Xi's comments at a welcoming banquet in honor of guests attending the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017. "The Belt and Road Initiative embodies our shared dream for a better life. The initiative weaves into a common vision the dreams of different countries and peoples. We will work to translate this vision into reality and deliver greater happiness and well-being to our people," Xi said. Despite the pandemic, China's nonfinancial outbound direct investment in 58 countries participating in the BRI rose 18.3 percent to $17.79 billion in 2020, and none of the key projects involved in the BRI have been suspended due to COVID-19, according to Chinese authorities. The Belt and Road is also being developed into a model of health for protecting people's safety ...

Chinese books make debut at Riyadh International Book Fair 2021 By Target Language Translation Services | Updated: 2021-10-03 16:00 The Riyadh International Book Fair 2021 opened to the public in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday, Oct 1, with more than 500 books from China being exhibited. On behalf of the Chinese publishing industry, the China Intercontinental Press is cooperating with its overseas partner, the Saudi Center for Research and Intercommunication Knowledge, participated in the book fair offline for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak. The books from China are written in Arabic, English, and Chinese, and were provided by more than 10 Chinese publishers, focusing on classic Chinese literature, social science, traditional culture, children's reading, and language learning. Some of them are Sino-Saudi Arabian Classics or the fruits of modern and contemporary literature translation and publication projects. Over 1,000 publishing houses from 30 countries participated in the event. The international book fair held by the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, which runs through Oct. 10 on an area of more than 36,000 square meters, is regarded as the largest book fair in the history of Saudi Arabia and an influential cultural event in the Gulf and the Arab region. This article is reprinted from China Daily. If there is a copyright, please inform us in time, we will delete it right the first time.

The 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China By Target Language Translation Services | Updated: 2021-10-01 11:00 Today marks the National Day in China. A flag-raising ceremony was held in celebration of the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, on Oct 1, 2021. President Xi Jinping has stressed the virtue of patriotism many times. Here are some highlights from his remarks. --The love for one's motherland is the deepest and most enduring sentiment in the world. --Patriotism is not a mere slogan. A patriot is one who closely intertwines his/her own ideals with the future of the country, and his/her life with the fate of the nation. --Patriotism is the foundation on which young Chinese people in the new era can become winners in life. On Thursday morning, President Xi Jinping led a tribute to national heroes as the nation honored those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Chinese people and the nation's development. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other leaders of the Party and State saluted fallen heroes during the Martyrs' Day event held at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tian'anmen Square on Thursday. The commemoration took place one day before National Day and came just several months after the CPC celebrated its 100th anniversary on July 1. The ceremony began at 10 am with all participants singing the national anthem. This was followed by a silent tribute to all of China's fallen heroes. Nine flower baskets－presented in the name of the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council and other organizations and groups－stood before the crowd. After honor guards laid the baskets in front of the monument, Xi straightened the red ribbons on the baskets and led the senior officials in a walk around the monument in honor of those who gave their lives. They were joined later by representatives from various sectors of society, including people honored for their contributions to the fight against COVID-19, veterans, retired officials and relatives of the fallen heroes. Xi has often emphasized the significance of honoring China's heroes, learning from them and amplifying their heroic spirit to provide impetus for the nation's great rejuvenation. In a ceremony on Sept 2, 2015, in which commemorative medals were conferred upon veterans and civilians who fought in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), Xi underscored that a nation of hope cannot be without heroes, and a promising country cannot be without pioneers. All national heroes are the backbone of the Chinese nation, and their stories and spirit offer immense strength for the nation to march forward, he said. Xi again spoke of the need to honor heroes at an event in September 2019 in which national medals were conferr...

Greek myths still fascinate By Target Language Translation Services | Updated: 2021-9-30 17:00 Greek mythology's appeal, or its ability to transfix a reader over the centuries, has not been diminished by the passing of time. The tales of Zeus and Apollo can still fascinate. Both in the East and the West, the enduring drama and tales of morality offer a perspective of the ages. China is no exception and, as if to prove the point, a series of books on Greek mythology was published this year. The eight-volume Greek Mythology Series was written by a Greek writer, Menelaos Stephanides, and was recommended by the Greek Ministry of Education. It has been published in over 10 languages and has sold over 1 million copies around the world. This Chinese edition was published by China Translation and Publishing House, with Peng Ping, professor of Beijing Foreign Studies University, as its main translator. Greek Mythology Series tells vivid stories about hundreds of gods, people and heroes, presenting ancient wisdom and philosophical attitudes toward life and the pursuit of happiness and advancement. Through these myths, the series of books also show their understanding of the origin of the universe, the beginning of human beings and a variety of natural and social phenomena of ancient Greece. Stephanides, author of the series, devoted himself to the retelling of ancient myths for more than 25 years, tirelessly studying the source materials to accomplish his literary version of the stories. Working with his brother, the artist and illustrator Yannis Stephanides, they published the Stephanides Brothers' Greek Mythology series. It won the 1989 Pier Paolo Vergerio prize for its outstanding text and illustrations. "Myths and stories provide children the inspiration, ideas and values about how to think or behave and how to become responsible and useful members of our society," says Greek Ambassador to China Georgios Iliopoulos. Chinese educationalist Zhu Yongxin also express that reading Greek mythology can help children improve their imagination, creativity and literacy and make them stronger, braver and kinder. "Greek mythology contains the largest mythological system in the world, and it is also a key way to understand Western civilization," Zhu says. Cao Wenxuan, a renowned Chinese author, recommends the book to Chinese children. "The imagination embodied in the series is fascinating. Boundless fantasy is the original source of Western Romantic literature," says Cao, who's also a Hans Christian Andersen Award winner. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership, and next year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The countries are endeavoring to strengthen their cooperation on aspects related to culture, including celebrating a China-Greece Year of Culture and Tourism. Iliopoulos deems Greek Mythology Series as a "trigger" to draw more Chinese to learn more ...

Gebrüder Weiss: an Austrian family business with geographical expansion along the Silk Road By Target Language Translation Services | Updated: 2021-9-29 14:00 The international transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss (GW) is famous in Europe. In its home country of Austria, just about everyone knows the distinctive orange trucks with the white lettering. Until the fall of the Iron Curtain, the logistics company focused mostly on freight forwarding in Austria, Switzerland and (southern) Germany. After 1989, the pace of internationalization within the company picked up considerably. Gebrüder Weiss expanded progressively (south)eastwards to the Black Sea and at the same time became active in China, opening its first office there in Shanghai in 1992. At present, Gebrüder Weiss has a total of 19 of its own locations at all strategically critical logistics hubs throughout China. Pioneer in the logistics industry Closing the existing gap in the land transport network between Eastern Europe and Asia was just a logical consequence for Gebrüder Weiss as a full service logistics provider, especially as it recognized the potential of the economically emerging countries along the Silk Road at an early stage. "We started expanding our network in the countries bordering the Silk Road with our own branches and offices as early as 2005, long before the Belt and Road Initiative, making us one of the pioneers in the industry. After starting off in Ukraine, the company went on to enter the market in Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and most recently Uzbekistan in 2019, meaning that we have completed our geographical expansion along the Silk Road as planned. We are now concentrating on developing these locations accordingly," says Dieter Buchinger, Silk Road Area Manager at Gebrüder Weiss. Then he says that it is not just a matter of establishing and conducting bilateral business within the Group's own network, but also and in particular on developing sustainable transports and product solutions that contribute to a smooth flow of goods along the entire Silk Road, as well as between the individual markets within the region. Rail transports in high demand It is within this context that rail transport plays a vital role for Gebrüder Weiss. The time-saving land rail route (compared with shipping) is used in particular by the automotive and textile industries and electronics and agricultural technology manufacturers. "Customized door-to-door transport solutions that are both fast and cost-efficient are very popular with our customers. The railway is a real alternative along the trans-Eurasian corridor, being ideal for all Eastern and Central European destinations without a direct port connection as well as for export regions in China that are located inland," Buchinger explains. Gebrüder Weiss is represented on all important connections from China to Europe and vice versa with its core carrier program, enabling it to provide several departures each way...