新视野大学英语视听说教程第四册 Unit 9 MODEL2 The Chinese are working miracles.
Susan: Hey, John!
John: Hey! Look at this headline! China’s foreign trade should reach $1 trillion this year!
Susan: Are you sure the figure is correct? How can they keep up such rapid growth for so many years running?
John: A senior official of the Ministry of Commerce said so in Beijing Wednesday.
Susan: As far as I know, China’s foreign trade volume was already $851.2 billion last year, a 37.1 percent jump over the previous year. That volume ranked fourth in the world, following only the United States, Germany, and Japan.
Susan: But the Chinese are working miracles. In the first half of this year, foreign trade reached $523 billion, up 39.1 percent over last year.
John: I wonder how it can grow so fast.
Susan: The U.S. economy has been very good. Booming consumption has created opportunities for China’s exports.
Susan: Is that the only one reason China’s exports have increased? No other factors?
John: China encourages exports. Exporters can get rebates from the customs department.
Susan: What’s happening with Chinese imports?
John: Well, China has met her commitments to the World Trade Organization since she joined two and half years ago. She has gradually been decreasing tariffs and strengthening intellectual property rights. She has opened her doors to the outside world wider. All these changes have led to an increase in her imports.
Susan: You seem to be looking at China through rose-colored glasses.
John: China is not without her problems. Some of her state-owned industries have only a blunt competitive edge. They have a weak anti-risk capability. Some industries still depend on trade protectionism.
Susan: John, I really admire your wide knowledge. I think you’ll be in line for Nobel Prize in Economics some day.
John: You’re just pulling my leg again.
