Stephen Orlins, one of the leading China watchers in the United States, lives on Beijing time these days. He has been busy following the coverage of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. "I get CCTV 4 (a Chinese news channel) at home, watching every night as I go to sleep and seeing it every morning," said Orlins, president of the New York-based National Committee on US-China Relations. "I guess I'm one of the few Americans who does this," he said as he examined a newspaper page featuring some key policies discussed during the ongoing sessions. But for Orlins, who has led the committee since 2005 and has devoted almost 40 years to promoting US-China relations, it is important to follow the two sessions. "What they (the Chinese government) are talking about in all these different issues will determine the future of China and will determine the future of US-China relations," he said. "It's very interesting to see the interviews with the delegates and the press conferences," he noted. "It's a much more open, public process, and it's more media-conscious than it has been historically." The committee that Orlins leads also conducts some projects with the National People's Congress, including an annual visit he makes with a group of four US congressmen — Democrats and Republicans — to several Chinese cities and to meet deputies to the NPC. "So in my role, it's perfectly normal and natural that I follow it this closely," he said. "It's the next process of reform that we've seen — the 12th Five Year Plan, ... the Third Plenum and now we are seeing the two sessions. So it's a continuation of this process, and it's been fairly consistent in terms of what they have tried to implement," he said. Among major issues — including economic reform, urbanization and rural development — discussed in the sessions, Orlins, like many others, pays particular attention to discussions on environmental protection. He said the coverage of President Xi Jinping with delegates from Guangdong and Shanghai discussing the reduction of particulate matter emission levels shows that the country's leader cares about the pollution problem. "They are trying to pass laws, which will allow for tighter controls of pollution," said Orlins. "It's an enormous task, but clearly what's happening in these meetings is that the leadership is speaking pretty much with one voice." The key policy objective of environmental protection from this year's sessions says the government will fight pollution by focusing on improving the industrial structure, raising energy efficiency, reducing vehicle exhaust emissions and preventing and monitoring wind-borne dust. It will start by reducing PM10 and PM2.5 emissions, and implement a clean water action plan. "I think the focus is correct; the issue, as always, in China is the implementation," said Orlins. "It's a tough issue because it affects economic growth," he said, adding that China's economic growth should focus on quality not quantity. "The focus on the growth number has, I think, led to some pollution problems," he said. The key issue with tackling pollution, as Orlins points out, is whether the government will be willing to "pay that price" when tough environmental regulations are implemented that could potentially affect job creation, especially at local levels. On the question of local government implementation of anti-pollution laws, Orlins said: "It's a test." |
美國人歐倫斯(Stephen Orlins)是一位中國觀察家,最近這些日子他的生活節(jié)奏以北京時間為準(zhǔn)。 他正在密切關(guān)注著在中國舉行的人大和政協(xié)會議。 歐倫斯是總部位于紐約的美中關(guān)系全國委員會會長(National Committee on US-China Relations)。他說:“在家里我能收到中央4套(中文新聞頻道),每天晚上我睡前都要看看新聞,每天早上也同樣如此。” “我想我是少數(shù)這么做的美國人之一吧,”說話間他正瀏覽著有關(guān)于兩會討論的核心政策的專題報道。 歐倫斯于2005年當(dāng)選委員會會長,他致力于推動美中關(guān)系發(fā)展將近40年。對于他而言,關(guān)注兩會是件很重要的事情。 他說:“兩會間中國政府所談?wù)摰囊磺惺虑槎紝χ袊鴮淼陌l(fā)展和將來的美中關(guān)系發(fā)展起到至關(guān)重要的作用?!?/font> “對于代表們的采訪和新聞發(fā)布會將會很有趣,”他說,“中國政府比過去現(xiàn)在更加開放了,更加敢于面對公眾了,更加有媒體意識了?!?/font> 歐倫斯所領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的委員會與人大也有一些項目的合作,這包括每年他帶著四位民主黨和共和黨的國會議員來中國的一些城市并與人大代表們見面。 他說:“所以對我來說,這么關(guān)注兩會是十分自然和正常的?!?/font> “中國的下一個改革計劃,也就是十二五計劃,從三中全會到現(xiàn)在我們看到的兩會都在討論這個問題。所以說兩會是十二五計劃的一個繼續(xù),中國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人至始至終都堅持著他們嘗試想要執(zhí)行的事情?!彼赋?。 在兩會所討論的主要議題包括經(jīng)濟改革、城鄉(xiāng)發(fā)展等等。在這些議題中,就像許多其他人一樣,奧林斯最關(guān)注對于環(huán)境保護問題的討論。 他表示,關(guān)于習(xí)近平主席與廣東和上海代表團討論可吸入顆粒物排放的報導(dǎo)顯示了這個國家領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人對于環(huán)境問題的關(guān)心。 歐倫斯說:“中國政府希望通過一些法律的制定來更好地控制污染?!?/font> “這是一個十分重大的任務(wù),但是在兩會中我們可以看到中國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人語氣堅定,步調(diào)一致?!?/font> 今年的兩會指出,環(huán)境保護的重點政策就是政府要通過提升產(chǎn)業(yè)結(jié)構(gòu)轉(zhuǎn)型,提高能源利用效率,減少車輛尾氣排放,防護和監(jiān)視風(fēng)塵等措施來向污染宣戰(zhàn)。首先要做的就是降低PM10和PM2.5的排放并實施一項清潔水的行動計劃。 歐倫斯說:“我認(rèn)為關(guān)注環(huán)境問題是正確的,但中國的問題關(guān)鍵是如何去實行和實施。這是一個很難應(yīng)對的問題,因為這涉及到經(jīng)濟增長的速度?!眾W林斯同時指出,中國的經(jīng)濟增長應(yīng)該重“質(zhì)”而非“量”。 他說:“我認(rèn)為中國對于經(jīng)濟增長速度的密切關(guān)注引發(fā)了一些環(huán)境問題。” 歐倫斯指出,應(yīng)對環(huán)境問題的關(guān)鍵就是中國政府是否愿意付出那種代價,也就是嚴(yán)厲環(huán)境監(jiān)管可能造成的就業(yè)機會減少,這樣的問題在地方會尤其嚴(yán)重。 對于地方政府實施反腐敗法的問題,奧林斯說:“這是一個考驗?!?/font> (譯者:timduncan21編輯:齊磊) |