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." |
美国人欧伦斯(Stephen Orlins)是一位中国观察家,最近这些日子他的生活节奏以北京时间为准。 他正在密切关注着在中国举行的人大和政协会议。 欧伦斯是总部位于纽约的美中关系全国委员会会长(National Committee on US-China Relations)。他说:“在家里我能收到中央4套(中文新闻频道),每天晚上我睡前都要看看新闻,每天早上也同样如此。” “我想我是少数这么做的美国人之一吧,”说话间他正浏览着有关于两会讨论的核心政策的专题报道。 欧伦斯于2005年当选委员会会长,他致力于推动美中关系发展将近40年。对于他而言,关注两会是件很重要的事情。 他说:“两会间中国政府所谈论的一切事情都将会对中国将来的发展和将来的美中关系发展起到至关重要的作用。” “对于代表们的采访和新闻发布会将会很有趣,”他说,“中国政府比过去现在更加开放了,更加敢于面对公众了,更加有媒体意识了。” 欧伦斯所领导的委员会与人大也有一些项目的合作,这包括每年他带着四位民主党和共和党的国会议员来中国的一些城市并与人大代表们见面。 他说:“所以对我来说,这么关注两会是十分自然和正常的。” “中国的下一个改革计划,也就是十二五计划,从三中全会到现在我们看到的两会都在讨论这个问题。所以说两会是十二五计划的一个继续,中国领导人至始至终都坚持着他们尝试想要执行的事情。”他指出。 在两会所讨论的主要议题包括经济改革、城乡发展等等。在这些议题中,就像许多其他人一样,奥林斯最关注对于环境保护问题的讨论。 他表示,关于习近平主席与广东和上海代表团讨论可吸入颗粒物排放的报导显示了这个国家领导人对于环境问题的关心。 欧伦斯说:“中国政府希望通过一些法律的制定来更好地控制污染。” “这是一个十分重大的任务,但是在两会中我们可以看到中国领导人语气坚定,步调一致。” 今年的两会指出,环境保护的重点政策就是政府要通过提升产业结构转型,提高能源利用效率,减少车辆尾气排放,防护和监视风尘等措施来向污染宣战。首先要做的就是降低PM10和PM2.5的排放并实施一项清洁水的行动计划。 欧伦斯说:“我认为关注环境问题是正确的,但中国的问题关键是如何去实行和实施。这是一个很难应对的问题,因为这涉及到经济增长的速度。”奥林斯同时指出,中国的经济增长应该重“质”而非“量”。 他说:“我认为中国对于经济增长速度的密切关注引发了一些环境问题。” 欧伦斯指出,应对环境问题的关键就是中国政府是否愿意付出那种代价,也就是严厉环境监管可能造成的就业机会减少,这样的问题在地方会尤其严重。 对于地方政府实施反腐败法的问题,奥林斯说:“这是一个考验。” (译者:timduncan21编辑:齐磊) |