奧巴馬呼籲中國開放互聯網

Barack Obama, US president, threw down a challenge to his Chinese hosts at a speech at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Beijing on Monday, arguing for an open internet and the right to organised labour.

週一，美國總統巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)在北京亞太經合組織(APEC)論壇的一次演講中向東道主發出挑戰，辯稱應開放互聯網和維護有組織勞工的權利。

“We know that, given a choice, our young people would demand more access to the world’s information, not less,” the president told an audience of business delegates. “We know that, if allowed to organise, our workers would demand better working conditions . . . that they are looking for stronger labour and environmental safeguards.”

面對由商界代表組成的聽衆，奧巴馬錶示：“我們知道，如果可以選擇的話，我們的年輕人會要求獲取更多的全球信息，而不是更少。我們知道，如果可以組織起來，我們的工人會要求更好的工作條件……他們正尋求獲得更強有力的勞動保障與環境保障措施。”

Mr Obama was applauded for a pledge to extend the length of student and business visas to the US.

奧巴馬承諾將延長赴美學生簽證和商務簽證的有效期，這一承諾得到了聽衆們的鼓掌歡迎。

However, the president was whisked away by his security detail without taking questions from the audience, in contrast with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, who followed his Apec speech with a question-and-answer session dominated by Chinese concerns over his nation’s business environment.

然而，這位美國總統還沒有回答聽衆的問題，就在其安保人員的護送下匆匆離開了會場。這與俄羅斯總統弗拉基米爾•普京(Vladimir Putin)形成鮮明對照，後者在APEC演講結束後安排了問答環節——聽衆在該環節中提出的問題主要涉及中國人對俄羅斯營商環境的關切。

The different approaches captured the two countries’ relative positions as China transforms itself into the dominant economy in the Pacific. Russia is seeking Chinese investment to develop its resources in its remote Siberian territory, and sustain it during a bruising battle with the west over Ukraine.

奧巴馬和普京截然不同的態度，反映出美俄兩國在面對中國將自身轉變爲太平洋地區主導性經濟體時的相對立場。俄羅斯正在尋求中國人的投資，以開發其偏遠的西伯利亞地區的資源，並在俄與西方就烏克蘭問題展開激烈交鋒之際獲得中方的支持。

Mr Obama, by contrast, is aiming to push through a wide-ranging US-led trade deal, rivalling a similar proposal led by China amid increasing geopolitical friction. It has agreed to extend visas for Chinese students to five years from one, and for business travellers to 10 years.

相比之下，奧巴馬的目標則是在日益加劇的地緣政治摩擦中，推動達成一項美國主導下的廣泛的貿易協定，與中國主導下的類似方案相抗衡。美國已同意將中國學生赴美簽證有效期從1年延長至5年，將商務旅遊簽證有效期延長至10年。

“The Pacific Ocean is big enough for both of our nations. The US welcomes the rise of a prosperous, peaceful and stable China,” Mr Obama said, to applause.

奧巴馬錶示：“太平洋足夠大，容得下我們兩個國家。美國對一個繁榮、和平而穩定的中國的崛起表示歡迎。”這番話迎得一片掌聲。

Mr Putin, meanwhile, sought to reassure Chinese and Asian investors of the attractiveness of infrastructure and development zones in the Russian Far East, despite a plunging rouble. The currency last week suffered its biggest weekly drop in 11 years.

與此同時，普京則試圖讓中國和亞洲投資者相信，儘管盧布出現了暴跌，俄遠東地區的基礎建設和開發區仍然很有吸引力。上週，盧布遭遇了11年來最大幅度的單週下跌。

The Russian leader also put up a stout defence against Chinese investors who complained about local protectionism, currency worries and even Russian policies on wood exports.

面對那些就俄地方保護主義、匯率擔憂乃至俄木材出口政策發牢騷的中國投資者，普京爲俄進行了堅決的辯護。

There was a lighter note when a female audience member sought to promote her own investment park in Russia, prompting an animated response from the Russian president. “I want to kiss you and hug you right here,” Mr Putin said.

會場上還出現了一段輕鬆的插曲。當時，一名女性聽衆試圖宣傳她自己在俄羅斯的一個投資園區，這引來了俄羅斯總統的熱情迴應。普京表示：“我想當場擁吻您一下。”