【参考译文】

A: Hi, Mr. Roberts.

B: 你好，陈小姐。近来我一直在思考一件事，我想告诉你我的想法。

A: I'd like to hear them. And I'll be very happy if I can help you with anything.

B: 现在西方人都在谈论去东方投资。显然，越来越多的外国公司纷纷涌人中国，而上海的浦东地区是人们投资的首选目的地之一。现在的问题不在于是否要去东方投资，而在于何时去投资为好，如何去投资为好。

A: You're absolutely right. Overseas investment in Shanghai and its surrounding areas has quadrupled in recent years. There are many reasons for this rising investment boom. Apart from the fact that China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the Chinese central government and local governments focus a lot of their attention on opening the whole country up to the outside world, both the coastal cities and the country's

interior areas. They are doing all they can to attract foreign investment. On the other hand, many institutional and individual investors overseas find it more profitable to invest directly in China than just to do trade with Chinese companies.

B:这种偏爱的原因何在，我不太明白。请你解释一下，我愿闻其详。

A: OK. Basically, direct foreign investment in China maximizes the strengths of both parties concerned. China has massive land, abundant natural resources, huge cheap labor, low taxation, a growing consumer market, improving infrastructure and of course, a stable social and political environment with attractive investment policies. All these are rarely found elsewhere in the world. On the other hand, foreign investors from developed countries or areas have sufficient funds, advanced technology and managerial expertise. Direct investment in China will yield higher economic returns than import and export trade.

B: 你说得有道理。我有一些朋友有意在中国直接投资。至于投资的最佳地点，你有何高见？

A: Personally, I like you to invest in the Pudong Area of Shanghai. Not because it's my hometown, but it really is an ideal place for investment. If you or your friends are interested, I have a lot of investment literature for you to

study. I have also heard of many very successful stories of foreign investment in China's inland areas and other coastal cities. There's really no the best place. It's a matter of a better place at a given time.

B: 接下来的一个问题是，目前有哪些许可的投资形式?

A: Among others you can invest in a joint venture with a Chinese partner, or establish a business independently, that is, set up a company solely funded and owned by a foreign investor.

B: 两者有何不同？

A: With a joint venture, a foreign partner usually brings into the enterprise or business capital funds, machinery, advanced technology and management, while the Chinese partner supplies land, labor and a portion of the funds for the infrastructure. The business is then jointly run by both parties. As for the solely foreign-funded business, you provide all the funds and take all the benefits, as well as all the risks. You can run the company in whatever way you prefer, within the boundary of Chinese laws, of course.

B: 你的解释使我茅塞顿开。如果我们决定在上海投资，我们想请你担任我们的中方顾问。希望你不要推辞。

A: It's my honor. And I'm looking forward to my early service.

责任编辑：admin