1、Last month, Chinas ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and some 400 of his compatriots living in the Gulf state gathered to witness a bit of history. kmptrit 上月，中国驻阿联酋大使和生活在这个海湾国家的约400名同胞聚集在一起，见证了某种意义上的历史性时刻。For the first time, two Chinese naval ships, visited the UAE, with a brief port call in A
2、bu Dhabi. neivl 两艘中国军舰首次访问阿联酋，在阿布扎比港口进行了短暂停靠。The event, which captured little attention, was another example of the growing ties between the Gulf and the Asian giant. With the level of trade between the Middle East and Asia soaring, the talk is of a new silk road. It is easy to see why. In 2008, Chi
3、na overtook the US as the largest exporter to the Middle East, with Chinese goods coming into the region valued at about $60bn at the end of last year up from $4.6bn at the turn of the century, according to the Royal Bank of Scotland.尽管这一事件没有引起多大关注，但它却是表明海湾地区与中国这个亚洲巨人之间关系日益密切的又一例证。随着中东与亚洲之间的贸易规模大幅飙升
4、，有人已开始谈论开辟一条新丝绸之路的话题。我们不难看出其中的原因。苏格兰皇家银行(RBS)的数据显示，2008年，中国超越美国，成为中东最大的出口国。去年末，中国流入该地区的商品总价值达到约600亿美元，远高于上世纪末的46亿美元。In the other direction, oil and 在另一个方向上，石油及石化产品的流动也在petrochemicals are flowing at an increasing rate. About 35 per cent of Chinas crude imports now originate in the six states of the G
5、ulf Cooperation Council.不断加速。目前，中国约35%的原油进口均来自海湾合作委员会的6个成员国。And while the Arab world looks east, the European Union and the GCC have for years been unsuccessfully negotiating a free trade agreement. The last round of talks broke down in 2008 amid disagreements over human rights and democracy, issues
6、 the Middle Easts autocracies need not fear will be raised by Beijing. The economic crisis is only likely to accelerate Arab-Asian relations. :tkrsi 而在阿拉伯世界看向东方的同时，欧盟(EU)与海湾合作委员会多年来未能成功达成一项自由贸易协定。上一轮谈判于2008年破裂，原因是双方在人权和民主问题上存在分歧，而中东的独裁政府无需担心中国会提出这类问题。经济危机只可能会促进阿拉伯与亚洲之间的联系。There are, of course, dispa
7、rities in the relationship, particularly as the poorer Middle Eastern states find themselves on the receiving end of cheap Chinese imports, which could cost local jobs.当然，这种关系中存在不对等性，尤其是相对贫穷的中东国家，发现自己在接收廉价的中国进口产品，这有可能导致当地工作岗位的流失。Yet the controversy that often surrounds Chinas lopsided relations with
8、 Africa is absent when it comes to the Middle East. Indeed, for 不过，当涉及中东地区时，通常不存在那种围绕在中国与非洲不平等关系上的争议。事实上，在海湾国家看来，Gulf states it is seen a logical marriage between increasingly confident emerging powers that serves both sides.这是自信心日渐增强的新兴大国之间的合理联姻，符合双方的利益。There is greater debate, however, about how t
9、rade ties may evolve into a political relationship and what this may mean for western interests in an oil-rich region that has historically looked to the US as partner and guarantor of security.不过，围绕一些问题的论战正愈演愈烈：贸易联系会如何演变为政治联系？这对于西方在这一富含石油地区的利益意味着什么？中东地区历来依赖美国，作为自己的合作伙伴和安全保障。The point was recently b
10、rought into focus when US officials suggested that Saudi Arabia could use its influence with China to help persuade Beijing not to obstruct tougher sanctions against Iran. The idea was that Riyadh could reassure China that the kingdom would meet any shortfall in oil imports the communist state might
11、 face if sanctions are tightened. bstrkt, ,ri:u上述论战近来受到了关注，因为美国官员提出，沙特阿拉伯可以利用自己对中国的影响力，帮助劝说中国政府不要阻挠对伊朗加大制裁力度的计划。美国的想法是，沙特政府可以向中国保证，对于因加大对伊制裁力度而可能给这个共产主义国家带来的石油进口不足，将由沙特来解决。Prince Saudi al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, rebuffed the idea, saying the Chinese did not need suggestions from Saudi Ar
12、abia. Yet 沙特外交大臣沙特费萨尔亲王断然回绝了这一提议，称中国人不需要来自沙特的建议。不过，analysts have little doubt Saudi officials are having quiet words with their Chinese counterparts as Saudi Arabia seeks to counter Irans influence in the region.分析师几乎肯定，沙特官员与中国官员进行了私下洽谈，因为沙特寻求反制伊朗在该地区的影响力。It is also clear that the more the Gulf, Chi
13、na and other Asian states become economically linked, the more their regional interests will align. This is particularly so in regard to oil and the importance of ensuring tanker traffic can flow unmolested through the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulfs strategic waterway, currently the scene of military e
14、xercises involving Irans Revolutionary Guards. lain 有一点也很清楚：海湾地区、中国及其它亚洲国家经济上的联系越紧密，它们的地区利益就会越一致。在石油以及确保油轮在霍尔木兹海峡畅行无阻方面，尤其如此。霍尔木兹海峡是海湾地区的战略性航道，目前一些方面在此举行军事演习，其中包括伊朗革命卫队。At present, China obtains 13 per cent of its oil from Iran and 20 per cent from Saudi Arabia, so it has as much stake as anybody in
15、 maintaining regional stability.目前，中国13%的石油从伊朗进口，20%从沙特进口，因此，维护中东地区稳定对于中国来说，与对任何国家同样重要。Some believe the issue of tougher Iranian sanctions will be an early test of the political capital that may accompany the regions burgeoning economic links with China. But 有些人认为，对于可能伴随着中东与中国经济关系迅猛发展而来的政治资本而言，加大对伊制
16、裁力度问题，将是一种初步测试。不过，较为谨慎the more circumspect caution against overestimating Chinas strategic and political role in the Middle East. s:kmspekt 的人士警告称，不要高估中国在中东地区的战略及政治地位。While China is no doubt the emerging economic force, it is still a long way short of challenging the dominant position of the US in t
17、he Middle East, even if that were Beijings desire. Americas military clout is unrivalled and its role in the Arab-Israeli conflict remains critical. klaut虽然中国无疑是一支正不断崛起的经济力量，但它仍远远无法挑战美国在中东的主导性地位，即使北京方面有这种意愿。美国的军事实力无可匹敌，它在阿以冲突中仍扮演着至关重要的角色。For now, the primary driver of Arab-Asian relations is trade,
18、a partnership that reflects new geopolitical realities and makes sense for Middle Eastern states looking to diversify their economic and foreign relations. The issue to watch is how the dynamic changes in the coming years. daiv:sifai, 眼下，阿拉伯和亚洲之间的关系主要受贸易推动。这种关系反映了新的地缘政治现实，对谋求拓宽经济和外交关系的中东国家来说是有意义的。有待观察的问题是，未来数年这种态势将会如何演变。有活力的
