三则有关“Debt Ceiling”的VOA双语新闻

白宫与国会达成债务上限协议 (White House, Congress Reach US Debt Ceiling Deal) (08-01-11)

美国总统奥巴马与国会两院领袖就提高国债上限、避免政府陷入前所未有的债务违约达成一项妥协协议。奥巴马星期天晚上在白宫对记者说，协议要求在今后十年内削减1万亿美元的开支，并在国会组建一个两党小组，研究如何继续削减1.5万亿美元。他说，该小组将考虑所有选择，包括增税和削减老年人医保等社会福利项目。如果这个小组不能达成一致意见，协议将要求自动削减开支。 这一妥协协议仍须获得国会参众两院的通过。预计，协议会在民主党控制的参议院将得到通过，但是，在共和党领导的众议院将面临更多的反对。预计，两院星期一会进行投票。国会两党领袖都表示，他们期待能有足够的票数使得这项令美国举债上限突破14.3万亿美元的协议得到通过。

U.S. President Barack Obama has reached an agreement with congressional leaders on a compromise deal to raise the nation's limit on borrowing and keep the government from an unprecedented default.Mr. Obama said Sunday night that the proposed deal cuts about $1 trillion in spending over 10 years and sets up a bipartisan panel in Congress to consider up to $1.5 trillion in further reductions. He said that panel will consider all options, including tax increases and cuts to social welfare programs like Medicare. If the panel fails to reach agreement, then the deal requires automatic spending cuts. Congress must still approve the compromise, which is expected to pass the Senate which is controlled by Democrats. The deal is expected to face more opposition in the Republican-led House. A vote could come Monday, and congressional leaders from both parties say they expect to have enough votes to approve the deal that would raise the $14.3 trillion limit on U.S. borrowing.

中国：美提高借债上限协议只是权益之计 (China Dismisses US Debt Deal as Short-Term Fix) (08-02-11)

中国国营媒体说，美国为提高借贷上限在最后一刻达成的协议只不过是拖延了威胁世界经济的更深层问题。《人民日报》在周二的一篇评论中说，虽然美国避免了债务违约，但它的债务问题并未解决，而且有可能会发展得更严重。《人民日报》是中国执政的共产党最重要的舆论喉舌。 评论说，美国的债务负担继续给美国经济复苏蒙上阴影，同时给世界经济埋下更大的风险隐患。《人民日报》说，尽管美国债务问题令人担心，但是美元仍然是世界上的主要硬通货，其它国家不得不接受。中国是美国最大的债权人。

China's state-controlled media say a last-minute deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling has merely postponed deeper problems that threaten the world economy.In a commentary Tuesday, the People's Daily newspaper said that while the threat of default has been avoided, America's debt problems are unresolved and likely to grow more serious. The newspaper is the most important mouthpiece for China's ruling Communist Party. The commentary says the American debt burden continues to cast a shadow over the nation's economic recovery, and increases the risks faced by the rest of the world economy.People's Daily says that despite the debt concerns, the dollar remains the world's dominant hard currency and other nation's have no choice but to accept it. China is America's largest creditor outside the United States.

中国表达对美国国债协议的不满 (China Expresses Disgust Over US Debt Deal) (08-03-11)

美国最大债权国中国发出信号，对美国本星期达成的提高债务上限协议及其达成的过程颇为不满。一个中国债务评级机构调低了美国的信贷评级，称本星期在华盛顿达成的协议未能解决深层问题。官方新华社认为达成协议的谈判过程是鲁莽的边缘政策闹剧。 中国央行行长周小川使用更为谨慎的措辞，但发出相似的信息。他呼吁华盛顿采取具体而负责的步骤重建外界对美国国债的信心，称不确定性威胁全球经济复苏。周小川欢迎星期二的协议，但是他表示将紧密关注协议的落实。他说中国将继续争取投资多样化。

America's biggest creditor -- China -- is signaling deep unhappiness over this week's deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling and the way it was accomplished.A Chinese credit rating agency Wednesday downgraded U.S. debt, saying the deal does nothing to address the underlying problem. And the official Xinhua news agency dismissed the negotiating process that produced the deal as "a madcap farce of brinksmanship." Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of China's central bank, used more measured language but issued a similar message. He called for Washington to take concrete and responsible steps to rebuild confidence in U.S. Treasury bonds, saying uncertainties are a threat to the global economic recovery.Zhou welcomed Tuesday's deal, but said he will be watching closely to see how it is implemented. He also said China will continue seeking to diversify its investments.