美国商会为中国企业投资美国支招

Looking to ease the way for Chinese investment in the U.S., the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is advising Chinese businesses not to count on 'personal relationships' with government officials as a key to success.

美国商会(U.S. Chamber of Commerce)建议说，中国企业不要指望它们与美国政府官员的“私人关系能够显著降低它们投资美国的难度。

The advice came in a report prepared by the U.S. Chamber for an investment forum Tuesday in Beijing. The event, co-hosted by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, a Chinese government think tank, was expected to draw about 400 business executives and government officials, current and past.

这一建议出现在美国商会为周二在北京举行的一场投资论坛准备的报告中。论坛由官方智库中国国际经济交流中心与美国商会联合举办，预计将吸引大约400名企业高管及在任、卸任政府官员参加。

The U.S. Chamber said it was acting on its own initiative, though the U.S. government, seeking to lift economic growth, also has been trying to encourage Chinese investment. Chinese business leaders regularly say they are interested in investing in the U.S. but fear political opposition.

美国商会说，尽管美国政府为提振国内经济增长也在鼓励中国投资，但提出上述建议是商会的自发行为。中国商界领导人常常表示他们有意投资美国，但担心遭到政治上的反对。

'We're trying to showcase Chinese investment in the U.S.,' said Myron Brilliant, a senior vice president at the U.S. Chamber. 'In a lot of areas there aren't a lot of hurdles to investment.'

美国商会高级副会长薄迈伦(Myron Brilliant)说，我们正努力展示中国在美国的投资成果；美国很多领域的投资障碍并不是很多。

The 38-page report is based on interviews with Chinese business officials who have invested in the U.S. Some of its suggestions are obvious: 'win-win cooperation can create great opportunities,' said advice attributed to Cirrus Industries Inc., a Duluth, Minn., propeller-aircraft maker purchased last year by a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Group of China.

这份38页的报告是在美国商会对已投资美国的中国商界领导人进行采访后撰写的。报告中的一部分建议放之四海皆准。总部位于明尼苏达州德卢斯的螺旋桨飞机生产商西锐飞机工业公司(Cirrus Industries Inc.)给出的建议是“双赢合作可以创造重大机会。西锐公司去年被中国航空工业集团的一家子公司收购。

But other advice reflects important differences between how business is done in the U.S. and in China. 'Unlike in China, personal relations with officials play a very small part in the enforcement of laws and regulation,' said the report's introduction.

但其他建议则反映了中美经商方式的重要差异。报告的引言说，与中国的情况不一样，与美国，与官员的私人关系对法律、法规的执行只能产生非常小的影响。

Another tidbit for would-be Chinese investors: 'The U.S. media [are] completely independent of the government, so even if some local officials welcome your investment, others might voice opposition in the media. Do not be discouraged by this.'

报告对中国潜在投资者的另一个提醒是：美国媒体完全独立于政府，所以即便某些地方官员欢迎你的投资，其他人也有可能在媒体上发表反对意见，不要因此而气馁。

Chinese direct investment in the U.S. last year totaled $4.5 billion, according to New York market research firm Rhodium Group, a tiny portion of the foreign-direct investment in the U.S. The Commerce Department, which uses a different methodology from Rhodium, said FDI in the U.S. reached $227 billion in 2011.

据纽约市场研究公司Rhodium Group说，去年中国在美国的直接投资额为45亿美元，在美国外商直接投资总额里面只占非常小的一部分。据美国商务部(Commerce Department)的数据，2011年美国外商直接投资总额达到2,270亿美元。商务部采用的统计方式与Rhodium不同。

States and municipalities court cash-rich Chinese companies in the hope they will greatly expand their U.S. presence.

美国各州、市纷纷邀请现金充裕的中国公司前来投资，希望这些公司大幅扩大它们在美国的业务。

Chinese officials often point to China National Offshore Oil Corp.'s failed bid to acquire Unocal Corp. in 2005 as an example of U.S hostility.

中国官员常以中国海洋石油总公司2005年收购加州联合石油公司(Unocal Corp.)失败为例来证明美国对中国投资充满敌意。

U.S. officials counter that the scuppered Cnooc deal didn't reflect the general U.S. attitude, although privately some say the Chinese play up the Cnooc saga as a way to win sympathy for future deals from politicians and regulators.

美国官员反驳说，中海油那次失败交易并没有反映美国的总体态度。但一些官员在私下场合说，中国人夸大中海油的那一段经历，是为了博得美国政界人士和监管机构对未来类似交易的同情。

The report said that Cnooc now advises businesses 'to find government initiatives that are complementary of your business' and 'seek opportunities to support the growing U.S.-China commercial relationship.' Since the failed takeover, Cnooc has grown in the U.S. by entering joint ventures with U.S. energy companies and purchasing stakes in oil and gas fields.

美国商会的上述报告说，中海油现在建议中国企业去寻找那些与自己的业务存在互补关系的政府支持项目，并寻找机会为中美日益增强的商贸关系提供支持。自从收购加州联合石油公司遭遇失败以来，中海油通过与美国能源企业组建合资公司、收购油气田股权的方式，扩大了自己在美国的业务规模。

Financing in the U.S. also can be a problem, according to Jiangsu World Groups' lawn-mower subsidiary, Wordlawn Power Equipment, of Beatrice, Neb. 'Due to the economic malaise in the United States it is hard to get loans from banks,' said advice attributed to Worldlawn. 'There is more access and resources in China. The Chinese bank seems more willing to support businesses for growth.'

江苏沃德集团(Jiangsu World Groups)旗下位于内布拉斯加州比阿特丽斯的除草机生产商Wordlawn Power Equipment说，在美国获取融资也有可能遇到问题。Worldlawn给出的建议说，由于美国经济不景气，银行贷款很难获得；中国的渠道和资源更多，中资银行似乎更愿意支持企业成长。

Among the people expected to attend Tuesday's investment forum were Clinton administration U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky and George W. Bush administration Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.

预计参加周二投资论坛的人士包括克林顿政府时期任美国贸易代表的巴尔舍夫斯基(Charlene Barshefsky)，以及小布什政府时期的商务部长古铁雷斯(Carlos Gutierrez)。

On the Chinese side, Zhang Ping, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission─the old State Planning Commission─was slated to attend, as was former Vice Commerce Minister Wei Jianguo.

预计中方参加论坛的人士包括国家发展和改革委员会主任张平，以及前商务部副部长魏建国。