VOA慢速英语:Trump Sends Letter to China's Xi

U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter Wednesday to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
美国总统川普周三向中国国家主席习近平致信。

He wrote that he is looking forward to working with Xi to "develop a constructive relationship" that benefits both countries, the White House said in a statement.
白宫发表声明说，川普在信中写道，他期望与习主席共同努力，发展惠及中美两国的建设性关系。

The letter also thanked Xi for his note of congratulations on Trump's inauguration. It also wished the Chinese people a happy Lantern Festival and a successful Year of the Rooster.
川普在信中还对习主席祝贺他就职表示了感谢，还祝愿中国人们“元宵节快乐，鸡年大吉”。

China's Lantern Festival takes place this Saturday, February 11. The Lunar New Year was January 28.
中国元宵节是在本周六的2月11日。农历新年是1月28日。

China praised Trump's letter on Thursday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China "highly commended" Trump for the letter to Xi. Lu also dismissed suggestions that China had expected contact from Trump sooner.
周四，中国赞扬了川普的来信。中国外交部发言人陆慷表示，中国高度赞赏特朗普总统给习主席的来信，陆慷还否认了中国期望尽早与川普接触。

"It is known to all that since President Trump took office, China and the U.S. have been in close contact," Lu said.
陆慷表示：“众所周知，自从川普总统上任以来，中美两国一直保持着密切沟通。”

Trump and Xi have not spoken directly since Trump took office last month. They did, however, talk on the phone soon after Trump won the presidential election in November.
自从上个月川普上任以来，中美两国领导尚未直接通话。然而他们确实在11月川普赢得总统大选后不久就通了电话。

The Foreign Ministry in Beijing said last week that the two countries were remaining "in close touch." China's top diplomat, State Councillor Yang Jiechi, has led that contact.
中国外交部上周表示，中美两国关系仍然非常密切。中国最高外交官员（实为前任外长）、国务委员杨洁篪牵头了那次接触。

Last week, Yang told Michael Flynn, Trump's national security adviser, that China hopes it can work with the United States to manage and control disputes and sensitive problems.
上周，杨洁篪对川普的国家安全顾问迈克尔·弗林（Michael Flynn）表示，中国希望同美国合作管控好分歧和敏感问题。

As a presidential candidate, Trump accused China of unfair trade practices and of undervaluing its currency.
川普作为总统候选人时曾指责中国不公平贸易行为和低估其货币。

When he was president-elect, Trump took a telephone call from Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen. Some Chinese officials said the call violated America's 1979 pledge of support for a one-China policy. China claims Taiwan as its own territory.
当他是候任总统时，川普接到了中国台湾地区领导人蔡英文的电话。一些中国官员表示，这次通话违反了美国1979年做出的支持一个中国政策的承诺。台湾是中国的固有领土。

Since taking office, Trump and members of his administration have been critical of China's actions in the South China Sea.
自上任以来，川普及其政府成员一直批评中国在南中国海的行动。

Diao Daming is with the Institute of American studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He told the state-run Global Times that Trump's letter to Xi is a good sign, but "we still need to observe his [Trump's] real actions."
刁大明就职于中国社会科学院美国研究所。他对《环球时报》表示，川普向习主席致信是一个好兆头，但是我们仍然需要观察川普的实际行动。

Chu Yun is a professor at the University of International Relations in Beijing. He told the Global Times that Trump's choice to send a letter instead of making a phone call shows he "may still want to keep his distance from China." However, he said, a "friendly signal is better than a provocation."
楚云（音译）是北京国际关系大学的教授。他对《环球时报》表示，川普选择致信而不是打电话，表明他可能仍然想同中国保持距离，然而，友好信号胜过挑衅。

Last month, Chinese internet users found another "friendly signal" on social media. Trump's daughter, Ivanka, posted a video of her 5-year-old daughter singing a song in Mandarin in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
上个月，中国互联网用户在社交媒体商发现了另一个“友好信号”。川普的女儿伊万卡发布了一则她五岁的女儿用普通话唱歌庆祝中国农历新年的视频。

The short video spread quickly in China.
这则短视频在中国迅速传播。