日中财长讨论应对美房贷危机措施

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Finance ministers from Japan and China have been discussing emergency financial measures to try to protect the region from a looming U.S. recession.

日本和中国的财政部长讨论采取紧急金融措施，试图保护该地区不受美国经济衰退的影响。

During meetings Sunday in Tokyo, finance ministers of Japan and China agreed to cooperate in easing any repercussions in Asia from a U.S. mortgage crisis that continues to drag down the U.S. economy.

日本和中国的财长星期天在东京举行会议，同意要共同合作，缓解美国房贷危机对亚洲的冲击，次级房贷仍然在拖累美国经济。

The two officials said they would honor a regional cooperation agreement known as the Chiang Mai Initiative, which allows participating governments in the Asian region to lend foreign currencies in the event of a financial emergency.

两位财政部长说，他们将尊重一项名为《清迈协议》的区域合作协议，该协议允许亚洲地区的参与国在面临紧急金融危机时借贷外国货币。

Japanese Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga spoke to reporters following the meeting.

日本财政大臣额贺福志郎在会后告诉记者说，

Nukaga said it was important for Japan, China and India to lead the global economy at this time of increasing uncertainty.

在不确定性增加的情况下，日本、中国和印度引导全球经济非常重要。

Market fluctuation in Asia has been intense in the last couple weeks following increased concerns that the United States is in the beginning stages of a recession.

在过去两个星期，对美国经济进入衰退的担忧引发亚洲金融市场的波动。

Mitsuhiro Fukao is President of the Japan Center for Economic Research. He says countries like China and Japan, and areas like Taiwan, do not have to worry too much about the fallout from the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis, because they can financially sustain themselves if their exports to the U.S. decline.

日本经济研究中心社长深尾三硕说，像中国和日本这样的国家，以及像台湾这样的地区不用太担心美国次级房贷危机的附带影响，因为如果他们向美国的出口减少的话，他们也能够在经济上继续支撑自己。

"But some Asian countries may be facing a shortfall of exports to the U.S. if the U.S. economy stagnates or falls into recession, then some Asia countries may run short on foreign currency reserves," said Fukao.

深尾三硕说：“但是，如果美国经济停滞或陷入衰退的话，一些亚洲国家向美国的出口可能面临减少，这样一些亚洲国家可能面临外币储备短缺。”

Fukao says countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia, for example, are likely to face difficulty if there is a lengthy U.S. recession.

深尾三硕说，比方说，像菲律宾和印度尼西亚这样的国家，如果美国经济衰退的时间维持很长的话，这些国家可能面临困境。

And as the dollar continues to dangle below the 100-yen mark, Fukao says that officials have their eyes on just how low it will go.

深尾三硕说，在美元兑换日圆的汇率继续徘徊在低于1比100以下之际，官方正在关注最终能够低到多少。

"If Yen say goes to 90 per dollar, the ministry of finance may intervene to stop rapid appreciation. But at the current level of around 100 yen per dollar the intervention by the government is unlikely."

他说：“如果美元兑日元的汇率低于1比90的话，财政部或许会进行干预，阻止日元的快速升值。但是，在目前一美元兑换大约100日元的情况下，政府不太可能进行干预。”

Analysts say other countries in Asia that rely heavily on trade with the U.S. are likely to try to beef up their domestic financial policies in the face of a U.S. recession and higher inflation rates in China.

分析人士说，在面临美国经济衰退和中国高通货膨胀率的情况下，其他在很大程度上倚赖同美国贸易的亚洲国家可能要充实他们的国内金融政策。

The U.S. Federal Reserve has already announced emergency measures to ward off a recession, and further interest rate cuts may be made.

美联储已经宣布紧急措施，防止经济进入衰退，同时也有可能会进一步削减贷款利率。

In limited trading Monday, China's main Shanghai Index, plummeted 4.5 percent, while Japan's Nikkei Index closed flat following sharp declines last week. Most Asian markets were closed for holiday.

在星期一的交易日中，中国主要的上证综合指数下跌4.5%，日本日经指数在经过上个星期的大幅下挫后收盘时没有变动。大多数的亚洲股市因假日休市。