金融英语阅读辅导资料：US$3.7b loan to help

会计考友

　　China Development Bank has agreed to provide up to 30 billion yuan (US$3.7 billion) in loans within five years to fund Taiwan-invested companies on the mainland.
　　Headquarters of the China Development Bank is seen in this picture taken on August 22, 2005. [newsphoto]According to a deal signed yesterday between the bank and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Taiwan-funded companies planning to invest in such areas as infrastructure, basic industries and high-tech sectors - which are supported by the bank - will be eligible for the loans.
3 F3 S4 p- q4 e$ a7 i　　The agreement is a good news for Taiwan investors, who are thirsty for capital to fund business expansion on the mainland, said Jay Shane, managing director of the Hangzhou-based Huatong Industries Inc.
　　"We hope to enjoy better services from mainland banks," he said.
/ q1 r5 u. O1 ]; e+ m1 M0 c　　A healthy development of firms invested by Taiwan compatriots on the mainland benefits China s reunification effort, he added.
　　Chen Yunlin, minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office, said cross-Straits economic co-operation has developed rapidly in recent years thanks to the joint efforts of both sides of the Straits.
　　By the end of June, the mainland had approved 66,028 Taiwan-invested firms, involving contracted investment of US$84.1 billion and actual investment of US$40.7 billion.
$ a) ]' K6 l0 p0 b: X$ g* R* V0 g　　By that time, cross-Straits trade volume had reached US$445.6 billion, with Taiwan s exports to the mainland hitting US$372.7 billion.
　　The mainland has become Taiwan s biggest export market and largest source of trade surplus, Chen said. It has also become the largest recipient of direct investment from the island.
; K/ ]. h3 ~& @% V! X9 P) D& g　　The vast number of Taiwan firms investing on the mainland need financial support, Chen said.
8 W  P$ E* k3 p2 Z3 V& }　　However, the Taiwan authorities have imposed many restrictions on companies and financial institutions with investment on the mainland, he said. Taiwan-invested firms are facing a lot of financing difficulties.
　　"The mainland has always paid special attention to the issue," Chen said.
　　As early as the beginning of the 1990 s, the mainland arranged more than 3 billion yuan (US$369.9 million) in special loans to fund fixed asset investment by Taiwan firms. Some mainland banks have also provided financial support to these firms. In 2001, the mainland opened its A-share market to Taiwan-invested companies.
! u- X* \; D2 e6 ?* ]( b, s& u　　President Hu Jintao said in March that "anything beneficial to Taiwan compatriots and conducive to the promotion of cross-Straits exchanges... we will do it with our utmost efforts and will do it well. This is our solemn commitment."
" B2 |+ J6 ?( B7 X, `% g% F) t　　Chen Yuan, president of China Development Bank, said his bank has kept a close watch on cross-Straits economic and trade exchanges, as well as Taiwan-invested companies development on the mainland.
　　"We will take advantage of our role as a policy institution to actively support Taiwan-invested companies financially," he said.
, m7 l) d4 t) l" ]8 S8 v　　The support will not only help solve their financial difficulties, but also promote cross-Straits economic and trade exchanges, he said.