📰Today’s article
Title
China’s Growth Rebounds as AI Boom Lifts Exports
AIブームが輸出を押し上げ、中国の成長が持ち直す
Article
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| China’s economic growth picked up in the three months to the end of September. It rebounded from a three-year low as the artificial intelligence boom helped boost exports. According to official data, the world’s second largest economy grew by 4.5% in the third quarter. This was at the bottom end of Beijing’s annual growth target of 4.5%-5%. | 中国の経済成長は、9月末までの3か月間で勢いを増した。人工知能ブームが輸出を押し上げたことで、3年ぶりの低水準から持ち直した。公式データによると、世界第2位の経済大国は第3四半期に4.5%成長した。これは、北京が掲げる年間成長目標の4.5〜5%の下限にあたる。 |
| Official figures showed sales of high-tech goods rose by 14.3%, while the production of both batteries and industrial robots grew by more than 29%. China’s National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday that the economy “sustained steady development against pressure”. Oxford Economics researcher Sheana Yue said manufacturing and high-tech exports have boosted China’s growth, despite weak domestic spending. | 公式の数字によると、ハイテク製品の売上は14.3%増加し、電池と産業用ロボットの生産はどちらも29%超伸びた。中国国家統計局は月曜日、経済は「圧力の中でも着実な発展を維持した」と述べた。オックスフォード・エコノミクスの研究員シーナ・ユエ氏は、国内消費が弱いにもかかわらず、製造業とハイテク輸出が中国の成長を押し上げてきたと語った。 |
| But property investment fell by more than 20% in the first nine months from the same period last year. China’s economy has struggled to shake off a long-running property slump after years of overbuilding. There are still no signs that this trend will end soon, Yue said. Trade uncertainties have also made Chinese consumers “pessimistic” and unwilling to spend. | しかし、不動産投資は最初の9か月間で前年同期比20%超減少した。中国経済は、長年の過剰建設を経て続く不動産不況から抜け出せずにいる。この傾向がすぐに終わる兆しは依然として見られないと、ユエ氏は述べた。貿易をめぐる不確実性も、中国の消費者を「悲観的」にし、支出を控えさせている。 |
| Chinese businesses have leaned heavily on exports as weak wage growth and high youth unemployment hurt spending at home. In September, Beijing introduced support measures, including lower interest rates and property subsidies. Dave Chia, an economist at Moody’s Analytics, said their effects have yet to be seen, adding that China relies on a “single external engine” in exports. | 賃金の伸びの弱さや若者の高い失業率が国内の支出を押し下げているため、中国企業は輸出に大きく頼ってきた。9月、北京は利下げや不動産補助金などの支援策を打ち出した。ムーディーズ・アナリティクスのエコノミスト、デイブ・チア氏は、その効果はまだ表れていないと述べ、さらに中国は輸出という「単一の外部エンジン」に頼っていると付け加えた。 |
| But Beijing is facing a backlash from Western economies, including the US and European Union, as manufacturers struggle to compete with large amounts of cheap Chinese goods. There are also concerns over the billions of dollars being spent on AI infrastructure and whether the companies making those investments can deliver on their promises of generating huge profits. | しかし北京は、米国や欧州連合を含む欧米経済から反発を受けている。製造業者が、大量の安価な中国製品との競争に苦戦しているためだ。また、AIインフラに費やされている数十億ドルの資金や、その投資を行っている企業が莫大な利益を生むという約束を果たせるのかどうかについても懸念がある。 |
📘Vocabulary
- rebound – Verb
- Meaning: To rise or recover again after a fall or a low point.
- Example: Sales rebounded in the spring after a weak winter.
- 意味: 下落や低い状態のあとに、再び上昇したり回復したりする。
- 例文: 冬の不振のあと、春には売上が持ち直した。
- slump – Noun
- Meaning: A period when business or activity becomes much weaker than usual.
- Example: The shop closed after a long slump in sales.
- 意味: 事業や活動が通常よりずっと弱くなる期間。
- 例文: その店は、売上の長い落ち込みのあとに閉店した。
- shake off – Phrasal verb
- Meaning: To get rid of something bad or unwanted.
- Example: She tried to shake off her cold before the trip.
- 意味: 悪いものや望ましくないものを取り除く。
- 例文: 彼女は旅行の前に風邪を治そうとした。
- lean on – Phrasal verb
- Meaning: To depend on someone or something for help or support.
- Example: Small shops often lean on loyal customers to stay open.
- 意味: 助けや支えを得るために、人や物に頼る。
- 例文: 小さな店は、営業を続けるために常連客に頼ることが多い。
- backlash – Noun
- Meaning: A strong negative reaction from many people to something.
- Example: The company faced a backlash after it raised its prices.
- 意味: あることに対する、多くの人々の強い否定的な反応。
- 例文: その会社は値上げをしたあと、強い反発を受けた。
📝Let’s summarize
| Summary | 要約 |
|---|---|
| China’s economy grew by 4.5% in the third quarter, rebounding from a three-year low as the AI boom lifted exports. However, property investment fell sharply, consumers remain unwilling to spend, and Beijing faces a backlash from Western economies. | 中国経済は第3四半期に4.5%成長し、AIブームが輸出を押し上げたことで3年ぶりの低水準から持ち直した。しかし、不動産投資は大きく減少し、消費者は支出を控えたままで、北京は欧米経済から反発を受けている。 |
| [Word Count: 38 words] |
❓Comprehension Questions
Q1: Why did China’s economy rebound from a three-year low?
A. It rebounded because lower interest rates in September helped to boost its exports.
B. It rebounded because property subsidies introduced by Beijing helped to boost its exports.
C. It rebounded because the boom in artificial intelligence helped to boost its exports.
D. It rebounded because strong domestic spending by consumers helped to boost its exports.
問1: 中国経済が3年ぶりの低水準から持ち直したのはなぜですか。
Correct answer: C
正解選択肢: 人工知能ブームが輸出の押し上げに役立ったから、持ち直した。
該当文: It rebounded from a three-year low as the artificial intelligence boom helped boost exports.
Q2: What did the official figures in the article show?
A. Official figures showed that production of both batteries and industrial robots fell by more than 20%.
B. Official figures showed that production of both batteries and industrial robots grew by more than 29%.
C. Official figures showed that production of both batteries and industrial robots grew by 14.3%.
D. Official figures showed that sales of high-tech goods rose by more than 29%.
問2: 記事中の公式の数字は何を示しましたか。
Correct answer: B
正解選択肢: 公式の数字は、電池と産業用ロボットの両方の生産が29%超伸びたことを示した。
該当文: Official figures showed sales of high-tech goods rose by 14.3%, while the production of both batteries and industrial robots grew by more than 29%.
Q3: What did the Oxford Economics researcher say about China’s growth?
A. Manufacturing and high-tech exports have boosted China’s growth even though domestic spending is weak.
B. Domestic spending and high-tech exports have boosted China’s growth even though manufacturing is weak.
C. Manufacturing and high-tech exports have slowed China’s growth because domestic spending is weak.
D. Property investment and high-tech exports have boosted China’s growth even though domestic spending is weak.
問3: オックスフォード・エコノミクスの研究員は、中国の成長について何と述べましたか。
Correct answer: A
正解選択肢: 製造業とハイテク輸出が、国内消費が弱いにもかかわらず中国の成長を押し上げてきた。
該当文: Oxford Economics researcher Sheana Yue said manufacturing and high-tech exports have boosted China’s growth, despite weak domestic spending.
💬Today’s your thoughts
Question
Do you think countries should protect their own manufacturers from cheap foreign goods?
各国は、自国の製造業者を安価な外国製品から守るべきだと思いますか。
Model Answer – 1（肯定的立場）
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Yes, I think countries should protect their own manufacturers from cheap foreign goods. | はい、各国は自国の製造業者を安価な外国製品から守るべきだと思います。 |
| Firstly, local factories give many people stable jobs. For example, if a small town has a car parts factory, many families depend on it for their income. Therefore, if cheap imports close it, the whole town may suffer. | まず、地元の工場は多くの人々に安定した仕事を提供します。たとえば、小さな町に自動車部品工場があれば、多くの家族が収入をその工場に頼っています。したがって、安価な輸入品がその工場を閉鎖に追い込めば、町全体が苦しむかもしれません。 |
| In addition, strong domestic industries make a country safer because it does not have to depend on other countries. For instance, during a crisis, imports may stop suddenly, so local factories become important. | さらに、強い国内産業は、他国に頼らなくてもよいため、国をより安全にします。たとえば、危機の際には輸入が突然止まる可能性があるため、地元の工場が重要になります。 |
| In conclusion, I believe countries should protect their manufacturers because this keeps local jobs and makes the country safer. Governments should support domestic industries while trading fairly. | 結論として、地元の雇用を守り、国をより安全にするため、各国は自国の製造業者を守るべきだと私は考えます。政府は、公正に貿易を行いながら国内産業を支援すべきです。 |
| [Word Count: 111 words] |
Model Answer – 2（否定的立場）
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| No, I do not think countries should protect their manufacturers from cheap foreign goods. | いいえ、各国が自国の製造業者を安価な外国製品から守るべきだとは思いません。 |
| To begin with, cheap goods help ordinary people. For example, if a family can buy a good washing machine at a low price, they can spend the saved money on food. This shows that low prices improve daily life. | まず、安い商品は一般の人々の助けになります。たとえば、ある家族が良い洗濯機を安い価格で買えれば、浮いたお金を食費に使えます。このことは、低価格が日常生活を向上させることを示しています。 |
| Moreover, protection can make local companies slow to improve. Because they face little competition, they may not try hard to develop new products. For instance, a company may keep making old products. Therefore, customers may lose good choices. | さらに、保護は地元企業の改善を遅らせる可能性があります。競争がほとんどなければ、新しい製品を開発しようと熱心に努力しないかもしれません。たとえば、ある会社が古い製品を作り続けるかもしれません。したがって、消費者は良い選択肢を失うかもしれません。 |
| In conclusion, I think countries should not protect their manufacturers because cheap goods help families and competition makes companies better. Countries should instead help workers learn new skills. | 結論として、安い商品は家族の助けになり、競争は企業をより良くするため、各国は自国の製造業者を守るべきではないと私は思います。その代わりに、各国は労働者が新しい技能を身につけるのを支援すべきです。 |
| [Word Count: 119 words] |
News Source: BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm5yn098xz8lo