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Chinese Goods Top Christmas Wish List In Cameroon

中国商品在喀麦隆圣诞节愿望清单中成为抢手货

For many in predominantly Chrisian Cameroon, Christmas without new dresses, playthings and extraordinary food is unthinkable. Family breadwinners must provide them all for their spouses¹, kids and other dependents to guarantee a happy and peaceful holiday.

喀麦隆的绝大多数基督教徒无法想象自己的圣诞节没有新衣服,玩物及异乎寻常的食物。在家庭中负责生计的人必须保障其配偶,孩子及家属渡过幸福安宁的假期。

Across the country this year, the traditional hustle² and bustle³ that usually heralds⁴ the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ started off slowly. Until a few days ago, traders grumbled⁵ about poor sales, fearing they may end up with piles of unsold stocks of the seasonal⁶ Christmas goods.

今年全国传统的熙熙攘攘通常预示着纪念耶稣基督的出生已经开始。直到几天前,交易者们还在抱怨可怜的销售额,担心季节性的圣诞节商品砸在自己手里卖不出去。

Civil servants complained the government had failed to pay their salaries on time. Others said they were waiting for the last minute rush and a possible drop in prices. As a result, most markets nationwide only recently witnessed an upsurge in sales in the final days to Christmas.

而公务员则在抱怨政府没有按时支付其工资。其他人表示他们正在等待最后的一鼓作气及有可能的价格下跌。结果全国范围的大多数市场最近亲眼目睹了圣诞节最后几天的销售狂潮。

In the country’s most-populated city and economic nub Douala, the vast majority of Christmas shoppers prefer low-priced Chinese goods. Many said imported products from other parts of the world like Europe and America are far beyond their reach. They addedthat with as little as little as five dollars, it is possible to buy a dress and a pair of shoes.

在这个国家人口最稠密的城市及经济核心杜阿拉,绝大多数的圣诞购物者钟爱价格低廉的中国商品。许多人表示世界其他地方像欧洲以及美国的进口产品都远远超出他们的承受范围。他们补充道最少只要五元,就能买一条裙子和一双鞋子。

Soaring demand

Gifts made in China, the preference of many consumers this Christmas in Cameroon.

Throughout the streets of Douala and other major urban settlements, the soaring demand for Chinese dresses, toys, medicines, motorbikes and electronic appliances among others has led to cutthroat competition for street-side commercial space between Chinese nationals and their Cameroonian hosts.

杜阿拉整个街道及其他主要城市聚居地,对中国的衣服、玩具、药品、摩托车、电子电器的需求日益高涨甚至引发了中国侨民和喀麦隆本地商人街边地盘的激烈竞争。

Economists⁷ say the failure of the country to manufacture consumer goods and the heavy dependence⁸ on imports has favored the steady influx⁹ over the years of Chinese products.

经济学家表示国家制造消费品的失败及严重依赖进口使中国商品多年来稳定的涌入进来。

Calixtus Fuh Gentry¹⁰ is the Secretary of State in the Ministry¹¹ of Mines, Industries and Technological¹² Development. He said the situation is not peculiar¹³ to Cameroon.

卡里特斯•福•哥特里是矿工业技术发展部的国务卿。他表示这种情况对于喀麦隆来说并不罕见。

"China is bailing¹⁴ out the whole," said Gentry. "The U.S. owes China lots of money. China is bailing out Europe. So it’s not that we’re rushing to China. The very partners we started with, who are internationally renowned¹⁵ companies from very highly industrialized countries are heading to China to get financing, or they’re bought out by the Chinese."

“中国援助世界,是整个世界的大赢家。” 哥特里说道。“美国欠中国很多钱。中国正在援助欧洲。因此不是我们冲向中国。我们开始合作的伙伴是来自高度发达国家的国际知名公司,他们正前往中国获得融资,或许他们被中国买下所有权也不一定。”

However, a fraction of Cameroonian consumers said they would not, for anything in the world, spend a dime¹⁶ on Chinese goods for Christmas. For them, the more expensive products from Europe or America are better because they last longer.

然而,喀麦隆的一小部分消费者表示他们不会花一毫一厘购买世界上任何的中国商品过圣诞节。对他们来说, 来自欧洲或美国昂贵的产品更有好处,因为它们持续的时间更长。

Demand for consumer electronics

Despite the ongoing¹⁷ debate, Chinese products have clearly topped the wish lists for many this Christmas in Cameroon. Among the choice items for shoppers are educational electronic toys and gadgets¹⁸ including laptops.

尽管存在持续不断的争论,但中国商品品已经很明确成了喀麦隆圣诞节许多人愿望清单中的一部分。购物者选择的项目中主要是教育电子玩具及笔记本电脑。

Many parents say they have noted¹⁹ with delight the absence of toy weapons on the markets this season. They say it is an indication that years of lobbying against them are finally paying off.

许多父母表示他们很高兴注意到玩具武器没有在这个季节的市场上出现。他们表示多年的反对游说终于有了作用。

Elsewhere, some are frowning at the increasing commercialization of Christmas over the years. Ursula Njefrey, a member of the Holy Trinity Choir²⁰ of the Presbyterian Church in the capital Yaoundé, said the growing attention on material at Christmas is blurring²¹ the real meaning of Christmas for many.

在其他地方,有些人对今年的圣诞节商业化表示不满,首都雅温得长老教堂圣三一教堂唱诗班的成员厄素拉•杰弗里表示,过分关注圣诞节的内容实质上是在模糊圣诞节的真正意义。

"Christmas is a season for reconciliation²², for peace, for love," she said. For those who cannot afford to buy gifts, or don't believe in purchased ones, she offers songs,and greetings, of the season instead.

“圣诞节的主题是为了和解,为了,为了爱。”她说道。对于那些买不起礼物,或不相信购买的人,她用歌曲及问候替代。