There is a growing number of economists who believe today's brutally tough labor market is not a temporary American oddity. Falling wages, reduced benefits and rising job insecurity seem to be increasingly entrenched features of the job scene across most of Western Europe, the United States and other parts of the developed world. The number of insecure freelance positions is rising (as are working hours) while stable jobs with good benefits are being cut. Laid-off workers are much less likely to be rehired by their old companies and have to find new jobs or turn to self-employment. Those who still have jobs are working longer hours with little prospect of meaningful raises.

　　The new labor market is shaped by growing global competition, spurred by the rise of cheap manufacturers in China, India and Eastern Europe, and the price-chopping effect of both the Internet and giant retailers led by Wal-Mart. These forces compel Western companies to exercise a growing restraint on prices and labor cost. One thing globalization clearly does is to exert a leveling effect on wages.

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　　越来越多的经济学家认为当今美国劳动力市场竞争异常残酷激烈，这不只是一时的怪现状。在大多西欧国家、美国及其他发达国家，降薪、福利削减、工作稳定性下降似乎已经成为就业市场越来越难以改变的痼疾。不稳定的自由职业岗位增多(工作时间同样延长)，而稳定福利好的工作机会减少。一旦失业，人们很难被旧东家重聘，所以不得不找份新工作或者自己创业。而那些尚留在工作岗位上的人员工作时间加长，然而他们加薪前景微乎其微。中国、印度、东欧各国劳动力价格低廉，互联网和零售巨头(比如沃尔玛)把商品价格一降再降，这就使得全球竞争日益严重。进而，深刻的改变了原来的劳动力市场。结果，西方国家各家公司既要压低商品的价格，又要尽量削减成本。很明显，全球化让全世界的提薪之日遥遥无期。

　　中译英

　　中国有句古话："相知无远近，万里尚为邻"。中国与亚洲各国山水相连，共同铸就了灿烂的亚洲文明;古老而美丽的"丝绸之路"，谱写了中欧千年往来的美好篇章。中国与亚欧各国的互利合作正在步入一个全新的阶段。中国已成为亚欧和世界经济发展中的积极力量，我们将坚定走和平发展的道路，致力于同亚欧各国发展富有活力和长期稳定的全面合作关系，与亚欧各国相互支持，携手前进，共创美好的未来。

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　　In China, there is an old saying which goes like this, "Long distance never separates close friends." A ready link connecting this country and many other ones, like the Silk Road, in Asia and Europe helps a lot in bringing about the splendid civilization in Asia and the frequent exchanges and communication between China and the Continent in the past years. Now, we are going a step further in our cooperation based on mutual benefits, enjoying a brand-new bilateral relation. China, a devoted part in promoting the economic development in the 2 continents, will keep her track on the road of peace and development. A corresponding effort made by this country in building a dynamic and long-term cooperation in all fields across Asia and Europe, together with all the other efforts from the 2 continents, will definitely contribute a big part in making the bright future.