A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
英国首相访问中国
Keir Starmer Visits China — Chery in Liverpool, AstraZeneca and Visa-Free Travel
About this story
Keir Starmer visits Xi Jinping with a UK delegation — Chery in Liverpool, AstraZeneca and new visa-free travel. HSK 2 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 2 Chinese listening episode that runs about 2 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 11 key vocabulary words such as 公司、问题、文化 and walks through 4 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.
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原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
Hello everyone, welcome to today's Chinese podcast.
Today we are going to talk about a very important piece of news.
British Prime Minister Starmer has just concluded his visit to China.
This visit lasted for a total of four days.
Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
This is the first time in eight years that a British Prime Minister has visited China.
This meeting was intended to improve the relationship between the UK and China.
Starmer did not go alone.
He brought a large business delegation.
Inside were many famous British business people.
They came from the finance, pharmaceutical, and energy industries.
Let's look at the specific business cooperations.
Chinese car company Chery met with Starmer.
Chery intends to open a headquarters in Liverpool, UK.
Additionally, the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced big news.
They are going to invest a lot of money in China over the next five years.
This shows that British companies value the Chinese market.
Next, let's look at changes in policy.
This is good news for ordinary people.
China agreed to give visa-free treatment to British citizens.
British people going to China can stay visa-free for 30 days.
Traveling and doing business have become more convenient.
There is also news regarding whisky.
China lowered the tariff on British whisky.
The tax rate dropped from ten percent to five percent.
This means whisky will be cheaper in China.
Besides business, what else did they talk about?
Starmer and Xi Jinping discussed climate change.
That is the problem of global warming.
They also discussed the governance of artificial intelligence.
Both countries want to cooperate in these areas.
Finally, let's talk about Hong Kong's role.
Starmer said that Hong Kong is a "bridge".
Hong Kong connects the UK and China.
Hong Kong and the UK have many cultural and educational ties.
Many universities in Hong Kong are excellent.
British schools can also develop in the Greater Bay Area.
Educational cooperation can make the relationship between the two countries closer.
Although there are still some difficulties and challenges.
However, this visit is a new beginning.
Face-to-face dialogue is always good.
I hope there will be more exchanges between the UK and China in the future.
That is all for today's podcast.
Thank you everyone for listening, see you next time.
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Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇The head of an elected government. Measure word: 位 (wèi).
Used for formal visits to countries, institutions, or people. Verb or Noun.
Relating to trade and industry. Common phrase: 商业合作 (business cooperation).
A group of people representing an organization or country. Measure word: 个 (gè).
Putting money into something for profit. Verb or Noun.
HSK 1-2. company.
HSK 1-2. problem / question.
HSK 1-2. culture.
HSK 1-2. news.
HSK 1-2. to start / to begin.
HSK 1-2. to hope.
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Indicates that an action has happened very recently (just now).
英国首相斯塔默刚刚结束了对中国的访问
A conjunction pair meaning 'Although..., but...'. Used to show contrast.
虽然还有一些困难和挑战
但是，这次访问是一个新的开始
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
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