A 1978 Japanese documentary, China's New Look, featured a scene that said everything about what the Chinese craved¹ back then. In front of an old-fashioned television set, dozens of Shanghainese gathered around to watch a TV show.

1978年，一部名为《中国的新面貌》的日本纪录片中有一个场景展示了当时那个年代，中国人普遍追求的东西。镜头里面，一群上海人围在一个老式电视机前一起看电视剧。

In 1981, only one out of every 170 urban households in China had a color television. Having a TV set at home was something worth boasting about, especially when a man would propose.

1981年，中国每170户城镇居民家中只有一户拥有一台彩色电视机。家里有台电视是一件值得炫耀的事情，男士们去提亲的时候尤其如此。

As China started to open its doors to foreign manufacturers, a TV, a refrigerator and a washing machine became a "must-have" home appliances set for a typical middle-class family.

随着中国向外国制造商打开大门，电视、冰箱、洗衣机成为中产家庭的必备电器。

"With more electronic products available, color televisions, cassette recorders, stereo components², record players and electronic games and toys, which were only a dream just a decade ago, can now be found in millions of Chinese homes," read a Xinhua story in 1987.

新华社1987年的一篇文章指出：“随着电子产品越来越多，彩电、录音机、音响组件、唱片机、电子游戏以及玩具等10年前仅存在于梦里的东西，如今已走入千家万户。”

In October 1990, the first outlet³ of McDonald's on the Chinese mainland opened for business in Shenzhen, a southern city at the forefront of China's opening-up.

1990年10月，麦当劳在中国大陆的第一家分店在深圳开张，深圳是中国开放的前沿城市。

The western fast-food chain quickly became the hottest tourist spot in town. Curious Chinese consumers lined up in front of the 20 cashiers of the three-story building, shouting to the staff "I want 10 big macs," recalled a trainee⁴ with McDonald's at that time.

这家西式快餐连锁店迅速成为深圳最火的旅游景点。当时的一位实习生回忆说，那家店当时有三层，一共有20个收银台，好奇的中国消费者在收银台前排着长队，冲着店员喊“我要十个巨无霸。”

A meal at McDonald's was never so fast. China's new rich would line up at the fancy western restaurant for two hours to chat with friends, discuss businesses or even have a date.

在麦当劳吃饭也绝不可能速战速决。中国的新贵阶层会在装修考究的店里排队2个小时，然后跟朋友聊天、谈论工作，甚至还可以约个会。

While McDonald's stood for fashion, a Volkswagen's Santana car was a symbol for status. As many Chinese once said, somewhat jokingly: "As long as you have a Santana, you have nothing to fear driving all around the world."

如果麦当劳代表时尚，那么大众牌桑塔纳轿车代表的就是地位。正如很多中国人曾经开玩笑说的：“拥有桑塔纳，走遍天下都不怕。”

The German automaker set up its first joint venture (JV) with SAIC Motor in Shanghai in 1985. By the end of 1991, the JV produced more than 100,000 Santana cars in total.

1985年，德国大众汽车公司与上汽集团合作成立了首家合资企业。到1991年底，该合资企业生产的桑塔纳轿车超过10万辆。

Following the success, Volkswagen has been expanding its footprint in China, with the establishment of a second venture, FAW Volkswagen, in northeastern city of Changchun in 1991, and a third in Hefei, eastern Anhui province, in 2017.

顺着成功的轨迹，大众在中国不断扩大，1991年在长春建立了第二家合资企业——一汽大众，2017年在安徽省合肥市建立了第三家合资企业。

For many Chinese, the year 2001 was pretty unforgettable. The year marked the start of a new millennium⁵ and led to a whole new era as China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO).

2001年对很多中国人来说都是难忘的一年。这一年，是新千年的开始。中国在这一年加入了世界贸易组织，开启了一个新的时代。

From 2001 to 2017, China's average growth of imports in commodities and services was more than twice the world's average.

2001年到2017年，中国在商品和服务方面的平均进口增长额是世界平均水平的两倍还多。

China never paused to open its market wider in fear of competition. In the spring of 2007, the 101st session of Canton Fair, China's oldest trade fair that dated back to 1957, set up a new section for imports -- a signal that imports are no longer a "side dish" at China's trade events.

中国从来没有因为害怕竞争就停止开放市场。2007年春，第101届广交会新设了一个进口展区，这意味着进口不再是中国贸易活动中的“配菜”。广交会是中国历史最悠久的贸易交易活动，始于1957年。

Shanghai, a city of long-time commercial culture, is always a step ahead in China's foreign trade.

长久以来都以商业文化著称的上海，在中国的外贸领域总是走在前面。

In 2013, China established its first pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Shanghai's Pudong New Area and expanded to a larger area in Pudong in 2015. It was announced on Nov. 5, the day the CIIE opened, that the Shanghai FTZ would expand further.

2013年，中国在上海浦东新区建立了首个自由贸易试验区，在2015年在浦东范围内实施扩展。11月5日，中国国际进口博览会开幕当天宣布上海自由贸易试验区将进一步扩大。

Preferential policies in the FTZ, including the negative list for foreign investment and the cross-border renminbi capital pool policy, effectively boosted the development of many multinational⁶ companies.

外商投资负面清单以及跨境人民币资金池等自由贸易试验区内的优惠政策有效袭击了很多跨国企业的发展。

In 2010, the city hosted the 2010 World Expo, a milestone⁷ that showcased China's sincere wish to open to the world.

2010年，上海主办了2010年世博会，是展示中国真心向世界开放的一个里程碑。

The Shanghai World Expo, the first held in a developing country in the event's 159-year history, set a record in terms of the number of participating countries or regions, the size of the Expo park and the number of visitors.

上海世博会是该活动159年历史中首次在发展中国家举办，在参展国家和地区数量、世博园规模以及参观人数等方面都创了纪录。

With the successful hosting of China's first import expo, the city continued to drive China's import agenda. As China pledged further opening-up, this gathering⁸ will be remembered as a new beginning for China's import history.

随着中国首届进口博览会的成功举办，上海进一步推动了中国的开放进程。中国承诺，开放的大门会越开越大，进博会将作为中国进口历史的新起点被铭记。