VOA慢速英语2014 奥巴马表示美国对亚洲做出承诺

 

Obama Says United States “Committed” to Asia 奥巴马表示美国对亚洲做出承诺

President Barack Obama has told business leaders that the United States is “committed” to Asia. The president spoke¹ at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum² meetings in Beijing. He arrived in the Chinese capital Monday morning.

Mr. Obama announced a new visa policy with China. Under the program, the two countries will increase the length of short-term tourist and business visas given to the other’s citizens from one to 10 years. They will also extend the length of student and exchange visas from one to five years. The new policy will go into effect on November 12th.

President Obama also expressed support for American plans for a 12-nation “Trans-Pacific Partnership³.” Critics have questioned the proposal because it fails to include China and competes with Chinese plans for an Asian free trade area.

Also in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have met for talks for the first time since they took office.

The discussions took place during the APEC meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Mr. Xi told Mr. Abe that China hopes Japan will continue the path of peaceful development and accept what he called prudent⁴ military and security policies. China’s Xinhua news agency reported his comment.

The Japanese leader said his meeting with the Chinese president is the first step in improving relations between their countries.

The two leaders met three days after China and Japan agreed to increase discussions.

Iran, US, EU Hold Second Day of Nuclear Talks

Diplomats⁵ from Iran and western countries have opened a second day of talks in Oman about Iran’s nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is representing his country at the negotiations⁶. Also in attendance are European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and American Secretary of State John Kerry.

On Sunday, President Barack Obama said the sides are still far apart in reaching a nuclear agreement before an announced end-of-the month time limit. The meeting in Oman is the president’s best chance of reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran before the Republican Party takes control of the U.S. Congress next year.

Nigeria School Bombing Kills Dozens

More than 40 people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a school in northeastern Nigeria. Many of those killed were students.

The bomb exploded Monday at a town in the Nigerian state of Yobe. At the time, students were gathering⁷ for a morning meeting at a secondary school that specializes in science.

Medical workers say the bombing injured more than 70 people, many of them seriously. Witnesses say the bomber⁸ wore clothing like those worn by students.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. But some Nigerians suspect the militant⁹ group Boko Haram was responsible.

Words in This Story

forum – n.  a meeting at which a subject can be discussed

prudent – n. having or showing careful good judgment¹⁰

suicide – n.  the act of killing yourself because you do not want to continue living

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

4 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

5 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

8 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

9 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

10 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。