2006年VOA标准英语-American Envoy in China to Prepare for North Ko

By Luis Ramirez
Beijing
27 November 2006

American nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill arrives at Beijing airport, 27 Nov 2006

U.S. envoy¹ Christopher Hill is in China to prepare for the resumption of the North Korean nuclear disarmament talks. VOA's Luis Ramirez has more from the Chinese capital.

Assistant Secretary of State Hill arrived in Beijing Monday for consultations² with Chinese officials. This is his second visit since North Korea late last month agreed to return to the six-party negotiations³ that it has boycotted⁴ for a year.

However, the United States says the North should come back only if it is ready to make concrete commitments to dismantle⁵ its nuclear program. There has been a series of nuclear talks since 2003, which have made little progress.

Hill told reporters at the Beijing airport Monday he is here to prepare for serious discussions.

"The issue for us to is to make sure that we are extremely well planned and ready for the six-party talks, which we do anticipate will get going again pretty soon," he said. "We'll be talking to the Chinese hosts about a date."

Officials say that date could be as early as the beginning of next month.

Hill is to meet on Tuesday with Chinese Vice⁶ Foreign Minister Wu Dawei. Also in Beijing for consultations are the negotiators for Japan and South Korea. Russia is the sixth country in the disarmament talks.

Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Beijing's People's University says the need to reach an agreement with Pyongyang has grown more urgent since North Korea tested a nuclear weapon last month.

"Now the situation is a little different from before North Korea conducted a nuclear test. They want other powers to recognize their nuclear status," commented Shi. 

The United States has said it cannot accept North Korea as a nuclear state.

Washington has called on Pyongyang to live up to the commitment it made last year to dismantle its nuclear programs in exchange for a package of aid and security guarantees.

After his meetings in China, Mr. Hill will travel, later in the week, to Japan and South Korea.

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 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。

4 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

5 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。