2006年VOA标准英语-Japan's PM Impresses Ghanaian Hosts

By Nico Colombant and Efam Dovi
Abidjan and Accra
03 May 2006
 
Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has impressed and encouraged his Ghanaian hosts during a three-day stopover, the first such visit by a Japanese leader.

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Editorials in Ghana's newspapers gushed¹ about Japan's prime minister, saying he was a symbol of his country's discipline and self-reliance.

President John Kufuor said he was determined² to turn Ghana into what he called one of the little economic tigers of the emerging world, a reference to Asia's Japan-led economic boom following World War II.

Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration³ Minister  tells VOA Ghanaians felt very privileged Mr. Koizumi chose Ghana as the second of two African stops, after a brief visit to Ethiopia.

He said he takes it as an endorsement⁴ of the path Ghana is following.

 
Nana Akuffo Addo
  
"In so far as its the first time a Japanese leader has been to our country in 49 years of our independence, it is very significant," said Addo. "It is obviously one of the richest countries in the world, one of the most powerful economies, and if that country has selected us as one of its key partners in Africa, obviously over a time, over a period, benefit will come to our country. We believe that the Japanese have seen in Ghana a country that is on the right path to development and wants to give symbolically⁵ as much support to that process as it can. I think there can be no greater symbol of a nations investment than a visit by their leader."

The minister also says Ghana has much to learn from Japan's example.

"I think for me the most interesting part is how a society can overcome problems of poverty and still remain true to its own culture, its own identity and its own way of doing things," continued Addo. "And that there are several ways to progress and you don't necessarily have to ape. You have to maybe follow certain fundamentals in the way in which your economy can rise and progress but nevertheless you can do it in a context in which the majority of your people can feel free."

During his trip, Mr. Koizumi turned major loans into a road construction grant, and also announced the creation of an international prize for medical research and care in Africa.

It will be named after Shideyo Noguchi, a Japanese scientist who died from malaria⁶ in Ghana during the 1920s while researching yellow fever.

The visit closely follows an African tour by Chinese President Hu Jintao, which was dominated more by oil interests. After slowing down aid to Africa in the past five years, Japan's government recently said it would double development assistance over the next three years.

This comes as Japan is also seeking a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, which African countries would also like to see expanded and reformed.

1 gushed   

v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话

参考例句：

• Oil gushed from the well. 石油从井口喷了出来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Clear water gushed into the irrigational channel. 清澈的水涌进了灌溉渠道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

3 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

4 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

5 symbolically   

ad.象征地，象征性地

参考例句：

• By wearing the ring on the third finger of the left hand, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other. 将婚戒戴在左手的第三只手指上，意味着夫妻双方象征性地宣告他们的爱情天长地久，他们定能白头偕老。
• Symbolically, he coughed to clear his throat. 周经理象征地咳一声无谓的嗽，清清嗓子。

6 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。