voa标准英语2008年-Pacific Rim Leaders Head to Peru for APEC Summi

Pacific Rim¹ leaders are preparing for their annual economic summit - a meeting sure to be dominated by the need for action to deal with the global financial crisis. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson looks ahead to this year's APEC forum² in Lima, Peru.
　

President George W. Bush makes remarks at the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy in Washington

This is expected to be U.S. President George Bush's final trip abroad while in office and his last formal summit.

But aides say Mr. Bush does not see this as a farewell tour. Instead, they say, the President plans to use the summit to draw attention to efforts to stimulate³ the world economy - especially through expanded free trade.

They say Mr. Bush will seek to build support in APEC - the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum - for measures endorsed⁴ last weekend by the leaders of the world's 20 largest economies to prevent a deep global recession.

He is also expected to seek a reduction in trade barriers, and to build on bilateral⁵ and regional free trade agreements already in place along the Pacific Rim.
　

Soldiers guard the government palace in Lima, where APEC summit will meet 21-23 Nov. 2008

Experts say what is likely to emerge is some sort of statement of aspirations⁶ and goals - a result very much in keeping with APEC tradition. It is not a formal organization, but rather a venue⁷ for discussion of key economic issues - a chance for leaders across the Pacific Rim to share thoughts and ideas.

Sidney Weintraub is a former senior U.S. State Department official who was involved in the early development of the APEC concept.

"Just by looking at the attendance you're getting at a meeting in Peru in the middle of other crises and other meetings and other summit meetings sort of shows that a lot of the leaders like this particular venue because it is a less pressure-filled venue than you get, for example, at the G-20, which just ended," Weintraub said.

There will also be numerous bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the summit. President Bush, for example, is expected to meet with the leaders of China, South Korea, Japan, Russia and Peru.

Experts in international trade and finance say these types of informal exchanges are key.

"There's always going to be a real value in having the broad-based fora at regional levels, whether it's APEC or the OAS [Organization of American States] or things in East Asia that deal with issues cross-border where you need a broad participation," said Steven Schrage, who is with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

President Bush's initial APEC meeting was in Shanghai, China in November 2001. It was his first trip out of the United States after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and his stay lasted roughly 48 hours.

With a financial crisis unfolding in the United States, this trip will also be brief. Plans for other stops in the region were dropped weeks ago, leaving only the Lima summit on his schedule.

1 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

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 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

4 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

6 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

7 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。