VOA标准英语2008年-US Urges Energy Cooperation With China

By Michael Bowman
Washington
10 June 2008

The Bush administration says the United States and China face daunting¹ energy challenges that the two nations should confront together. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington, where Treasury² Secretary Henry Paulson spoke³ before next week's meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue.
　

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson speaking on US-China economic relationship at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, 10 Jun 2008

The United States remains⁴ the world's largest consumer of energy, but China's energy consumption is growing at the world's fastest pace. Both nations rely heavily on imported fuel, particularly oil, and the current spike⁵ in global oil prices is inflicting⁶ pain on both sides of the Pacific.

Treasury Secretary Paulson says the United States and China have common problems and common interests when it comes to energy.

"As the two largest net-importers of oil, China and the United States face similar challenges. We have a strong, shared interest in avoiding supply disruptions, increasing energy efficiency, promoting the efficiency and transparency of global energy markets to the benefit of all oil-importing nations, and expanding the availability and use of alternative energy sources," said Paulson.

Paulson was speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He said he looks forward to meeting with his Chinese counterpart and other officials during next week's meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue in Annapolis, Maryland - the organization's fourth Cabinet-level meeting.

Paulson noted⁷ that China has embraced price controls in an effort to curb⁸ soaring energy costs. He said the United States implemented⁹ a similar program in the 1970s with disastrous¹⁰ results: severe fuel shortages and a reduction in investments to boost energy supplies.

He urged China to allow greater reliance on the free market to determine energy prices, while also embracing new technologies to reduce consumption and promote conservation.

The secretary said Strategic Economic Dialogue discussions will go beyond energy matters to include overall trade between the two countries, currency valuation, the markedly high savings¹¹ rate in China and the markedly low U.S. savings rate, as well as environmental issues.

Paulson said the United States will continue to marshal funds and resources to assist China as it struggles to recover from last month's devastating¹² earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.

1 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。

2 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

3 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。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

6 inflicting   

把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. 他被控蓄意严重伤害他人身体。
• It's impossible to do research without inflicting some pain on animals. 搞研究不让动物遭点罪是不可能的。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

9 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

10 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

11 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

12 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。