VOA标准英语2011--Asia Pacific Nations Can Help Solve European Crisis, US Officials Say

Asia Pacific Nations Can Help Solve European Crisis, US Officials Say

US officials say the Asia Pacific region is less affected¹ than other areas by the financial crisis in Europe and can stimulate² worldwide economic growth. Talks by finance and foreign ministers are taking place in Hawaii at the annual summit of APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum³. American officials say the Pacific region is increasingly important to the world economy.

Twenty-one member economies are taking part in the APEC summit in Honolulu, hosted this year by the United States.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Honolulu Thursday, as ministerial talks were under way.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in remarks at the East-West Center, said the United States will increase its Pacific investments in the coming decades.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that, in the 21st century, the world’s strategic and economic center of gravity will be the Asia-Pacific, from the Indian subcontinent to western shores of the Americas,” Clinton said.

U.S. Treasury⁴ Secretary Timothy Geithner, speaking to reporters, said the crisis in Europe remains⁵ the central challenge to global growth. He says APEC finance ministers voiced support for last week's pledge by the G20 leaders to work for global recovery. He says China can help through a more flexible exchange rate.

“China, in particular, must continue to allow its currency to strengthen, and China has acknowledged the importance of faster exchange rate adjustment,” Geithner said.

The United States hopes to expand Pacific trade, and to finalize⁶ a framework for a Trans-Pacific Partnership⁷, a free trade zone. Talks now involve nine nations, including the United States, Australia, Peru, Chile and Vietnam.

President Barack Obama will arrive here Friday and meet with other Asia Pacific leaders over the weekend.

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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。

6 finalize   

v.落实，定下来

参考例句：

• Let us finalize tonight.让我们今天晚上干完
• 。At the same time,industrial designers work with engineers to finalize components and assembly.同时，工业设计师和工程师一道来完成部件和组装部分的工作。

7 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。