VOA标准英语2013--BRICS Bank Provides Opportunities for Africa

BRICS Bank Provides Opportunities for Africa

Chinese investment in Africa is soaring, reaching nearly $20 billion last year alone.

In China, hundreds of thousands of Africans have come to work.

With the expanding trade and investment ties, says political scientist Tang Xiaoyang, it makes sense for China’s new leader to reach out to developing countries.

“[Xi’s trip] It sends a very clear signal that the new Chinese President will continue the policy of work together with developing countries, and showing a clear signal that China is the largest developing country in the world, it’s not a part of the developed world," says Tang.

Tang says reaching out to Africa not only helps developing countries. It also helps China and the other members of the BRICS grouping - Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa.

“Labor¹-intensive industries are being phased-out from China and some of them go to Southeast Asia but others go to Africa because the labor there is very cheap and they have the advantage to enter the European and American market without quota," he says. "A lot of Chinese companies are taking advantage of that.”

During their meetings in South Africa, BRICS leaders are expected to move forward with the founding of their own development bank. The bank will fund infrastructure² development in places such as Africa and give BRICS nations a support network.

“The aim of the Bank is to bring together the experience and resources of all these countries and create a composite force that can enter the international financial system and give the countries a bigger voice," says economist³ Yi Xianrong.

The bank is also a means of creating an alternative to development aid from the West.

“The BRICS are all in the same situation because they’re emerging countries and they meet the same difficulties. The developed world - they have their rules," says Tang. "The World Bank and IMF they control the global financial power.”

Although efforts to raise funding for the bank have been slow, analysts⁴ note individual BRICS members have already been extending loans and development aid to Africa for years and opportunity continues to beckon⁵. 

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

3 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 beckon   

v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤

参考例句：

• She crooked her finger to beckon him.她勾勾手指向他示意。
• The wave for Hawaii beckon surfers from all around the world.夏威夷的海浪吸引着世界各地的冲浪者前来。