VOA标准英语2013--Chinese-Americans Focus on Obama-Xi Summit

 

Chinese-Americans Focus on Obama-Xi Summit

One in seven Californians is Asian American, and many still have close ties with their family homeland.   

California's Chinese Americans have been preparing to welcome the Xi delegation¹, and they say they have high hopes for the summit.

Obama met Xi last year, when he was China's vice² president, and they tackled trade disputes.  Cyber-spying, human rights, and East Asian stability are on the agenda this time.

Chester Chong, who heads the Chinese Chamber³ of Commerce of Los Angeles, says good relations between the nations are crucial.

“These two country’s leaders meeting together will be very, very important as to how to bring the world harmony and peace," he said.

At California State University-Los Angeles, home to many Asian students, a statue of Confucius overlooks the campus.

Stefan Ogbac, of mixed Filipino-Chinese descent, is concerned about workers' rights in China.

“They’re doing a good job of modernizing⁴ the country, but when it comes to social issues, their record is still pretty low," he said.

“Obama needs China to help to stem some nuclear threats such as North Korea or Iran," said Dalvin Tsai, who studies Chinese history and says China today is an influential⁵ power.

Students say the economies of the United States and China are intertwined, and, so, says Jeff Zhang, communication is important.

“It’s always better to have friends, and working together, you can accomplish a lot more between two countries that will be beneficial for both," he said.

Presidents Xi and Obama will meet at the estate of the late media mogul Walter Annenberg.  This 80-hectare retreat in the California desert offers the two leaders the chance to get to know each other, says Geoffrey Cowan of the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands. Cowan is a former director of the Voice of America.

"I think it may be the first time that an American president and a Chinese president have really been together in a location over a period of time where they can get to know each other and build a personal relationship," he said.

Last year, protesters drew attention to China’s role in Tibet and other human rights issues during Xi Jinping's visit to California.  They promise more protests this time near the summit site, and pro-China demonstrators are also likely to be on hand for the historic meeting. 

1 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

4 modernizing   

使现代化，使适应现代需要( modernize的现在分词 )； 现代化，使用现代方法

参考例句：

• Modernizing a business to increase its profitability and competitiveness is a complicated affair. 使企业现代化，从而达到增加利润，增强竞争力的目的，是一件复杂的事情。
• The young engineer had a large share in modernizing the factory. 这位年轻工程师在工厂现代化的过程中尽了很大的“力”。

5 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。