More world leaders offer condolences over Chavez's death

 　　CARACAS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- So far 10 leaders from foreign countries have confirmed attendance of the state funeral for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the Foreign Ministry¹ said Wednesday.

　　"Nearly all the leaders will arrive here tomorrow to attend the official ceremony scheduled for Friday at the Military Academy in Fort Tiuna," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said.

　　Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, Bolivian President Evo Morales, and Uruguayan President Jose Mujica have already arrived in Venezuela to pay their respect to Chavez, according to local media.

　　Meanwhile, Cuba decreed two days of official mourning on Wednesday and Thursday and a third day of national mourning on Friday.

　　During the official mourning, the national flag will be hoisted² at half-mast on public buildings and military establishments, while on Friday all public entertainment and festive³ activities will be suspended.

　　The Cuban government also called on the people to attend Thursday's memorial activities around the country, which would last from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m..

　　On Wednesday, Communist Party of China (CPC) chief Xi Jinping, Chinese President Hu Jintao and top legislator Wu Bangguo all sent condolences over Chavez's death.

　　Chavez was a great statesman and outstanding leader of Venezuela, who led the Venezuelan government and people to huge achievements in the great cause of national construction and won support and respect from the people, Xi said in his message.

　　The CPC and the Chinese government and people attach great importance to developing relations with Venezuela, Xi said, adding that China will work with Venezuela to further enhance and deepen the bilateral⁴ cooperation so as to lift the bilateral strategic partnership⁵ to higher levels.

　　In Russia, President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev expressed their condolences to the Venezuelan people over the death of Chavez.

　　Igor Sechin, head of Russia's oil giant Rosneft, would attend Chavez's state funeral on behalf of the Kremlin, given "his active role in the bilateral cooperation in energy, banking⁶ and other spheres," the Kremlin said.

　　Also, the Spanish government said on Wednesday that Chavez's death would not have an adverse⁷ effect on relations between the two countries, which were "solid."

　　Chavez has been a controversial figure in Spain ever since he interrupted a speech by then Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in a summit in 2007 in order to describe Zapatero's predecessor⁸, Jose Maria Aznar, as a "fascist⁹" and to accuse Aznar of having plotted to have him overthrown¹⁰.

　　In South Africa, President Jacob Zuma praised Chavez for ushering¹¹ in "a dramatic change under the government's 'Bolivarian' approach in Latin America and beyond in promoting regional integration¹² based on the principles of social justice," the South African presidency¹³ said in a statement.

　　The Iranian government declared a day of mourning on Wednesday following the death of Chavez, local media reported.

　　Calling each other allies against "the U.S. imperialism," Iran and Venezuela have strengthened ties substantially since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to office in 2005.

　　Chavez had on many occasions lashed¹⁴ out at the Western-engineered sanctions against Tehran over the country's nuclear energy program, which Tehran insists was for civilian¹⁵ use only.

　　In addition, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim also offered his condolences on the death of Chavez.

　　"To the family of President Hugo Chavez, and the Venezuelan people, I would like to extend, from myself and from my colleagues at the World Bank, our deep condolences at this difficult time," Kim said in a short statement.

　　Chavez died Tuesday in a military hospital in Caracas. Vice¹⁶ President Nicolas Maduro will serve as interim¹⁷ president until a new election is called.

　　Under the Venezuelan constitution, an election has to be held within 30 days if the president is declared unfit to resume office.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 hoisted   

把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
• The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。

3 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

4 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。

5 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。

6 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

7 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

8 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

9 fascist   

adj.法西斯主义的；法西斯党的；n.法西斯主义者，法西斯分子

参考例句：

• The strikers were roughed up by the fascist cops.罢工工人遭到法西斯警察的殴打。
• They succeeded in overthrowing the fascist dictatorship.他们成功推翻了法西斯独裁统治。

10 overthrown   

adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词

参考例句：

• The president was overthrown in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被赶下台。
• He has overthrown the basic standards of morality. 他已摒弃了基本的道德标准。

11 ushering   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They were right where the coach-caller was swinging open a coach-door and ushering in two ladies. "他们走到外面时，叫马车的服务员正打开车门，请两位小姐上车。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Immediately the two of them approached others, thanking them, ushering them out one by one. 他们俩马上走到其他人面前，向他们道谢，一个个送走了他们。 来自辞典例句

12 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

13 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

14 lashed   

adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• The rain lashed at the windows. 雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。
• The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy. 这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

16 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。

17 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。