PBS高端访谈:为扩大亚洲贸易,奥巴马出席北京APEC会议

 　　GWEN IFILL: During President Obama's first term as commander in chief, his administration signaled a new priority in America's foreign policy, the so-called Asia pivot¹. But three years of multiple crises on other continents, and at home, have distracted the administration from that goal.

　　Starting in China, the president hopes to change that this week.

　　Chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Warner explains.

　　MARGARET WARNER: The president arrived in the heart of the world's fastest rising power this morning fresh from a drubbing in last week's elections. His stop in Beijing begins a week-long trip that will include Myanmar and Australia, as he seeks to boost U.S. influence in a region where China enjoys growing clout².

　　His focus today was on commercial ties at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, or APEC.

　　PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Over the next five years, nearly half of all economic growth outside the United States is projected to come from right here in Asia. That makes this region an incredible opportunity for creating jobs and economic growth in the United States. And any serious leader in America, whether in politics or in commerce, recognizes that fact.

　　MARGARET WARNER: Yet, earlier, at the U.S. Embassy, he hosted leaders of 11 countries that are working to put together a Trans-Pacific trade partnership³, or TPP, that pointedly⁴ excludes China. At APEC, he had sought to reassure⁵ Beijing that the U.S. wasn't trying to hem⁶ China in.

　　BARACK OBAMA: We welcome the rise of a prosperous, peaceful and stable China, not only because it's in China's best interest, but because it's in America's best interest and the world's best interest. We want China to do well.

　　MARGARET WARNER: Obama will have extended talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping tomorrow and Wednesday. And, today, the two countries announced they'd grant each other's citizens visas valid⁷ for 10 years.

　　But other concerns shadow the trip, including China's territorial⁸ assertiveness⁹ against its neighbors in the East and South China seas. President Xi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did meet today in what was billed as a first step to ease tensions. But their public handshake was noticeably tense.

　　Also of concern to Washington, Chinese cyber-security attacks on U.S. companies and China's crackdown on human rights, including how it will ultimately respond to pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

　　Wednesday, Mr. Obama arrives in Myanmar, formerly¹⁰ known as Burma. He will meet with President Thein Sein, whom he initially¹¹ applauded for moving towards democratic reforms. But Washington is now concerned those reforms are backsliding and minority Muslims, journalists and opposition¹² activists¹³ are being repressed. The president also will meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who initially encouraged the warming of U.S.- Myanmar relations, but is now urging caution.

　　The president ends his trip in Australia at a G20 summit.

1 pivot   

v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的

参考例句：

• She is the central pivot of creation and represents the feminine aspect in all things.她是创造的中心枢轴，表现出万物的女性面貌。
• If a spring is present,the hand wheel will pivot on the spring.如果有弹簧，手轮的枢轴会装在弹簧上。

2 clout   

n.用手猛击；权力，影响力

参考例句：

• The queen may have privilege but she has no real political clout.女王有特权，但无真正的政治影响力。
• He gave the little boy a clout on the head.他在那小男孩的头部打了一下。

3 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。

4 pointedly   

adv.尖地，明显地

参考例句：

• She yawned and looked pointedly at her watch. 她打了个哈欠，又刻意地看了看手表。
• The demand for an apology was pointedly refused. 让对方道歉的要求遭到了断然拒绝。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

6 hem   

n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制

参考例句：

• The hem on her skirt needs sewing.她裙子上的褶边需要缝一缝。
• The hem of your dress needs to be let down an inch.你衣服的折边有必要放长1英寸。

7 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

8 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

9 assertiveness   

n.过分自信

参考例句：

• Her assertiveness was starting to be seen as arrogance. 她的自信已开始被认为是自负了。
• Role playing is an important element in assertiveness training. 在果敢自信训练班上，角色扮演是个重要内容。

10 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

11 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

12 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

13 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》