Indonesian leaders and academics gathered today in Jakarta to discuss how U.S. President Barack Obama's upcoming visit could help build better bilateral relations in areas such as education, climate change and trade.
印度尼西亚领导人和学者今天聚集在雅加达，讨论美国总统奥巴马的来访将如何帮助两国在教育、气候变化和贸易等方面建立更好的双边关系。
Relations between the United States and Indonesia have seen highs and lows, over the years, but with the election of President Obama - who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia - leaders here saw a new opportunity to re-evaluate their relationship with the United States and work toward building better cooperation.
这些年来，美国和印度尼西亚的关系几经起伏，但是当曾在印尼度过部分童年时期的奥巴马当选总统之后，印尼领导人看到一个新的契机，重新评估他们与美国的关系，并努力建立更好的合作关系。
Dino Patti Djalal, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's special advisor on international affairs, says the current relationship is not based on sentiments, but national interests and that the United States needs to work toward achieving its own goals, while also respecting Indonesian sovereignty.
迪诺.巴迪是总统苏西洛国际事务特别顾问。他表示，目前两国关系不是基于情感，而是国家利益，以及美国为了达成自己的目标、同时又要尊重印尼主权的需要。
"In our relationship, we are very proud that we are an independent nation," he said. "We cannot have an alliance with anybody, not the United States, not our neighbors. So we have always been independent and that is part of our diplomatic culture and national psyche and, as we get on with this relationship, this diplomatic partnership it is important for America to respect that."
迪诺说：“在两国关系中，我们对于我们是一个独立国家感到非常自豪。我们不能与任何国家成为联盟，包括美国，包括我们的邻国。所以我们一直就是独立的，而这是我们的外交文化和国民心态的一部分。在我们发展两国关系，发展这种外交伙伴关系的时候，美国能够尊重这一点是很重要的。”
The U.S. image in Indonesia has taken a beating, in the past decade, after the United States withdrew investments in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and slapped sanctions on weapons sales to the Indonesian military, because of alleged human rights abuses.
美国在印尼的形象在过去10年受到重创。之前美国在1997年亚洲金融危机之后撤出了投资，同时美国还由于印尼被控违反人权而对印尼军方的武器销售实施制裁。
With the United States increasingly looking to China, Dino says Indonesia has developed a bit of a "middle-power" complex. However, he sees Obama's visit as an opportunity to put old issues in the past and work on building a balanced exchange.
迪诺说，随着美国越来越关注中国，印尼产生了一些“中等国家”情结。不过，他认为，奥巴马的访问是一个机会，让双方把旧的问题留给过去，致力于建设一个平衡的交流。
"As we get on with America, the superpower, sometimes some people get discomforted by it, sometimes even get defensive about it. But we need to recognize that the United States is a superpower and the relationship between Indonesia and the United States has to evolve in such a way that we both are there as equal partners," he said.
迪诺说：“在我们与美国这个超级大国和睦相处时，有时候一些人会对此感到不舒服，有时候甚至会觉得需要为这样的行为作出辩解。但是我们需要认识到，美国是一个超级大国。印尼与美国的关系必须演变成一种平等伙伴的关系。”
Sensitive issues remain, particularly in the area of democracy building. But Gerald Hyman, at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, says the United States should allow Indonesia to serve as an example to other nations by using its experience as a developing democracy.
"Why shouldn't Indonesians help us build democracies in Tunisia or in Tanzania or in Nicaragua? Why is that an American project or a European project? Why isn't that an Indonesian project as well? Why isn't that a democracy project for those of us who define ourselves as democrats?" he said.
Although politics factored in to many of Tuesday's discussions, business development, educational exchanges and climate change cooperation were also on the table. Rachmad Witoelar, executive chairman of the Indonesian Council on Climate Change, says that, with the U.S. Congress at loggerheads on how to cut carbon emissions, Mr. Obama needs to change the perception that the United States is not serious about environmental issues.
尽管政治议题主导了星期二的讨论，商业发展、教育交流和气候变化合作也是讨论的议题。印尼气候变化委员会执行主席拉马.威杜拉尔说，在美国国会在如何削减温室气体排放的问题上争执不下时，奥巴马总统需要改变外界这样一个看法，也就是美国不重视环境问题。
"He has to tell us that the U.S. population cares about climate change, because judging from the international news, he is being prevented from giving way to the law," said Rachmad Witoelar.
威杜拉尔说：“他必须告诉我们，美国民众是关心气候变化问题的，因为从国际新闻报导来看，他受到阻碍，无法把这一问题变成立法。”
The conference ended by highlighting the need for better understanding between two countries that have their own uniquenesses but also many commonalities. That requires that both sides define how they see their role in the world and, with the United States showing some uncertainty about its interests in Southeast Asia, many of the leaders present said it is up to Indonesia to pave the way.
这次会议在强调两国间需要更好的理解中结束。与会代表认识到，双方既有各自的独特性，也有很多共同点。这需要双方明确他们如何看待自己在世界舞台上扮演的角色。在美国对其在东南亚的利益表现出一些不确定性的同时，很多与会领导人说，应该由印尼来为此铺平道路。 |