Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has urged the international community to put pressure on major oil producing countries to curb high fuel prices. Mr. Rudd said OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, has to increase supply. The Australian leader made the comments as he prepared to travel on an official visit to Japan.
澳大利亚总理陆克文敦促国际社会向主要石油生产国施加压力，遏制高企的燃料价格。陆克文在准备启程前往日本访问时说，欧佩克组织必须增加原油供应。
Kevin Rudd has insisted that a "blowtorch" should be applied to OPEC to put pressure on the oil cartel to increase production to help alleviate high fuel prices. The Australian Prime Minister said countries around the world were struggling with rising fuel prices, which he believes could be eased an increase in the supply of oil.
陆克文坚持说，应当对欧佩克施加压力，要求他们增加产量，以遏制高企的燃料价格。陆克文说，不断上涨的燃料价格使世界各国都穷于应对，增加石油供应能够缓解这种情况。
He will take his message to Japan, where leaders of the G8 grouping of major industrialised nations meet next month.
陆克文将带著这个信息前往日本，参加下个月召开的8个主要工业化国家的领导人会议。
Mr. Rudd says OPEC needs to act decisively.
陆克文指出，欧佩克需要采取果断行动。
"Every head of government across the world is dealing with this challenge now and it goes to global oil supply in large part - the role of OPEC," he said. "OPEC need to open the production lines to a greater extent, increase global oil supply. They've done it a bit in response to representations from President Bush. The G8 provides an opportunity to apply the blowtorch to the OPEC organisation and it's time that happened."
他说：“世界各国的政府首脑都在面对这个挑战，而这主要是全球石油供应问题，欧佩克需要增加产量，增加全球石油供应。八国首脑会议是一个向欧佩克施加压力的机会。现在是施加压力的时候了。“
Last week, Kuwait's Oil Minister Mohammad al-Olaim said while OPEC was willing to produce more oil if the market required it, the organization was not responsible for high prices. OPEC produces 40 percent of the world's oil. Its current output stands at about 32 million barrels per day.
科威特石油大臣欧莱姆上星期说，尽管欧佩克愿意在市场需要的情况下生产更多的石油，但是欧佩克并不对高油价负责。欧佩克生产全世界百分之四十的石油，目前产量是每天大约三千两百万桶。
Australia's fuel prices are relatively low by international standards, but petrol is more expensive than ever at about US$1.63 a litre.
按照国际标准衡量，澳大利亚的燃油价格还算较低，但是汽油价格比过去任何时候都高，现在是每公升大约1.63美元。
The country's reliance on private cars and rising inflation make fuel prices a potent political issue.
澳大利亚对私人汽车的依赖，以及逐渐升高的通货膨胀率，使燃油价格成了一个有影响力的政治议题。
The Rudd government came to power in a general election last November, promising voters that it would tackle the rising cost of fuel.
陆克文政府去年11月在大选中获胜并开始执政。政府对选民保证说，将会解决燃油价格升高的问题。
Analysts say the Prime Minister's failure to do so is threatening to damage his popularity.
分析人士说，陆克文总理未能兑现承诺，因此他的公众支持率可能受到损害。
Mr. Rudd's visit to Japan will be dominated by talks on trade and is also likely to feature the sensitive issue of whaling.
陆克文访问日本将主要讨论贸易议题，还可能涉及敏感的捕鲸议题。
Australia has made no secret of its distaste and opposition to Japan's annual whale hunt in the Southern Ocean. Earlier this year Canberra sent a Customs ship to monitor the whaling fleet to gather evidence for possible international court action.
澳大利亚并不掩饰对日本每年在南极洲捕鲸的反感和反对态度。澳大利亚政府今年早些时候派遣一艘海关船只前往监视日本捕鲸船队，为可能在国际法庭控告日本而搜集证据。
Mr. Rudd's four-day trip will be the longest visit to Japan by an Australian Prime Minister.
陆克文对日本为期四天的访问将是澳大利亚总理历来对日本进行的最长访问。 |