VOA常速英语2007-US, Mongolia Sign Aid Agreement

By Paula Wolfson
White House
22 October 2007

Mongolia has become the latest country to get an infusion¹ of U.S. development aid through the Millennium² Challenge program, which links assistance to government reforms and accountability. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports, President Bush and his Mongolian counterpart signed the necessary paperwork Monday following talks at the White House.

The Millennium Challenge program was set up more than three years ago to provide assistance to countries that put in place specific reforms.

Mongolia is now set to get $285 million over the next five years. Most of it will go to modernizing³ the country's railroad system, with the rest going to land and education projects.

Mongolia's president, Nambaryn Enkhbayar, says these efforts will have a definite impact on poverty reduction in his country.

"It is indeed a great pleasure to be here in Washington, D.C. today to attend a ceremony, which lays down the beginnings of a new and important partnership⁴ between Mongolia and the United States," he said.

President Bush says he wants the Millennium Challenge program to continue and grow. And, as he prepared to sign the agreement with Mongolia, he urged the U.S. Congress to approve money to keep the program going.

"Congress must understand how important this program is for U.S. foreign policy," he said. "The Millennium Challenge Account has been effective. It has been effective across the world. It will be effective in Mongolia."

Mongolia is the 15th country to qualify for participation⁵ in the Millennium Challenge Account since the program was launched in 2004. The White House says it hopes to expand and sign aid contracts with three more African countries - Tanzania, Libya and Burkina Faso - over the next year.

All money dispensed⁶ by the program goes out with strong conditions attached. Among other things, governments must show they have the infrastructure⁷ in place to manage funded aid projects wisely, with no opportunities for corruption⁸ and waste.

President Bush traveled to Mongolia in 2005. As they wrapped up the signing ceremony, President Enkhbayar invited him to pay a return visit next August when Mr. Bush heads to neighboring China to attend the 2008 Summer Olympics.

1 infusion   

n.灌输

参考例句：

• Old families need an infusion of new blood from time to time.古老的家族需要不时地注入新鲜血液。
• Careful observation of the infusion site is necessary.必须仔细观察输液部位。

2 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

3 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”。

4 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。

5 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

6 dispensed   

v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• Not a single one of these conditions can be dispensed with. 这些条件缺一不可。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage. 他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。