2007年VOA标准英语-US President Meets Panamanian Leader

By Scott Stearns
White House
16 February 2007

U.S. President George Bush and Panamanian President Martin Torrijos say they will continue working toward a free trade agreement. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

 
President Bush (r) meets with Panama's President Martin Torrijos in the Oval Office of the White House, 16 Feb 2007
President Bush says President Torrijos, who met with Mr. Bush at the White House Friday, is a visionary leader of a vital country with which the United States wants to expand commerce through a free trade agreement.

 "I assure you that we will work, in good faith, to get an agreement done and I will call upon the United States Congress, both Republicans and Democrats¹, to support this deal which will help both nations," he said.

Following their Oval Office talks, President Torrijos said it is very satisfying to know that Latin America is still an important part of the Bush Administration's agenda.

 
Panama's President Martin Torrijos makes a statement to reporters at the end of his meeting with President Bush, 16 Feb 2007
"I'm very pleased and recognize your commitment for pushing the free trade agenda and trying to finish the free trade agreement with Panama and the rest of the Latin American countries," he said.

The United States is both the biggest supplier to and the biggest market for Panamanian goods, including bananas and sugar.

But it was Panamanian palm that was at the forefront of the presidents' talks as both men agreed to boost cooperation on using that plant to develop biofuels, including ethanol.

 "I believe your capacity to make biofuels and our desire to use biofuels will make an interesting match as we work to become less dependent on oil and better stewards² of the environment," President Torrijos said.

President Torrijos said the increased cooperation would make Panama less dependent on foreign oil and increase economic opportunities for Panamanian farmers.

1 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 stewards   

（轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家

参考例句：

• The stewards all wore armbands. 乘务员都戴了臂章。
• The stewards will inspect the course to see if racing is possible. 那些干事将检视赛马场看是否适宜比赛。