2007年VOA标准英语-Thai Government Appoints New Finance Minister t

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
07 March 2007

Thailand's military-installed government has appointed a former World Bank economist¹ to the post of finance minister in a partial cabinet reshuffle. Ron Corben reports from Bangkok that the appointment, aimed at boosting international confidence in the Thai economy, is being welcomed by financial analysts².

Undated photo shows Thailand's new Finance Minister, Chalongphob Sussangkarn in Bangkok

The most important cabinet appointment Wednesday was that of Chalongphob Sussangkarn as the new Thai finance minister.

Chalongphob, 57, is currently president of a private economic research institute. He is a former World Bank economist, and was a member of the Thai central bank's monetary³ policy board from 2000 to 2001.

He replaces Pridiyathorn Devakula, whose brief tenure⁴ was marked by policy changes that unsettled investors⁵ and reduced international confidence in Thailand's military junta⁶.

Arporn Chewakrengkai, chief economist at the Thai Government Pension Fund, says Chalongphob is well regarded within the business community, and his appointment will help rebuild confidence in the economy.

"I think it should be positive for the government. He is one of the most respectable economists⁷ in Thailand," she said. "That is the first thing that might help gain some confidence. At least I believe in terms of policy direction, we will move toward the market mechanism⁸."

Confidence in the country and its leadership has been rocked by several events since the military staged a coup⁹ in September and kicked Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra out of office.

In December the Bank of Thailand imposed controls on capital investments in a bid to keep the Thai unit of currency, the baht, from strengthening too much. The move led the stock market to plunge¹⁰ 15 percent in one day.

The Government then tightened¹¹ rules that allowed foreigners to control Thai companies through the use of what are known as nominee¹² shareholders¹³. That called into question the basis on which several large international companies are operating in Thailand.

Confidence was also hit by explosions in Bangkok on New Year's Eve that left three dead and dozens wounded. The police have yet to determine who was behind the bombings.

Thepchai Yong, a senior editor with the Nationmedia Group, says stronger leadership by interim¹⁴ Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is the key to regaining¹⁵ public confidence.

"The lackluster performance of the government is largely due to the lack of leadership on the part of the prime minister," he said. "I believe that the confidence in the government and the prime minister has been eroding¹⁶, and he has to make a very serious change in the way he wants things in order to continue be in power."

The Thai economy, the second largest in Southeast Asia, has been slowing since the military takeover.

 

Foreign investors say they are focused on when parliamentary elections will be held under a new constitution now being drafted. The military junta originally promised elections by October.

1 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

4 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。

5 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

6 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

7 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

9 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

10 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

11 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

12 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

13 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

14 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

15 regaining   

复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• She was regaining consciousness now, but the fear was coming with her. 现在她正在恢发她的知觉，但是恐怖也就伴随着来了。
• She said briefly, regaining her will with a click. 她干脆地答道，又马上重新振作起精神来。

16 eroding   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的现在分词 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The coast is slowly eroding. 海岸正慢慢地被侵蚀。
• Another new development is eroding the age-old stereotype of the male warrior. 另一个新现象是，久已形成的男人皆武士的形象正逐渐消失。