VOA标准英语10月-Bush Reaffirms US Commitment to Global Developmen

President Bush says America's commitment to international development is strong, even in tough economic times. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports that Mr. Bush's comments came Tuesday in an address to a conference on development issues organized by the White House.
　

President Bush gestures while making remarks at the White House Summit on International Development, in Washington, 21 Oct 2008

President Bush says the global financial crisis is having a major impact on many developing nations. And he says countries that are better off should not and cannot turn away.

"America is committed and America must stay committed to international development for reasons that remain true, regardless of the ebb¹ and flow of the markets," said President Bush.

He says an enduring commitment to development is in America's security interest, its long-term, economic interest, and its moral interest.

"I strongly believe in the timeless truth: to whom much is given, much is required," said President Bush. "We are a blessed nation. And I believe we have a duty to help those less fortunate around the world."

In remarks at a White House Summit on International Development, Mr. Bush talked about his approach to foreign aid - an approach that links assistance with results.

He hailed the new Millennium² Challenge grant program, which provides aid to countries that adopt economic and political reforms. And he spoke³ of the progress already seen in efforts begun during his time in office to attack malaria⁴ and AIDs.

Under President Bush's watch, U.S. foreign assistance has grown significantly. Even his strongest critics have acknowledged that his aid policies have worked. Some say they may be his strongest and most positive legacy⁵.

Mr. Bush was upbeat as he cited the progress achieved thus far. He urged the U.S. Congress to provide continued funding in the years ahead. And he called on other industrialized nations and U.N. member to live up to their aid obligations.

"From fostering good governance and reform to alleviating⁶ hunger and disease to advancing education, prosperity and justice, our new approach to development is showing inspiring signs of success," he said. "Yet this success can be reversed and the cost of abandoning our commitments would be far higher than the cost of fulfilling them."

The president also spoke of the transformational power of trade in developing countries. He said that now, more than ever, movement is needed on a new international trade agreement.

He said the current impasse⁷ in the Doha Round of trade talks is disappointing, but that it does not have to be the last word.

"I believe the world ought to send a clear signal that we remain committed to open markets by reducing barriers to trade across the globe," said President Bush.

Mr. Bush said that before he leaves office in January, he intends to press hard for a successful Doha Round. He says all parties need to realize that trade is essential to economic prosperity in both good times and bad.

　

1 ebb   

vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态

参考例句：

• The flood and ebb tides alternates with each other.涨潮和落潮交替更迭。
• They swam till the tide began to ebb.他们一直游到开始退潮。

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 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

5 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

6 alleviating   

减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• If it's alleviating pain,who knows what else it's doing? 如果它减轻了疼痛，天知道还影响什么？
• Measuring poverty is not the same as alleviating it, of course. 当然，衡量贫困和减轻贫困是截然不同的。

7 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。