VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton Aims to Boost Strategic Relationsh

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Mumbai at the start of a visit aimed at deepening an emerging strategic partnership¹ between the United States and India. Clinton is urging India to join Washington in supporting Pakistan's efforts against terrorism.
　
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrives in Mumbai, 17 Jul 2009

Clinton arrived late Friday in a heavy rain at the Taj Palace Hotel on Mumbai's ocean front, which was one of the targets of Pakistan-based terrorists who killed 166 people in a coordinated² series of attacks in the Indian business capital last November.

The Secretary joins in a ceremony of remembrance Saturday for victims of those attacks. In an opinion piece published in the Times of India newspaper she said the United States and India - which have both experienced searing terrorist attacks - should intensify³ anti-terrorism cooperation, and encourage Pakistan as it confronts the challenge of violent extremism.

The Obama administration has encouraged efforts at dialogue between the two South Asian powers, capped by the meeting this week in Egypt between Indian Prime Minister Manhoman Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Clinton is not visiting Pakistan on this trip to the region and administration officials say her India visit - spanning four days - is intended to underscore a growing strategic relationship spawned⁴ by the two countries' landmark⁵ nuclear cooperation accord in 2005.

Under the agreement, given final approved by the U.S. Congress last year, India agreed to open non-military nuclear sites to international inspections⁶, and the United States dropped non-proliferation curbs⁷ on India - opening the way for Indian purchases of U.S. nuclear technology and hardware.

Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Robert Blake, traveling with the Secretary in India, says the Clinton visit is likely to produce follow-on agreements including one designating two sites in India for U.S. designed nuclear power plants.

Blake says the Obama administration held off on engaging India in a major way until the completion of elections in May that strengthened the hold on power by Prime Minister Singh's ruling Congress party.

"We believe that the strong showing of the Congress Party, Prime Minister Singh's return to office and then President Obama's very strong support for strengthening ties with India really opened the way for a new and invigorated partnership with India," Blake said. "The President and Secretary Clinton both see India as a really important partner for us, not only in addressing bilateral⁸ issues, but also in working with us to shape the world of the 21st century."

Clinton has a series of theme events in Mumbai highlighting bilateral cooperation in such areas as business, education, and women's empowerment.

She goes on to the capital New Delhi where she will have meetings Monday with Prime Minister Singh, Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna and other political figures including opposition⁹ BJP party leader Lal Krishna Advani.

Later in the week, the Secretary goes on to Bangkok for talks with Thai leaders and joins in an international dialogue in the Thai resort of Phuket with foreign ministers of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian nations.

North Korea, the political situation in Burma, and Friday's suicide bomb attacks on two hotels in Jakarta are expected to be key issues at the ASEAN meetings.

In a written statement, Secretary Clinton condemned¹⁰ the Jakarta attacks, which she said reflect the viciousness of violent extremists, and said the United States stands ready to assist the Indonesian government if asked to do so.

1 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。

2 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

3 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

4 spawned   

（鱼、蛙等）大量产（卵）( spawn的过去式和过去分词 )； 大量生产

参考例句：

• The band's album spawned a string of hit singles. 这支乐队的专辑繁衍出一连串走红的单曲唱片。
• The computer industry has spawned a lot of new companies. 由于电脑工业的发展，许多新公司纷纷成立。

5 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

6 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

8 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。