VOA标准英语2010年-Laos Gains Prestige, Economic Boost Fr

The small Southeast Asian nation Laos has for the first time held the Southeast Asian Games, gaining prestige and an economic boost.   The landlocked nation's growth is dependent on exporting natural resources but Laos increasingly looks to tourism to play a larger economic role.

The 25th Southeast Asian Games opened in Laos with great fanfare¹ as athletes from 11 nations marched through the new national stadium.

Laos received widespread praise and recognition from holding the games, although it had to rely on China to build the stadium, Vietnam for the athletes' village, and financial help from South Korea, Japan, and others.

Tho Phom Ponh runs a souvenir and snack shop just across from the new stadium. He says Laos should be proud to host the games.

"Laos hosting the SEA [Southeast Asia] Games is really important and makes tourists know Laos as well.  Laos has beautiful landscape and many places for sightseeing," he said.  "It also helps Lao people to make more money."

Laos is an impoverished² one-party communist state and its isolation³ from the international community gave it some protection from the global financial crisis.

The economy is growing at about seven percent a year, mainly from exports of minerals resources and hydropower. Laos, however, remains⁴ a mainly subsistence agricultural nation.

Khan To fills her watering can.  She has been farming for 20 years and says she earns just enough money for her family of eight to get by.

"I work as a farmer every day," she said.  "My income is about $1.50 per day and I use all of it to buy [food] to feed my family."

Laos has long been dependent on foreign aid and loans.

Economists⁵ say its fast growth helps reduce its debts but its economic reliance on natural resources not created enough small businesses or local jobs.

Gil-Hong Kim, the Asian Development Bank's country director for Laos, says the country should not rely only on exports of raw materials for growth.

"In order to share these benefits from natural resource sectors⁶ with all and more peoples, more Lao peoples, it's very critical to have more balanced economic structures," said Kim.

The Lao government is promoting tourism to better diversify⁷ its economy and promote local business.

Kim says hosting the Southeast Asian Games gives a short-term boost to the economy. 

But, perhaps more importantly, he says the games will help improve Laos's image to the outside world.

 

1 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

2 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 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》

6 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。