New Refinery in India Could Boost Trade with Pakistan

 　　A new Indian oil refinery¹ near its border with Pakistan could boost trade between the two countries through fuel sales.  The South Asian rivals are hoping that stepped up trade will help the reconciliation² process.

　　The $4 billion refinery near Bhatinda in India’s northern Punjab state can process nine million tons of crude oil a year.  Besides meeting rising demand in India, it could also supply fuel to Pakistan.

　　The refinery is 175 kilometers from the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.

　　Islamabad has said it is close to removing petrol from a list of items banned for trade with India and India’s oil minister says New Delhi is prepared to export petroleum³ products and gasoline to Pakistan.

　　Pakistan suffers from energy shortages.  India imports nearly three quarters of its crude requirement, but it has huge refining capacity and can export petroleum products.

　　Analyst⁴ Wilson John of the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi says the move to open trade in fuel is part of recent efforts by the two countries to boost trade.  Ties between India and Pakistan suffered a huge setback⁵ after Pakistan-based militants⁷ attacked the Indian city of Mumbai.

　　“Particularly after the Mumbai attack of 2008, when there was a deliberate slowdown in the composite dialogue, you seem to witness a dramatic upsurge in the last say one year," John said. "In my opinion that is a very good, positive sign.”

　　A series of recent announcements have raised hopes that trade could emerge as a key driver of peace efforts between the two countries.

　　Earlier this month, India decided⁸ to lift a ban on foreign direct investment from Pakistan.  Although this is unlikely to lead to an immediate⁹ rush of investment, analysts¹⁰ say the move improves the climate for trade.

　　The Central Bank of India and the State Bank of Pakistan are exploring the possibility of opening branches in each others' countries.  The two countries are also expected to sign a liberalized visa agreement next month, making it simpler for businessmen to travel from one side to the other.

　　The steps to boost trade are expected to make it easier for India and Pakistan to address their differences.  Besides a disputed border, India blames Pakistan for allowing its territory to be used by Islamic militant⁶ groups to mount terror attacks in India.

　　Wilson says it will take more than trade for the two longtime rivals to completely normalize ties.

　　“Pakistan will have to, sometime in the near future, address the core concern of India, which is terrorism," said John. "Without that I really do not think this process can move beyond a point.”

　　Observers say, for the time being, the steps to boost trade have created a mood of optimism on both sides.

1 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

2 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

3 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

6 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

7 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

10 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。