Obama seeks greater cooperation with allies in face of budget crisis

 　　BEIJING/WASHINGTON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- As Jacob Lew was sworn into office as the new U.S. Treasury¹ Secretary on Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama has so far put in place three key positions in his second-term cabinet.

　　However, what greeted Lew, Defense² Secretary Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry is major federal spending cuts that could dampen U.S. economic growth and curb³ its military readiness.

　　In his State of the Union address, Obama vowed⁴ to boost the country's competitiveness by fostering new economic growth points and increasing investment in key areas such as infrastructure⁵, education, science and vocational training.

　　To make the president's vision become reality, the new cabinet, now in face of urgent economic challenges and a looming⁶ budget crisis, is emphasizing measures to boost U.S. competitiveness and seeking greater cooperation with its allies while trying to avoid any unilateral moves, analysts⁷ said.

　　COPING WITH BUDGET CRISIS BY BOOSTING COMPETITIVENESS

　　Sweeping⁸ U.S. government spending cuts totaling 85 billion dollars began to take effect Friday, after the White House and congressional Republicans failed to reach an agreement on handling the ballooning budget deficit⁹.

　　Hagel, who was sworn in Wednesday as secretary of defense and whose budget at the Pentagon is set to be slashed¹⁰ by roughly 46 billion dollars, said on Friday that the budget cuts will endanger the U.S. military's ability to conduct its missions.

　　But he also said he would do whatever he could to make sure the U.S. army's battle effectiveness won't be influenced by the spending cuts.

　　In a speech at the University of Virginia, Secretary of State John Kerry, who took office on Feb. 1 to succeed Hillary Clinton, also said that the budget impasse¹¹ was the greatest challenge to U.S. foreign policy.

　　Though the new treasury secretary has yet to make any public comments on the spending cuts, Lew has said at his Senate Confirmation¹² Hearing in February that the government must leave sufficient room for critical investments in education, research, and infrastructure so as to spur economic growth and boost U.S. competitiveness globally.

　　Lew also made it clear that the country's top priority now is to strengthen the recovery by fostering private sector¹³ job creation and economic growth, complete financial reform, reform the tax system, and expand manufacturing in the United States.

　　CEMENTING RELATIONS WITH ALLIES

　　Cementing America's relations and cooperation with its allies around the world while trying to avoid any unilateral actions is clearly one of Obama's foreign policy strategies during his second term, as the president, plagued by a tight budget, is seeking new growth points for the U.S. economy, analysts said.

　　As Hagel said shortly after being sworn in as the new Pentagon chief, America cannot "dictate¹⁴ to the world" and must work with allies and build relationships with other nations.

　　"I've always believed that America's role in the world ... has been one that should engage the world. We can't dictate to the world. But we must engage in the world," Hagel said.

　　"No nation, as great as America is, can do this on their own. We need to continue to build on the strong relationships that we have built."

　　On Feb. 21, three experts from the Heritage Foundation, a U.S. think tank, co-wrote in an article that the Obama administration have not paid enough attention to the transatlantic alliance in the past four years.

　　But it is believed that Kerry's trip to Europe as top U.S. diplomat¹⁵ would open up an opportunity for the United States to improve relations with these countries, especially Britain.

　　Lew, like Kerry and Hagel, also emphasized the importance of international cooperation, urging the Obama administration to work with its partners around the globe as well as organizations like the Group of 20.

　　Through boosting ties with its allies, Obama is more likely to forge an alliance when dealing¹⁶ with global challenges such as the Syria crisis, the nuclear issues in Iran and on the Korean Peninsula, analysts said, adding that it could also serve as a foundation for his peace efforts for the Middle East.

1 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

7 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。

8 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

9 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

10 slashed   

v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Someone had slashed the tyres on my car. 有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
• He slashed the bark off the tree with his knife. 他用刀把树皮从树上砍下。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 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。

12 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

13 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

14 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

15 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

16 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。