美国国家公共电台 NPR--Biden announces trade deals with Africa and more involvement on the continent

Biden announces trade deals with Africa and more involvement on the continent

Transcript¹

NPR's Rob Schmitz talks to Mvemba Phezo Dizolele of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about the U.S.-Africa summit.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

President Biden is hosting African leaders this week during a summit intended to build stronger economic ties with the region, which has seen a lot of investment from China in recent years. In an address, Biden said yesterday his administration signed an agreement to support trade across the continent and invest in food, energy and health projects. He also announced new deals in the private sector² totaling $15 billion.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: The deals we've signed, the investments we've made together are concrete proof of the enduring commitment we're making to one another.

MART?NEZ: The last U.S.-Africa summit was held in 2014, when President Obama also promised a stronger economic partnership³. Joining us now is Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, who is director of Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. So let's start with, last night, President Biden saying the U.S. is all-in on Africa's future and announced several investments in Africa this week. That summit wraps up today. Mvemba, what do you think of the U.S. commitments? How do they stack up to you so far?

MVEMBA PHEZO DIZOLELE: A, this is a very important commitment on the part of the United States. The United States came to this summit with a trust deficit⁴ as far as Africa goes. This is a signal that the U.S. is committing itself to working with the people of Africa to move the relationship forward. As you know, the world is a multipolar world that we live in today, with various interests and various powers competing for resources in Africa. The U.S. was lagging a bit behind China, behind Turkey, Russia and others that are invested in Africa. So this is a good beginning.

MART?NEZ: You called it a trust deficit. What do you mean by that?

DIZOLELE: By that I mean the U.S. as a superpower has been engaging Africa for years - for decades, actually, I'd say - since before independence. However, that engagement has not always been consistent. If a country has some issue, the U.S. may suspend its relationship. The U.S. may reduce its relationship. The U.S. may leave totally. Where, in fact, African countries really have been thirsting for America's leadership and partnership, that has not always been there in the way, let's say, China has been consistent or. Even the French, who have a lot of difficult relationship with Africans, have been consistent. It's that consistency⁵ that has been lacking with the U.S. As you say, the last time it was eight years ago...

MART?NEZ: Yeah.

DIZOLELE: ...2014. That's about two mandate⁶, two presidential mandate. That's not acceptable.

MART?NEZ: And when you say partnership, economic partnership.

DIZOLELE: Economic and across the board. You know, the world is facing a number of contingencies⁷, including demographic pressures, including climate change, as we're talking about these days. All of those contingencies will be determined⁸ by what happens in Africa. You know, Africa is the youngest continent. The median age in Africa is 19. The median age in the U.S. is 38, 39. The median age in Germany is 49. So the future of the world is in Africa. And the U.S. need to be present.

MART?NEZ: And China has invested in that future. They've spent - what? - $254 billion in trade with the African continent. How much of a challenge does China present the U.S.?

DIZOLELE: China present tremendous challenge to the United States in the sense that China is a rising superpower. It's just a question of years before they come, really, neck to neck with the United States. However, Africa is a big place - 54 countries, tremendous resources, tremendous needs. So there is room for both powers to be there. They can even collaborate⁹. It doesn't need to be competitive. It's not the Cold War, you know? The Africans have been handling foreign powers for 500 years, so this is not new to them.

MART?NEZ: One more thing, quickly. What do you think the U.S. can offer to African countries that maybe China and other countries cannot?

DIZOLELE: It's the values that the U.S. has been pushing for over year - good governance, strong democracy, social contract support. Those are the issues where the U.S. has competitive advantage.

MART?NEZ: That is Mvemba Phezo Dizolele. Thank you very much.

DIZOLELE: Thank you.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 consistency   

n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度

参考例句：

• Your behaviour lacks consistency.你的行为缺乏一贯性。
• We appreciate the consistency and stability in China and in Chinese politics.我们赞赏中国及其政策的连续性和稳定性。

6 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

7 contingencies   

n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一

参考例句：

• We must consider all possible contingencies. 我们必须考虑一切可能发生的事。
• We must be prepared for all contingencies. 我们要作好各种准备，以防意外。 来自辞典例句

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 collaborate   

vi.协作，合作；协调

参考例句：

• The work gets done more quickly when we collaborate.我们一旦合作，工作做起来就更快了。
• I would ask you to collaborate with us in this work.我们愿意请你们在这项工作中和我们合作。