Hourly News 每日新闻 2014-04-02

China-EU-Xi-Speech
Chinese President Xi Jinping has closed his four-nation European trip with a speech at the College of Europe in Belgium, calling for greater friendship and cooperation between all sides.
He told European leaders that four "bridges" of peace, growth, reform, and progress of civilization need to be built between China and the European continent in order to forward the relationship.
President Xi says peace, multilateralism, and dialogue are needed instead of war, unilateralism, and confrontation¹.
He also gave the assembled leaders an update on the profound changes underway right now in China, adding that reforms in the country have entered what he calls "a deep-water zone."
The President also characterized the changes underway in China as being part of a process that will never stop.
Xi stated that China is on its own path and copying other political models or methods of development is not an option.
Belgium was the last stop on President Xi's four-nation European tour, including stops in the Netherlands, France, and Germany. He is scheduled to be back in China today.
 
China highly concerned about Japan's changes in military policy
The Chinese government has released a new statement, saying it's paying great attention to Japan's easing of its weapons export restriction².
The statement follows a move by the Japanese government to relax its decades-old ban on military-related exports.
The move by Tokyo represents the first major change in Japan's defense³ export policy in nearly half a century.
Chinese Foreign Ministry⁴ spokesperson Hong Lei.
"Japan's change in its military policy is related to regional security and strategic stability, and is also related to Japan's future path. China is highly concerned by the move. We call on the Japanese authorities to learn from history and listen to the concerns of its neighbours, while at the same time pursuing peaceful development and making moves that are conducive⁶ to regional peace."
Observers are suggesting the move by the Japanese government is meant to expand its arms sales into Southeast Asia.
The new guidelines endorsed⁷ by the Japanese Cabinet are being viewed as part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to revise the country's broader defense and security policies.
Abe is on-record saying Japan needs to play a larger role in international peacekeeping and defence.
Japanese observers widely expect the Abe administration to push for the elimination⁸ of Article-9 of the Japanese Constitution to allow for its military to engage in activities outside the current mandate⁹ of self-defense.
 
US South China Seas Dispute
The Chinese government is warning the United States to remain neutral when it comes to disputes in the South China Sea.
This move follows a statement from the US State Department this week, appearing to support the Philippine government's move to take the dispute over Ren'ai Reef and the broader Nansha Islands to an international arbitration¹⁰ panel at The Hague.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei says the Philippine side is the trouble maker¹¹ in this case, urging the US to stick to its commitment to contribute to regional peace and stability in southeast Asia.
The US side says all countries should respect the right of any state to avail itself to any dispute-resolution measure uner the UN convention on the Law of the Sea.
The territorial¹² dispute heated up over the weekend when Philippine boat defied Chinese orders not to land on the reef.
It's the same spot where the Philippines navy grounded a warship¹³ in 1999 in an attempt to lay claim to the reef.
 
Palestinians to resume bid to win further UN recognition
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has signed applications to 15 UN agencies and conventions in a bid to win further United Nations recognition.
Abbas says he is compelled to take the action as Israel has failed to carry out a promised release of veteran Palestinian prisoners.
Abbas says he is still interested in negotiating a deal with Israel on the terms of Palestinian statehood.
The move comes after the United States failed to convince Israel to release the remaining 26 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
Earlier, as part of the peace talks, Abbas agreed to suspend his UN bid, while Israel was to release 104 Palestinian prisoners in four stages.
But Israel refused to release the final group of prisoners unless the Palestinians agreed to extend the ongoing¹⁴ peace talks which have been set to end later this month.
 
NATO seeks closer cooperation with Ukraine
NATO has announced new measures to intensify¹⁵ cooperation with Ukriane, and suspend all practical civilian¹⁶ and military cooperation with Russia.
A statement from the organization states that NATO wants to help promote Ukraine's defense reforms.
Additional experts are to be sent to Kiev, adding to the two liason officers already stationed there.
By cutting practical cooperation with Russia, NATO says political dialogue will have to continue only at the ambassadorial level.
NATO plans to review its relations with Russia in June.
 
Russia seeks deeper defense cooperation with Belarus after Ukraine crisis
Russia is seeking deeper defense industry cooperation with neighbouring Belarus, following the recent developments in Ukraine.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin confirmed this on Tuesday during talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
The Deputy PM called Ukraine "a very painful topic," adding that the groundwork being laid out on the Ukrainian side is akin⁵ to "cutting off your nose to spite your face."
President Lukashenko stated "we don't quite like the situation that is developing around us."
He added that means his country must be closer to Russia, and in any situation Belarus will side with Moscow.

1 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

2 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

3 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。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 akin   

adj.同族的，类似的

参考例句：

• She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
• Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。

6 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

7 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 elimination   

n.排除，消除，消灭

参考例句：

• Their elimination from the competition was a great surprise.他们在比赛中遭到淘汰是个很大的意外。
• I was eliminated from the 400 metres in the semi-finals.我在400米半决赛中被淘汰。

9 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。

10 arbitration   

n.调停，仲裁

参考例句：

• The wage disagreement is under arbitration.工资纠纷正在仲裁中。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding.双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

11 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

12 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

13 warship   

n.军舰，战舰

参考例句：

• He is serving on a warship in the Pacific.他在太平洋海域的一艘军舰上服役。
• The warship was making towards the pier.军舰正驶向码头。

14 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

15 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。

16 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。