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　　Asian nations have agreed to form a network of railroads that aims to connect 28 countries in the region to each other and Europe. The Trans-Asian Railway holds out the promise of improved trade, transport, and integration¹. But, forming the massive network is no small challenge.
亚洲国家达成协议，将建设一套连接亚洲28个国家及欧洲地区的泛亚铁路网。这套铁路网可望改善当地的贸易和交通，促进亚洲的一体化进程。但是，要建成这套庞大的铁路网确实是一个不小的挑战。
The agreement to form a Trans-Asian Railway Network has been in the works since the 1960s, but was held up by wars and ideological² conflict.
建设泛亚铁路网的协议从1960年代起就开始酝酿了，但是由于战争以及意识形态冲突而被搁置。
The U.N.-sponsored agreement finally came into force Thursday, after the last of eight Asian nations, the minimum number required, signed on.
不过，星期四，这个由联合国倡导的《泛亚铁路网政府间协议》，在八个亚洲国家相继批准之后，总算达到了参与国数量的最低要求，正式生效。
The agreement commits the countries to coordinate³ the development and operation of international rail routes that would eventually link 28 nations in the region.
根据协议，参与国将在泛亚铁路网的开发和运作过程中相互协作。泛亚铁路网最终将连通该地区的28个国家。
Noeleen Heyzer is the executive secretary of the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Speaking at a ceremony in Bangkok marking the event, she said the rail network would help form the "backbone⁴" of regional trade.
在曼谷举行的《泛亚铁路网政府间协议》生效庆祝仪式上，联合国亚洲及太平洋经济社会委员会执行秘书诺琳.海泽女士说，泛亚铁路网将构建地区贸易的“脊梁”。
"This would be a tremendous opportunity not just to improve the physical infrastructure⁵, but also the governance infrastructure, as well as the human capacity infrastructure of our region as we become a more coordinated⁶ Asia," said Heyzer.
“这将不仅有利于基础设施建设，同时也是提高管理能力，促进本地区人员素质培养，以及建设协作性更强的亚洲的大好机会。”
The connecting rail arteries⁷ would span from Turkey to China to Singapore, and would open up land-locked nations and remote areas to development.
这条铁路大动脉横贯从土耳其到中国以及新加坡的广大地区，将给内陆国家和偏远地区带来发展的机会。
Heyzer said the timing⁸ of the agreement was particularly significant as Asia is looking to promote trade and investment to stimulate⁹ economic recovery.
海泽女士表示，协议在这个时候签署意义特别重大，因为亚洲正在努力促进贸易与投资，以刺激经济复苏。
The planned network would be made up of 114,000 kilometers of railway lines, linking stations designed as "dry" trading ports to coastal¹⁰ ports
按照计划，泛亚铁路网的总长度为11万4300公里，直通亚洲各地的水旱码头。
But 8,300 kilometers of the rails have not been built and will cost an estimated $25 billion. Billions more will have to be spent on upgrading existing railroads.
但是，现在仍有8300公里的铁路尚未建成，估计耗资金额大约为250亿美元。此外还要花费数十亿美元给现有的铁路升级换代。
Heyzer says the countries would also have to work out cross-border problems, including technical and legal standards and customs procedures.
海泽女士表示，各国还需要解决包括技术和法律标准以及海关程序在内的边界通关问题。
But she held out hope they would only need a matter of years to sort out the problems, rather than the decades it took to agree to form the Trans-Asian Railway.
但她也表示，相对于耗费数十年的时间才签署了建设泛亚铁路网的协议，上述问题只需几年便可解决。