英闻天下——483 Boao Forum for Asia, a Window for Hainan and Boao

 　　Hainan is the most southern province in China. It is situated¹ right at the center of the Asia-Pacific Economic Ring, connected with China's Guangdong Province in the north and some southeast Asian countries in the south.

 

　　Almost every spring since 2001, Hainan and its coastal² town of Boao have been in the spotlight³ because of the Boao Forum⁴ for Asia, which is an important platform for discussions about economic integration⁵ and cooperation. It is also a chance for Hainan and Boao to benefit.

 

　　Luo Baoming, top official of Hainan, says that the forum has become a milestone⁶ in the history of Hainan's opening up.

 

　　"Hainan is building itself into an International Tourism Island, and the Boao Forum for Asia is a huge positive impulse in this process. For China, it is a platform for diplomacy⁷ and cooperation, and for Hainan, it has been an opportunity to meet the world."

 

　　Hainan has seized opportunity to collect experience for its development at the forum. For example, in the 2007 annual conference, the provincial⁸ government reached out Bill Gates, who was an honorable guest, for a joint⁹ project between the province and Microsoft.

 

　　On the same occasion, Hainan contacted another guest Muhammad Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize because of his help to the poor through micro-finance in Bangladesh. Hainan borrowed his experience of providing small-amount loans, and launched such service to local rural people, helping¹⁰ them with some small business and ease poverty.

 

　　In addition to the cooperation with forum guests, Hainan and Boao have gained more benefits.

 

　　Wang Liya, Professor of School of Economics and Management at Hainan University, says that local people have enjoyed the employment opportunities and income rise brought by the forum.

 

　　"Boao is a place that combines local features and international atmosphere. The infrastructure¹¹ there is very good, with easy transport like high-speed railways. Because of the forum, services for travelers are also improving, like accommodations and golf. Local people benefit a lot from a rising Boao."

 

　　Wang Liya adds that a visit to the forum venue¹² is popular among group travelers to Hainan. Every year, about 2 million travelers do so, which makes the forum venue a highlight in the tour around the Hainan Island.

 

　　Meanwhile, Li Lixun, Professor with the Geography and Planning School of Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, believes that Boao Forum for Asia is not a once-in-a-year event. More things should be done throughout the year.

 

　　"Hainan should look at the bigger picture of the event rather than just the forum itself. A diversified¹³ economic strategy is needed, like cultural tourism and ecological¹⁴ fishing. The forum is a key aspect, it is also a beginning. More things could be done and more local people could be involved."

 

　　The annual gathering¹⁵ gets underway this weekend. Officials say Hainan and the town of Boao once again set themselves to explore new opportunities.

 

　　For CRI, I'm XYee.

1 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

2 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

3 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

4 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

5 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

6 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

7 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

8 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

9 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

10 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

11 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。

12 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

13 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

15 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。