VOA双语新闻2008年:Bush Arrives in Saudi Arabia(在线收听

President Bush is in Saudi Arabia for talks with King Abdullah. Mr. Bush is seeking support from the Saudis for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and his tough stance on Iran.

 

美国总统布什在沙特阿拉伯和阿卜杜拉国王举行会谈。布什正在寻求沙特阿拉伯支持以巴中东会谈以及他在伊朗问题上的强硬立场

With a fanfare and a military honor guard, Saudi Arabia welcomed the president of the United States.

 

沙特阿拉伯通过军事仪仗队和隆重的仪式欢迎美国总统布什的到访。

King Abdullah was there to greet President Bush when Air Force One touched down at the Riyadh airport. The two made no public comments, but will have a great deal to say to each other in private during the two-day visit.

 

美国空军一号专机在利雅得机场着陆后,沙特国王阿卜杜拉亲自在机场迎接布什总统。两位领导人没有发表公开谈话,但是在布什两天的访问期间,他们将有许多事务要进行不公开的磋商。

President Bush is expected to brief the King on his talks last week with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Mr. Bush has also made clear he wants to talk about the Iranian threat to stability, and press the need for more freedom in the Middle East.

 

预料,布什总统将向阿卜杜拉国王简要地介绍他上星期同以色列和巴勒斯坦领导人进行的会谈。布什总统已经明确表示,他希望讨论伊朗对中东稳定的威胁,并敦促中东地区取得更多的自由。

Saudi Arabia is a key U.S. ally and a power in the region. And it was no coincidence that as the president landed in Riyadh, the Bush administration formally notified the U.S. Congress of its intent to carrying out the first part of a $20 billion arms sale to the Saudi government.

 

沙特阿拉伯是美国的一个重要盟友,也是这个地区的一个强国。布什这次前往利雅得访问并非出于巧合。布什政府已经正式告知美国国会,有意向沙特政府提供两百亿美元军售案中的第一批武器。

The sale is part of an effort by the White House to bolster the defenses of its Sunni allies in the Middle East who have concerns that Shiite Iran is seeking to become a major power in the region.

 

这项军售是白宫为提升它在中东的逊尼派盟友防卫力量所作的努力的一部分。包括沙特阿拉伯在内的逊尼派担心,属于什叶派的伊朗寻求成为中东的主要强国。

In a speech Sunday in Abu Dhabi, Mr. Bush held Iran up as a threat to stability and progress, and urged others to join him in pressuring Tehran.

 

布什总统星期日在阿布扎比演说时指出,伊朗对中东地区的稳定和进步构成威胁。他敦促其它国家的领导人和他一起对伊朗施加压力。

The president also took time in the United Arab Emirates to try to build a rapport with local leaders - dining in the desert, and visiting the ancestral home of the ruler of Dubai.

 

布什总统也花时间访问了阿拉伯联合酋长国,试图与当地的领袖建立起良好关系。他和他们在沙漠里共进晚餐,并且拜访了迪拜统治者祖先的故居。

A group of young girls in bright gowns and with hennaed hands welcomed the president to the restored house made, according to Gulf tradition, of coral covered in lime and plaster.

 

一群穿着亮丽的长袍、涂着指甲油的年青姑娘欢迎布什总统来到这个经过修复的房屋。依照波斯湾地区的传统,这所房子是用珊瑚搭成的,屋顶是用灰泥做的。

Mr. Bush also had lunch with students at the Dubai School of Government, and attended a roundtable with young Arab leaders from across the region.

 

布什总统还与迪拜政府学校的学生共进午餐,并出席了这个地区的阿拉伯青年领导人的圆桌会议。

"I will answer your questions," he said. "And I also want you to understand something about America: that we respect you, we respect your religion and we want to work together for the sake of freedom and peace."

 

布什总统说:“我将回答你们的问题。同时,我希望你们对美国有所了解。我们尊重你们,我们尊重你们的宗教,我们希望为了自由与和平与你们一同努力。”

The session with young leaders was held in one of the skyscrapers that fills the landscape of Dubai - one of the commercial centers of the Middle East. But little commerce was conducted Monday when the president came to visit as the government had declared a national holiday, shutting down main roads and bridges.

 

布什总统与当地青年领袖的会议在迪拜一座主要的摩天大厦里举行。迪拜是中东的商业中心之一。但是,布什总统星期一前往迪拜访问时,那里没有商业活动,因为政府宣布全国放假一天,并关闭了主要的街道和桥梁。

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/voabn/2008/01/117065.html