Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has become the first foreign leader to visit U.S. President Barack Obama. The leaders of the world's two biggest economies discussed the global financial crisis, among other issues.
日本首相麻生太郎成为访问美国总统奥巴马的第一位外国领导人。世界上这两个最大经济体的领导人讨论了全球金融危机等问题。
President Obama says the fact that Prime Minister Aso is the first foreign leader to meet with him in the Oval Office is a testimony to the strong partnership between the United States and Japan.
奥巴马总统说，麻生首相是在椭圆形办公室跟他会谈的第一位外国领导人，这一事实表明了美国和日本之间牢固的合作伙伴关系。
"We think that we have an opportunity to work together, not only on issues related to the Pacific Rim, but throughout the world," he said.
奥巴马说：“我认为，我们之间存在合作的机会，不仅在有关太平洋沿岸地区的问题上，而且在关系到整个世界的问题上都有可能进行合作。”
Japan has the world's second largest economy, and holds more U.S. Treasury bonds than any country but China. Mr. Aso says only the U.S. and Japan have economies that are strong enough to bring changes in the global recession.
日本是世界第二大经济体，所持有的美国政府债券超过任何国家，仅次于中国。麻生说，只有美国和日本的经济实力才足以改变全球经济衰退的局面。
"We are the number one and second biggest economies of the world," he said. "We will have to work together, hand in hand."
麻生太郎说：“我们是世界第一和第二大经济体。我们将携手共同努力。”
Security issues were also expected to play a big part in the meeting. Japan is working with the United States and three other countries to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. In addition, about 50,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed in Japan. Mr. Obama says the U.S. security relationship with Japan is crucial, and must be made even stronger.
预计，在奥巴马跟麻生太郎的会谈中安全问题也会占重要份量。日本正在跟美国以及另外三个国家劝说北韩放弃它的核武器计划。除此之外，目前有大约5万名美国军事人员驻扎在日本。奥巴马说，美国跟日本的安全合作关系非常重要，必须使之更加牢固。
"The alliance that we have is the cornerstone of security in East Asia," he said. "It is one that my administration wants to strengthen."
奥巴马说：“两国现有的同盟关系是东亚安全的基石，也是本届美国政府希望加强的。”
Other issues on the agenda were global warming, terrorism, and the kidnapping of Japanese citizens by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s.
The two leaders' political fortunes are very different. After about one month in office, Mr. Obama has the support of almost 70 percent of Americans polled. A Japanese newspaper says Prime Minister Aso's approval rating is 11 percent.
两位领导人的政治前程迥然不同。奥巴马上任大约一个月之后，民调显示他得到的美国民众支持率几乎是70%。而日本一份报纸说，日本首相麻生太郎在国内的支持率是11%。
Japan must hold parliamentary elections by the end of September, and many people believe Mr. Aso's Liberal Democratic party will lose control of parliament.
日本必须在9月底之前举行议会选举，许多日本人认为，麻生所在的自民党会失去对日本国会的控制权。
Prime Minister Aso's early White House visit, as well as Hillary Clinton's decision to make Japan the destination of her first overseas trip as secretary of state, are sending important signals to Japan. Some in Tokyo have been concerned about increasing U.S. cooperation with China on diplomatic, economic and military issues.
日本首相麻生太郎在外国领导人中率先访问白宫，以及国务卿希拉里.克林顿决定把日本做为她上任后首次出访的第一站都是向日本发出的重要 |