President Barack Obama on Tuesday visited the U.S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
美国总统奥巴马星期二抵达美国属地波多黎各，受到当地民众欢迎。
“Buenas tardes!”
With a greeting of “Good afternoon” in Spanish, President Obama began his five-hour visit to Puerto Rico and offered support for next year’s vote on the island’s future.
奥巴马总统用西班牙语问候了一句：“下午好！”，以此开始了对波多黎各的五个小时的访问。
Puerto Ricans will have the choice of becoming an independent nation, becoming America’s 51st state or remaining a U.S. territory.
奥巴马总统对波多黎各明年举行的决定前途的公投表示支持。波多黎各将面临抉择：要么成为独立国家，要么留在美国，成为美国第51个州。
“And when the people of Puerto Rico make a clear decision, my administration will stand by you," said President Obama.
奥巴马总统说：“波多黎各人民作出明确决定，本届行政当局就支持你们。”
The president’s visit to Puerto Rico fulfills a promise he made in his 2008 campaign.
奥巴马总统2008年竞选时就作出承诺要来波多黎各，这次到访是来履行其诺言的。
Puerto Ricans cannot vote in U.S. general elections, but more Puerto Ricans live on the U.S. mainland than on the island. Many are in Florida and North Carolina, states the president will need to win in next year’s election.
波多黎各人民不能在美国大选中投票，但大多数波多黎各人是生活在美国本土，而不是居住在这个南美岛国。有许多人居住在佛罗里达还有南卡罗来纳州。而奥巴马总统若想连任，就必须赢得这些州的选举。
Mr. Obama is the first president to make an official visit to Puerto Rico since John F. Kennedy in 1961.
奥巴马总统是自肯尼迪总统1961年访问波多黎各以来，再度到访的美国总统。
And he echoed some of the same concerns.
奥巴马总统提到的一些问题，和当年肯尼迪总统提出的差不多。
“In that same spirit, we have been trying to make sure that every family on the island can find work and make a living and provide for their children," said Obama. "That is why our economic plan and our health care reform included help for Puerto Rico.”
“按照同样的精神，我们一直在努力，确保波多黎各的每个家庭能有工可做，能生活下去，为孩子们提供良好的生长环境。这就是为何美国的经济改革计划以及医疗卫生改革计划，要把波多黎各的人民也包括进来。”
The president’s brief visit to the island included a meeting with the territory’s governor and other political officials.
奥巴马总统这次访问波多黎各，行色匆匆，但是，他会见了波多黎各的总督还有其他的政府官员。 |