2006年VOA标准英语-Bush, da Silva Discuss Trade and Energy

By Scott Stearns
St. Petersburg
17 July 2006
 
President Bush and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have agreed to continue improving cooperation on alternative energy and trade. The leaders met in St. Petersburg, Russia, on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations.

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Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (l) with George Bush   
  
President Bush says he and the Brazilian leader want to move forward on the so-called Doha round of world trade talks, as G8 leaders meet with heads of state from the world's five fastest-growing economies: Brazil, India, China, Mexico and South Africa.

"He is one of the leaders when it comes to trade discussions. A lot of the world looks to him for judgment¹, so I view this as a very important meeting," Mr. Bush said. " We are committed to a successful Doha round, and in order for the round to be successful, the United States and Brazil must continue to strategize."

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says it is extremely important that the Group of Eight leaders have set aside time at their summit to discuss the trade talks, which are aimed at reducing barriers to poorer countries. He says now is the time for heads of government to make tough political decisions.

"We cannot leave it in the hands of our negotiators only, who have done immense work," he said. " But now it seems to me that they don't have any hidden card in their pockets any more. Now we are the ones who have to take our cards from our pockets."

The two leaders also discussed alternative energy sources. Brazil is one of the leading developers of bio-fuels, while reducing America's dependence² on foreign oil is one the biggest priorities for Mr. Bush's second term.

President da Silva invited President Bush to build a major partnership³ with Brazil in producing ethanol, bio-diesel, and a new fuel called H-Bio, which mixes refinery⁴ petroleum⁵ with oil from soy, sunflower seeds, cotton and castor beans.

The World Trade Organizations negotiations⁶ on the Doha trade agenda have been stalled for months. Many developing nations and major agricultural exporters, such as Brazil, want developed economies, such as the United States, the European Union and Japan, to cut farm subsidies⁷ sharply. The E.U. and U.S., however, say that in return, developing nations must lower barriers to foreign manufactured goods, and services such as banking⁸.

1 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

2 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

3 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

4 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

5 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。