2007年VOA标准英语-Southeast Asian Leaders' Summit Opens

By Heda Bayron
Cebu, Philippines
12 January 2007

Development, trade and security issues will be high on the agenda as Southeast Asian leaders open their annual meeting. VOA's Heda Bayron reports from the central Philippine city of Cebu, where some serious work will be taking place behind the visible pomp and protocol¹.

 
Foreign ministers at the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, 12 Jan 2007
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, delayed by a month because of a typhoon in December, aims to push the region closer to the goal of a common market by 2015.

As Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo told journalists, this year's summit could result in a revitalized, more cohesive² organization.

"While we seek to build a more secure community, we are also intent on a community that will have stronger understanding of its identity, a community that is ever more determined³ to be bound by its rules and its commitments," he said.

The leaders will discuss lowering trade barriers, and the free flow of services and of workers within the ASEAN Free Trade Area.

 
Alberto Romulo (10 Jan 2007)
Romulo says the leaders also will sign agreements on development and counterterrorism. The ASEAN foreign ministers on Friday drew up a draft agreement on sharing counter-terrorism intelligence.

Terrorism is on everyone's mind here. There were terrorist threats when the summit was first scheduled in December. Many people in the region think that those threats, as much as bad weather, pushed Manila to delay the gathering⁴.

There were three deadly bombings Wednesday on Mindanao, south of here, which might have been an attempt by Muslim extremists to embarrass the Philippine government during the ASEAN meetings.

Airspace above the summit venues⁵ has been designated a no-fly zone, and police in riot gear are very much in evidence on the roads leading to the venues.

The government leaders also will consider a blueprint⁶ for an ASEAN Charter. Officials say a charter would make the grouping's agreements binding⁷ on members, whereas they are now only advisory⁸.

This could lead to changes in the way ASEAN works. Members of the group, for example, have strongly criticized Burma for failing to keep its promise to move toward democracy, and Romulo says ASEAN will continue to press Burma's military leadership on the issue. But the ruling generals have so far ignored the criticism with impunity⁹.

With a charter, ASEAN would have enforcement powers, and member nations that ignore resolutions could be punished.

The leaders also will raise these issues and others - including energy security - when they meet Sunday and Monday with their counterparts from Japan, China, South Korea, India, East Timor, Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to the Philippines and Burma, ASEAN comprises Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand.

1 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

2 cohesive   

adj.有粘着力的；有结合力的；凝聚性的

参考例句：

• She sealed the parcel with cohesive tape.她用粘胶带把包裹封起来。
• The author skillfully fuses these fragments into a cohesive whole.作者将这些片断巧妙地结合成一个连贯的整体。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

4 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。

5 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

6 blueprint   

n.蓝图，设计图，计划；vt.制成蓝图，计划

参考例句：

• All the machine parts on a blueprint must answer each other.设计图上所有的机器部件都应互相配合。
• The documents contain a blueprint for a nuclear device.文件内附有一张核装置的设计蓝图。

7 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

8 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

9 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。