2007年VOA标准英语-Southeast Asian Leaders Tackle Trade, Security

By Heda Bayron
Cebu, Philippines
14 January 2007

Premier1 Wen Jiabao, center, welcomes S. Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, left, and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, in Cebu, 14 Jan 2007 " hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070516/1056320.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, center, welcomes S. Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, left, and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, in Cebu, 14 Jan 2007

The leaders of Japan, China and South Korea take up trade and security concerns as they meet with their Southeast Asian counterparts in the Philippines. VOA's Heda Bayron reports from the city of Cebu, where the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is holding its annual gathering².

The talks Sunday bring together the leaders of ASEAN's biggest trading partners - Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo³ underscored the importance of engaging the region's powers to reach ASEAN's goal of a free trade area and eventually a common market.

"It's vitally important at this time in world events that ASEAN is bringing so many nations and leaders together to discuss peace, security, and social justice and economic growth," said Arroyo.

North Korea is also on the agenda, with the three East Asian powers meeting separately to discuss ways to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons programs.

1 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

2 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。

3 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。