VOA常速英语2007-World Bank Calls Singapore Easiest Place to Do B

By Claudia Blume
Hong Kong
01 October 2007

Singapore has been ranked the world's easiest place to conduct business and Japan's trade surplus almost quadrupled in August. Claudia Blume at VOA's Asia News Center in Hong Kong has more on these and other business stories from the region.

For the second year in a row, the World Bank has ranked Singapore as the world's easiest place to do business. Singapore topped the list because of its efficient business procedures, many of which can be done online.

New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong are also among the top 10 business-friendly countries. The World Bank report says that both China and India are making progress in implementing¹ reforms that make business easier there.

A report surveying leading Asian companies on their policies on climate change and carbon emissions² says some businesses across the region are stepping up efforts to reduce their carbon footprints.

Melissa Brown is executive director of the Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia, which did the report. She says the companies include Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific, consumer goods company ITC in India and Taiwan computer maker³ Acer.

She says South Korea is Asia's most environmentally proactive country, outside of Japan.

"A big part of this is a reflection of policies from the Korean government where the government unusually has been very proactive despite the fact they are not Kyoto protocol⁴ and Annex⁵ One participants and do not have to meet fixed⁶ informal targets right now," Brown said.

Japan's trade surplus in August nearly quadrupled from a year ago, to $6.5 billion.

The increase - the biggest in 24 years - was mainly driven by strong exports of automobiles⁷ and communication equipment to the rest of Asia and Europe.

China's biggest coal miner, China Shenhua Energy, raised a record eight-point-nine -billion dollars in its initial public offering on the Shanghai stock market. It was China's largest domestic IPO to date, topping the share offering of China Construction Bank just a day earlier. The bank, which started trading in Shanghai, raised seven-point-seven billion dollars. Both Shenhua and China Construction Bank were already listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

1 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

2 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

3 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

4 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。

5 annex   

vt.兼并，吞并；n.附属建筑物

参考例句：

• It plans to annex an England company in order to enlarge the market.它计划兼并一家英国公司以扩大市场。
• The annex has been built on to the main building.主楼配建有附属的建筑物。

6 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

7 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》