VOA标准英语2008年-Syria's Assad Forges Economic Ties With India

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
18 June 2008

Syria's president, on an official visit to India, has emphasized the need for peace in the volatile¹ Middle East region. His visit, the first by a Syrian president in three decades, aims at boosting trade and economic ties with India. Anjana Pasricha has a report from New Delhi.
　

Syrian President Assad and Indian Prime Minister Singh before an official meeting in New Delhi, 18 Jun 2008

President Bashar al-Assad said in New Delhi that the wars and ongoing² conflicts in the Middle East region had, in his words, "strengthened our resolve to achieve peace and stability."

He expressed hope that two recent initiatives in the region will help advance peace.

"The entire talks between Syria and Israel and the recent Doha agreement which has provided tangible³ steps towards national reconciliation⁴ in Lebanon, gives us reason to be optimistic about the future of our region," he said. "Only peace and stability will ensure sustainable development and long-term prosperity for our region and the world."

President Assad was referring to the indirect peace talks that Syria opened last month with Israel after a gap of eight years, and to an agreement reached by rival Lebanese factions⁵ in May to end an 18-month long political crisis in Lebanon.

Mr. Assad also discussed the Middle East peace process with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Before coming to India, the Syrian leader expressed hope that New Delhi, which has built close ties with Israel in the past decade, will play a proactive role in peace negotiations⁶ in the Middle East.

New Delhi has emphasized that its growing friendship with Israel will not come at the expense of its traditional good relations with the Arab world.

In fact, India has been reaching out to countries like Syria and Iran as it searches for new sources of energy to feed its growing economy.

In December 2005, India and China jointly⁸ won a bid to buy Petro-Canada's stake in Syrian oil fields.

The Syrian and Indian leaders also looked at ways to increase trade.

President Assad has come with a large delegation⁹ that includes senior ministers and businessmen. He called on Indian entrepreneurs to invest in the country.

"I invite you to explore opportunities for joint⁷ ventures and other collaborations in major areas including infrastructure¹⁰ development, energy production, mineral processing as well as IT education and training opportunities," he said.

India and Syria signed three agreements on improving agricultural cooperation, avoidance of double taxation¹¹, and prevention of tax evasion¹².

The Syrian leader will also visit the Information Technology hub of Bangalore during his five-day stay in India.

1 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

4 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

5 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

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 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

8 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

9 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

10 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

11 taxation   

n.征税，税收，税金

参考例句：

• He made a number of simplifications in the taxation system.他在税制上作了一些简化。
• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。

12 evasion   

n.逃避，偷漏(税)

参考例句：

• The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
• The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。