VOA标准英语2009-Obama Opens Asia Tour With Talks in Tokyo

By Paula Wolfson
Tokyo
13 November 2009

  
President Barack Obama, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama arrive for joint¹ news conference in Tokyo, 13 Nov 2009
The United States and Japan are vowing² to keep their alliance strong at a time of change in both Washington and Tokyo. The Japanese capital was the initial stop on Barack Obama's first trip to Asia as President of the United States.

It was a low-key arrival in a chilly³ rain. And it came at a time of uncertainty⁴ in relations between the United States and Japan.

The new Japanese Prime Minister - Yukio Hatoyama - campaigned on a pledge to be less dependent on Washington.

He is seeking trade deals with other Asian countries, and is reviewing long-term U.S.-Japan military agreements.

But when they went before reporters after the meeting, President Obama downplayed any tensions.

"There should be no doubt as we move our nations in a new direction, our alliance will endure and our efforts will focus on revitalizing that friendship so that it is even stronger and successful in meeting the challenges of the 21st century," President Obama said.

Prime Minister Hatoyama agreed.

Mr. Hatoyama announced plans for a review of U.S. - Japan relations leading up to 50th anniversary of the strategic alliance in 2010.

President Obama said the time is right to renew and refresh the partnership⁵ between Washington and Tokyo.

"It is essential for the United States, it is essential for Japan and essential for the Asia-Pacific region," the president said.

Their talks ended with pledges of increased cooperation in areas such as nuclear non-proliferation and climate change.

Both said they want to find a solution to the dispute over U.S. military basing rights on the southern island of Okinawa.   But Prime Minister Hatoyama made clear Japan will no longer refuel ships involved in the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.

He said Japan decided⁶ it can do more good by providing Afghanistan with substantial civilian⁷ assistance - $5 billion over the next five years.

President Obama said he briefed the Japanese leader on his search for a revised Afghanistan strategy. He said a decision will come soon.

"It will be one that is fully⁸ transparent⁹ so the American people understand exactly what we are doing and why we are doing it," Mr. Obama said.

The president said he also wants to send a clear message that the U.S. military commitment will not be open-ended. He said the goal is to reach the point where the Afghan people can take care of their own security.

 

1 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。

2 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

3 chilly   

adj.凉快的，寒冷的

参考例句：

• I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
• I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。

4 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

5 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。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

9 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。