VOA标准英语2009-World Economic Forum Summit Begins in Dubai

Hundreds of influential¹ thinkers from around the world have gathered in Dubai to participate in the World Economic Forum²'s Summit on the Global Agenda. Participants of the three-day event will look at ways that international institutions like the G20, World Bank and United Nations can improve.

Philip Walter Wellman | Dubai 20 November 2009

Hundreds of influential thinkers from around the world have gathered in Dubai to participate in the World Economic Forum's Summit on the Global Agenda.  Participants of the three-day event will look at ways that international institutions like the G20, World Bank and United Nations can improve. Their findings will form the basis of next year's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. 

From global investment to global warming, experts from a wide range of fields are meeting in Dubai to discuss three fundamental principals: strengthening economies, enhancing security and ensuring sustainability.

It's the second time the event has been held in the city and World Economic Forum Managing Director, Andre Schneider believes this year's summit will be more productive than last year's.

"This endeavor is even more important this year given that when we met for the first time last year, we were in the middle of the [financial] crisis and I think it was very difficult for many of the participants to get the distance to understand what actions to take or what could be done," he said.

Organizers say the summit comes at a time when much of the world feels let down by those in charge.

And they say the financial crisis has only highlighted the structural³ weaknesses of global institutions.

World Economic Forum Senior Advisor⁴ Lord Malloch-Brown believes the current sentiment will help breed change.

"Crisis creates malleability⁵, a moment of opportunity to introduce new ideas and to bring changes in the global system," he said.  "So I think this meeting in Dubai takes place in the aftermath of a very difficult year, but provides, because of that, an opportunity to really introduce or start to form some really interesting proposals, which will have a much more positive reception among global leaders and others than would be the case in more normal times. "

Leaders at the summit include three Nobel Laureates and hundreds of public figures drawn⁶ from civil society, including NGOs, think tanks and international organizations.

They have each been placed in to one of 75 councils dedicated⁷ to a specific issue, including food security, trade and even faith.

Over the course of the summit, each council will define its own priorities, then members from different groups will meet to find points of common interest.

By the end of the summit, all the suggestions will be used to formulate⁸ a final recommendation that will form the basis of discussions at World Economic Forum Davos in January.

 

1 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

4 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

5 malleability   

n.可锻性，可塑性，延展性

参考例句：

• A material's loss of malleability due to chemical treatment or physical change. 材料由于化学处理或物理变化丧失了柔韧性。
• Malleability is a physical property. 延展性是物质的一个物理特性。

6 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

7 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

8 formulate   

v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述

参考例句：

• He took care to formulate his reply very clearly.他字斟句酌，清楚地做了回答。
• I was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas.他陈述观点的方式让我印象深刻。