VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton Begins Asian Trip With Stop in Japan

Hillary Clinton is in Tokyo on the first stop of her First overseas trip as U.S. Secretary of State. The visit is to focus on the global economic crisis and Asian security hot spots. Clinton will also visit Indonesia, South Korea and China.
　
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Tokyo, 16 Feb 2009

Underscoring the importance of Asia to the United States in the new century, Hillary Clinton is breaking with tradition as new secretaries of state often first visit Europe or the Middle East.

It is no accident Japan is the first stop in Asia. The United States and Japan, which were bitter enemies in World War II, have since enjoyed decades as critical trading partners and allies on the security front.

Both governments have confirmed that besides the ailing¹ global economy, a number of security issues are on the agenda.

Clinton is to meet with her Japanese counterpart and Prime Minister Taro² Aso, whose popularity has plunged³. She is also meeting the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, Ichiro Ozawa, who could become prime minister if the largest opposition⁴ party comes to power in this year's national election.

Japan is eager to see North Korea brought back to the six-way talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear proliferation.
　
Tomohiko Taniguchi

Former spokesman and current advisor⁵ Tomohiko Taniguchi at Japan's Foreign Ministry⁶ tells VOA News that Tokyo strongly desires a revival⁷ of the negotiations⁸ to end the military threat to Japan posed by North Korea.

"It has to be revitalized. Mrs. Clinton is going to talk with the Japanese government, South Korean government and then Beijing government to consolidate⁹ their positions," Taniguchi said.

During the now-stalled talks, North Korea had agreed to end its nuclear programs in exchange for assistance to its crippled economy.

Just prior to the former First Lady's arrival, as North Korea celebrated¹⁰ the 67th birthday of leader Kim Jong Il, Pyongyang strongly hinted it is preparing for another controversial test-firing of its longest-range missile.

Some Japanese are anxiously looking for signals from the Obama Administration on whether it will maintain its strong ties with Tokyo in an era when China is quickly rising in the geo-political and economic arenas¹¹.

Advisor Taniguchi at Japan's Foreign Ministry says his country hopes Clinton's trip results in a closer partnership¹² between Washington and Beijing, but not at the expense of the special U.S.-Japan relationship.

"Partner, yes. But ally or trusted friend, definitely no," he said. "In order to deal with the important partner you have to first cement the friendship with your trusted friend."

Speaking to reporters over the Pacific en route to Asia, Secretary of State Clinton said her talks in China would have a broad agenda, including how to work together on economic policies, responding to climate change and stopping nuclear proliferation, as well as the always thorny¹³ topic of human rights.

1 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

2 taro   

n.芋，芋头

参考例句：

• Main grain crop has taro,corn,banana to wait.主要粮食作物有芋头、玉米、芭蕉等。
• You celebrate your birthday with taro,red bean and butter.用红豆、芋头和黄油给自己过生日。

3 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 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。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

8 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。

9 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

10 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

11 arenas   

表演场地( arena的名词复数 )； 竞技场； 活动或斗争的场所或场面； 圆形运动场

参考例句：

• Demolition derbies are large-scale automobile rodeos that take place in big arenas. 撞车比赛指的是在很大的竞技场上举行的大型汽车驾驶技术表演。
• Are there areas of privacy in the most public of arenas? 在绝大部分公开的场合中存在需要保护隐私的领域吗？

12 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。

13 thorny   

adj.多刺的，棘手的

参考例句：

• The young captain is pondering over a thorny problem.年轻的上尉正在思考一个棘手的问题。
• The boys argued over the thorny points in the lesson.孩子们辩论功课中的难点。