VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton Meets Indian Leaders in New Delhi

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other top Indian officials in New Delhi Monday, on a visit aimed cementing a growing U.S.-Indian strategic partnership¹. Clinton says she believes neighboring Pakistan has been making efforts combat terrorist elements on its soil.
　
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (R) talks to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in New Delhi, India, 20 Jul 2009

Clinton's India visit, which began late Friday in Mumbai, has been filled with reminders² of the Pakistani-based terrorist attacks on that city last November that killed 166 people and set back relations between the two South Asian powers.

The secretary stayed at one of two Mumbai hotels hit by the terrorists and attended a commemorative event there for the victims.

At a media event on the eve of her official meetings here, Clinton said she believes Pakistan has, in the recent months, been making real efforts to curb³ extremists that have been operating on its territory:

"In the past six months, in the course of working with the government of Pakistan, we believe that there is a commitment to fighting terrorism that permeates⁴ the entire government. And, that is what our expectation is as well. We expect it," said Clinton. "We talk about it all levels of our government, military, civilian⁵, intelligence. And I also have sent messages very directly to the Pakistani people that this is in the interests of Pakistan."

Clinton's assertion that the anti-terrorism commitment is government-wide in Islamabad came in response to a question about Pakistan's intelligence service, which has long been accused ties with Islamic extremists.

The secretary told Indian interviewers she expects to see tangible⁶ steps by Pakistani authorities in the coming days to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice. She says she would be concerned if this did not happen.

The secretary is spending the entire day Monday with Indian government officials, as well as the leader of the ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, and BJP opposition⁷ party leader Lal Krishna Advani.

The two sides are expected to establish a formal strategic dialogue headed by Clinton and Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna and to sign at least two agreements flowing from the 2005 Indo-American nuclear cooperation accord.

One would designate sites for American firms to build two nuclear power plants in India. The other would ensure that U.S. arms technology sold to India does not leak to third countries. This pact⁸ could open the way to a major sale of U.S. multi-role fighter jets to India.

1 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。

2 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 permeates   

弥漫( permeate的第三人称单数 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透

参考例句：

• Studies show that water vapor quickly permeates plastic packaging material. 研究证明水蒸汽能迅速渗入塑料封装材料。
• Democracy permeates the whole country. 民主主义（的思想）普及全国。

5 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。

6 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。

7 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。

8 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。