VOA标准英语2010年-Turkish President Wraps Up Successful

Several accords signed to boost relations between Turkey and Cameroon

Ntaryike Devine, Jr. | Yaounde, Cameroon 17 March 2010

It was the first trip to Africa for the Turkish president, who arrived in Cameroon yesterday accompanied by 120 businessmen, government ministers, members of parliament and journalists.

President Abdullah Gul returns home after signing bilateral¹ agreements with his Cameroonian host, President Paul Biya.  They include promises to cooperate more closely in agriculture and to permit visa exemptions² for Cameroonians holding diplomatic and service passports. 

He also attended a business forum³ attended by hundreds of Turkish and Cameroonian businessmen, held to encourage trade and investment ventures.

The Turkish Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research says the government expanded its diplomacy⁴ in Africa five years ago in an effort to increase trade and recruit new allies in international diplomacy.

Turkey is an important trading partner for Africa.  It is the 15th most developed country in the world and is strategically located between Europe and Asia.  Like most African countries, Turkey is a member of the United Nations and the Islamic Conference.

Speaking through an interpreter at a dinner toast in Yaounde, President Gul said his country shall pursue with determination the fight against racism⁵, intolerance and xenophobia. He said Turkey intends to bring in wealth, deepen and diversify⁶ relations with Africa in the areas of economic cooperation, health, education, rural development, and energy as well as other issues.  He says both Africa and Turkey will benefit.

Turkey established official relations with Cameroon 50 years ago.  Until now they have not been close, although Turkey buys Cameroonian timber, crude oil and aluminum⁷.  Cameroon’s imports from Turkey include cement, iron ore,  metals, tires, fertilizers, textiles and bakery equipment.

President Paul Biya says the current volume of trade is far below existing potential.  He says all that is about to give way to flourishing trading links between both countries.

Mr. Biya says Turkish businessmen should take advantage of Cameroon’s strategic location and political stability in the Gulf⁸ of Guinea, as well as reduced delays in the creation and costs of setting up companies. He says huge investment opportunities exist in a number of sectors⁹, including agriculture, food processing, textiles, tourism, infrastructure¹⁰ and real estate.

Turkey so far has 12 embassies in Africa and plans to open nine more in the years ahead. 

The country’s increased interest in Africa comes on the heels of increased competition from Chinese, European and American investors¹¹.

 

1 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

2 exemptions   

n.（义务等的）免除( exemption的名词复数 )；免（税）；（收入中的）免税额

参考例句：

• The exemptions for interpretive rules, policy statements, and procedural rules have just been discussed. 有关解释性规则、政策说明和程序规则的免责我们刚刚讨论过。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• A: The regulation outlines specific exemptions for some WPM. 答：该规定概述了某些木质包装材料的特定的例外情形。 来自互联网

3 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。

4 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

5 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

6 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。

7 aluminum   

n.(aluminium)铝

参考例句：

• The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
• During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段，它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。

8 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

9 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

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 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会