VOA标准英语2012--India, Pakistan Take Steps to Boost Trade

India, Pakistan Take Steps to Boost Trade

It is music to the ears of merchants on either side of the India-Pakistan border.

Top trade officials from both countries cut the ribbon recently on the four-day “Lifestyle Pakistan” trade fair in New Delhi - bringing, in their words, a who's who of hundreds of Pakistan's top exporters to town.

Indians - never shy about shopping - are relishing¹ the opportunity to purchase Pakistani textiles.

"Actually the patterns are lovely, the vibrant² colors, especially the flow and the texture³, they are really different from what we get normally in Delhi," said Sonal, an Indian shopper.

While the expo is mainly driven by clothing, other products like furniture, jewelry⁴, and sculpted⁵ onyx chess sets also are available at a discount.

The deadly 2008 terror attacks that killed 166 people in Mumbai brought India-Pakistan dialogue to a screeching⁶ halt. India blames Pakistan for the attacks, and still demands justice, but much has changed since then.

Both sides have come to view trade as an important vehicle for people-to-people contact. 

Hanah Khan, a clothing merchant, might never have gotten permission to visit the Indian capital if not for the expo.

"I always wanted to come to India. This is just home. It's home. I want to eat. I want to shop at these typical Indian bazaars⁷ and just go around everywhere," she said.

Issues like the ongoing⁸ dispute over Kashmir have gridlocked Indo-Pakistani relations for decades. But Indian shoppers like Inderpal Singh say a more practical strain of society just wants the two countries to interact normally.

"If you ask any common man walking on the street, he has got no animosity with Pakistan. Everybody wants cricket to start up. Everybody wants trade to start up. It is better for both the countries," said Singh.

Pakistani clothing trader Huzaifa Gisa Bhai said both sides have a lot to gain.

"If the trade gets easier, then the volumes of the business can get big. And both ways, if it opens in Pakistan also and in India also, both can prosper⁹. We have good opportunities. In both countries we have opportunities," said Bhai.

India and Pakistan have promised to nearly triple their trade volume to $6 billion over the next three years. To accomplish that there will have to be looser visa requirements, fewer trade restrictions¹⁰, and smoother banking¹¹ mechanisms¹² for two currencies that are not mutually convertible¹³.

1 relishing   

v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望

参考例句：

• He ate quietly, relishing his meal. 他安静地吃着，细细品味着食物。 来自辞典例句
• Yes, an iron rampart," he repeated, relishing his phrase. 是的，就是铜墙铁壁，"他很欣赏自己用的这个字眼，又重复了一遍。 来自飘（部分）

2 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

3 texture   

n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理

参考例句：

• We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。
• Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。

4 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

5 sculpted   

adj.经雕塑的

参考例句：

• a display of animals sculpted in ice 冰雕动物展
• The ladies had their hair sculpted by the leading coiffeur of the day. 女士们的发型都是当代有名的理发师做的。

6 screeching   

v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫

参考例句：

• Monkeys were screeching in the trees. 猴子在树上吱吱地叫着。
• the unedifying sight of the two party leaders screeching at each other 两党党魁狺狺对吠的讨厌情景

7 bazaars   

（东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场

参考例句：

• When the sky chooses, glory can rain into the Chandrapore bazaars. 如果天公有意，昌德拉卜的集市也会大放光彩。
• He visited the shops and bazaars. 他视察起各色铺子和市场来。

8 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

9 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。

10 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

11 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

12 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 convertible   

adj.可改变的，可交换，同意义的；n.有活动摺篷的汽车

参考例句：

• The convertible sofa means that the apartment can sleep four.有了这张折叠沙发，公寓里可以睡下4个人。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了。