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Japan is telling the world's most industrialized nations that urgent action is needed on global climate change and development assistance for impoverished¹ nations. Senior officials from advanced industrial nations are gathering² in northern Japan for what is seen as a preview of a major summit this July.

日本对世界工业最发达的国家说，需要在全球气候变化和对贫穷国家进行开发援助方面采取紧急行动。来自先进工业国家的高级官员正聚集日本北部就今年7月召开的一次主要峰会召开预备会议。韩国也派特使参加了这次会议。

Development ministers from the world's richest nations are putting their heads together on some of the global economy's most urgent issues.

来自世界最富裕国家的开发部长们正在商讨一些全球经济最紧迫的问题。

Japan is hosting the meeting of delegates from the so-called G8, or group of eight industrialized nations. They include Britain, Italy, Canada, the United States, France, Russia, Germany and host, Japan. Delegates from major emerging industrial powerhouses, such as China, India, Brazil and South Korea are also attending.

日本主持了八国集团代表会议。八国集团也称为八个工业化国家集团，包括英国、意大利、加拿大、美国、法国、俄罗斯、德国和东道国日本。来自正在崛起的工业化大国中国、印度、巴西和韩国等也参加了这次会议。

The talks are seen as a prelude³ to a summit conference scheduled for July. Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda attended Saturday's session, and called for immediate⁴ steps on global climate change.

这次会谈被看作是计划于7月召开的八国集团峰会的一次预备会。日本首相福田康夫出席了星期六的会议，他呼吁对全球气候变化采取紧急步骤。

Mr. Fukuda says everyone, not just government and industry, needs to participate in the fight against global warming.

福田康夫说，不仅仅是政府和企业，每个人都需要参与阻止全球变暖的战斗。

The Japanese prime minister said a major "overhaul⁵" of modern lifestyles is the only way to reduce gas emissions⁶ from the consumption of carbon-based fuels.

福田康夫说，“彻底改变”现代生活方式是减少碳基燃料消费所产生的温室气体排放的唯一途径。

Besides global warming, envoys⁷ are focusing on issues of urgently needed aid and investment for the world's poorest nations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Advocacy groups say richer nations have failed to uphold promises of aid to Africa, and that the continent is suffering from a severe shortage of basic infrastructure⁸.

除了全球变暖问题之外，与会代表还把讨论的重点放在急需援助和向世界最贫穷的国家投资的问题上，尤其是在撒哈拉沙漠以南的非洲国家。一些倡议组织说，由于富国未能兑现向非洲国家的援助承诺，非洲大陆正在遭受基础设施严重短缺的痛苦。

The Paris-based Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development says Japan, until recently the world's top donor⁹ of international aid, slipped last year to fifth place. Overall, the OECD says foreign aid from the 22 major donor countries it measures dropped more than eight percent in 2007, to about $103 billion.

总部设在巴黎的经济合作与开发组织表示，不久前一直是全世界国际援助最大捐赠国的日本，去年的国际援助跌入第五位，经济开发与合作组织表示，总的来说，根据这个组织对来自世界22个主要捐赠国的外援统计数字，2007年下降幅度超过8%，只有大约1千零30亿美元。

Japanese officials say they will lead the way in introducing more robust¹⁰ and transparent¹¹ aid policies. The G8 meeting wraps up Sunday. Heads of government from G8 nations will gather in northern Japan in July.

日本官员表示，日本将带头采取更强有力和更透明的援助政策。这次八国峰会预备会议于星期天结束。八国集团的政府首脑们将于7月汇聚日本北部举行八国峰会。