VOA标准英语2009-World Bank Raises Economic Forecast for Chin

The World Bank says China's economy will grow faster than expected this year, but cautions it is too soon to say a sustained recovery is imminent¹.

The World Bank raised its estimate of China's gross domestic product growth this year to 7.2 percent, up from the 6.5 percent projected in March.

Jumpstart
　
A crane hoists² construction material in front of a backdrop of high rising buildings, Wednesday in Shanghai, China, 17 Jun 2009

In its quarterly report released Thursday, the Washington-based lender credits China's $586 billion stimulus³ program with supporting growth by increasing investment in factories, real estate and public works.

Jing Ulrich, the managing director and chairman of China equities⁴ for the investment bank JP Morgan in Hong Kong, says the stimulus program helped jumpstart the world's third-largest economy.

"Now, going forward, the most important thing to watch out for is whether the Chinese domestic consumption can hold up in the face of declining exports," she said. "We think domestic consumption is going to recover incrementally⁵ in the next few quarters, mainly because confidence is recovering very strongly in the Chinese economy."

Strong growth

China's economy grew 6.1 percent in the first quarter from the same time last year. That is the strongest rate of any major country, but below the government's 2009 target of 8 percent and far from 2007's explosive 13 percent.

However, the World Bank cautions that more robust⁶ growth in China will have to wait until the global economy and demand for exports also rebound⁷. It says China's trade and private investment will remain weak and consumption will slow.

Ulrich says as the world economy recovers, China's exports also will recover.

"Clearly, that's the case. China is the second-largest exporter in the world and what happens in the regional economies, what's happening in the U.S. and Europe really matter a great deal to the Chinese economy," she added. "However, we also must keep in mind, the Chinese economy is fast. It's got 1.3 billion people. Domestic consumption and domestic fixed-asset investments are becoming much more important going forward."

The World Bank predicts China's growth in 2010 will rise to 7.7 percent.

1 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

2 hoists   

把…吊起，升起( hoist的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Mine hoists are usually operated by the counterbalance of an ascending and a descending car. 矿井升降机通常用一个升车一个落车互相平衡的方法进行操作。
• Sam understands tacitly. He hoists his cup saying. 山姆心领神会，举起酒杯。

3 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

4 equities   

普通股，股票

参考例句：

• These are invested mainly in the OECD bonds and equities. 这些资产主要投资于经济合作及发展组织的债券与股票市场。
• They are also advantage of the global rebound in equities. 它们还在利用全球股市反弹的机会。

5 incrementally   

adv.逐渐地

参考例句：

• Incrementally update the shared dimensions used in this cube. 增量更新此多维数据集中使用的共享维度。 来自互联网
• Grand goals are inspiring, but be sure to approach them incrementally. 辉煌的目标令人鼓舞，但一定要逐步实现。 来自互联网

6 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

7 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。