VOA标准英语2010-Leaders of India, Pakistan to Meet on Bhu

The Himalayan nation of Bhutan prepares for the 16th summit-level meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Thimphu, 24 Apr 2010

Government officials from India and Pakistan confirm their respective prime ministers will meet (Thursday) on the sidelines of a regional summit in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.

In his opening remarks, India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh avoided direct reference to the state of the relationship with neighbor Pakistan. But he expressed frustration¹ with the lack of cooperation among member nations during SAARC's quarter-century existence.

Mr. Singh warned that if the region does not become better connected and better educated, South Asia risks being marginalized and suffering from stagnation².

"The 21st century cannot be an Asian century unless South Asia marches ahead and marches ahead together," said Prime Minister Singh.

Pakistan's Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani also did not make direct reference to the tense Indo-Pakistani relationship. He did, however, in his speech to SAARC, call for forging a common front among all member countries to combat what he calls "the toxic³ brew⁴" of extremism and terrorism.

"It has roots in history, in economic neglect and injustice⁵. We need to join hands to fight it individually and collectively," said Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, expressed similar sentiments.

"We will not succeed in achieving this goal until all members of SAARC, without exception or reservation, commit not to allow their territories to be used directly or indirectly⁶ to shelter or train terrorist networks," Afghan President Hamid Karzai said.

Host Bhutan expressed frustration with SAARC's dearth⁷ of notable achievements. Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley blamed the lack of focus on quarrels among neighbors preventing the community from becoming prosperous.

The annual leaders' summit is frequently criticized as a talking shop that adopts ambitious declarations, which have failed to deliver anything substantive⁸ for the region's one-and-one-half billion people.
 

1 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

2 stagnation   

n. 停滞

参考例句：

• Poor economic policies led to a long period of stagnation and decline. 糟糕的经济政策道致了长时间的经济萧条和下滑。
• Motion is absolute while stagnation is relative. 运动是绝对的，而静止是相对的。

3 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

4 brew   

v.酿造，调制

参考例句：

• Let's brew up some more tea.咱们沏些茶吧。
• The policeman dispelled the crowd lest they should brew trouble.警察驱散人群，因恐他们酿祸。

5 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

6 indirectly   

adv.间接地，不直接了当地

参考例句：

• I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。
• They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人，他们进行了间接接触。

7 dearth   

n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨

参考例句：

• There is a dearth of good children's plays.目前缺少优秀的儿童剧。
• Many people in that country died because of dearth of food.那个国家有许多人因为缺少粮食而死。

8 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。