China assists Laos in post-flood reconstruction

 　　VIENTIANE, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government provided two million renminbi (about 320,000 U.S. dollars) worth of disaster relief materials to assist Lao victims of last year's flooding at a handover ceremony here on Friday.

　　"I, on behalf of the Chinese government, officially hands over this relief package to the Lao government to help people in disaster-affected villages throughout the country rebuild their homes," Chinese Ambassador to Laos Bu Jianguo said at the ceremony, which was attended by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense¹ Douangchay Phichit and other high level officials.

　　The Chinese government provided this grant assistance to the Lao government, representing the deepening friendship between the two countries and peoples, Bu added.

　　Lao Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Onechanh Thammavong said that last year Laos was hit by two severe tropical storms, Haima and Nock-Ten, which devastated² large parts of the country.

　　Onechanh spoke³ highly of the friendly relations between Laos and China, and expressed deep thanks to the Chinese government for this latest generous donation of building supplies and other equipment.

　　More than 430,000 people in 1,790 villages in Laos' 12 provinces suffered from the two tropical storms during the second half of 2011, with 42 people killed in the flooding, according to the Lao Ministry⁴ of Labour and Social, .

　　The overall economic losses were estimated at more than 200 million U.S. dollars, as some critical infrastructure⁵ including roads, bridges, schools and health facilities were all terribly damaged, along with people's houses, crops and livestock⁶.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 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。

6 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。