EU pledges to strengthen business relations with ASEAN

 　　PHNOM PENH, April 1 (Xinhua) -- EU Trade Commissioner¹ Karel De Gucht pledged here Sunday to strengthen EU's business relations with ASEAN amid global financial crisis.

　　He told a press conference ahead of the 20th ASEAN Summit scheduled for Monday and Tuesday that the Second EU-ASEAN business summit just concluded here Sunday was "a true success."

　　The ASEAN countries are the EU's third largest trading partner outside Europe with annual bilateral² trade in goods and services reaching some 233.73 billion U.S.dollars, he noted³.

　　On the relations between Europe and ASEAN, the two important alliances in the world, he said, "Our futures⁴ are entwined."

　　On the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN-EU Economic meeting on Sunday, Karel De Gucht and Vietnamese Minister for Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang concluded a scoping paper that covered the topics to be included in their future trade negotiations⁵.

　　Last year, EU-Vietnam trade in goods was worth more than 24.04 billion dollars, with Vietnam having a trade surplus of 10.15 billion dollars.

　　Malaysia and Singapore are also expected to cut a deal with EU soon, said the commissioner, adding that this would send a very positive signal to all ASEAN members that partnering with Europe is the way forward.

　　On the current financial crisis in Europe, he said "Europe's economy has only been bruised⁶, not broken, so ASEAN governments, delegates and business people are right to be feeling the positivity."

　　He said that Europe remains⁷ very much open to business because uncertainty⁸ is being replaced by action and guarantees.

　　"So we have solid progress back in Europe and concrete results for EU-ASEAN co-operation here in Cambodia," he said.

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 bruised   

[医]青肿的，瘀紫的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• She had slipped and badly bruised her face. 她滑了一跤，摔得鼻青脸肿。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。