IMF chief calls for seizing "Washington moment"

 　　WASHINGTON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Policymakers in different countries should seize the moment to strengthen cooperation, bolster¹ global financial firewall and address key economic challenges, Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary² Fund (IMF), said here Thursday.

　　In recent months, important policy actions have been taken to confront the global economic challenges, Lagarde said at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, adding that "we have seen some improvement in the economic climate".

　　"Only a few months ago, we seemed to be staring into the abyss. More recently, some data have indicated that the United States may be beginning to turn the corner. Financial strains in Europe have eased somewhat since December," she said.

　　However, in a curtain-raising speech prior to the spring meetings of the IMF and its sister agency, the World Bank, scheduled for next week in Washington D.C., the IMF chief cautioned that risks still remained high and the global economic situation was fragile.

　　She warned against any complacency by stating that "let us make no mistake: the risks and the needs are still sizable, and it would be imprudent to think otherwise."

　　"The risk that looms³ largest is that sovereign and financial stresses return with renewed force in Europe," she cautioned.

　　Recent developments showed that markets remained volatile⁴ and that "turning the corner" was never easy, Lagarde stressed.

　　Global policymakers should deepen collaboration⁵ on next steps to keep the global economic crisis at bay and achieve more lasting⁶ growth, she suggested.

　　Europe must continue with their efforts to strengthen their financial firewall and restore market confidence. With today's dazzling array of instant interconnection, a stronger global firewall would help complete the "circle of protection" for every country, she noted⁷.

　　Lagarde reiterated⁸ the urgency of boosting the lending capacity of the IMF, adding "the Fund needs to be able to stand behind all its members and meet the needs of all those affected⁹ by the crisis. "

　　She expressed optimism about the proposal to replenish¹⁰ the IMF' s lending coffers, which has by far received a lukewarm response from the United States, its largest shareholder¹¹.

　　"I have been encouraged by the expressions of support by many of our member countries to increase our resources. I am hopeful that, during the upcoming spring meetings, we will make progress on this issue," Lagarde said.

　　Eurozone finance ministers announced last month that the 17 eurozone member countries have agreed to build an 800-billion-euro (about 1.1 trillion U.S. dollar) financial firewall against the current debt crisis.

　　Amid mounting worries over the two-year-old eurozone debt turmoil¹², the IMF announced earlier this year that it aimed to seek up to 500 billion U.S. dollars in additional lending resources to boost its firepower.

　　Eurozone countries have clinched¹³ the deal of providing about 150 billion euros in additional bilateral¹⁴ contributions to the IMF to step up its lending capacity, putting the ball back in the court of the United States and other member countries.

　　The former French finance minister coined the phrase " Washington moment" to highlight the importance of upcoming spring meetings which will draw central bankers, finance ministers and other experts to discuss key global economic issues and policy actions.

1 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

2 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

3 looms   

n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• All were busily engaged,men at their ploughs,women at their looms. 大家都很忙，男的耕田，女的织布。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The factory has twenty-five looms. 那家工厂有25台织布机。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

5 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

6 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

7 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。

8 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

9 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

10 replenish   

vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满

参考例句：

• I always replenish my food supply before it is depleted.我总是在我的食物吃完之前加以补充。
• We have to import an extra 4 million tons of wheat to replenish our reserves.我们不得不额外进口四百万吨小麦以补充我们的储备。

11 shareholder   

n.股东，股票持有人

参考例句：

• The account department have prepare a financial statement for the shareholder.财务部为股东准备了一份财务报表。
• A shareholder may transfer his shares in accordance with the law.股东持有的股份可以依法转让。

12 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

13 clinched   

v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• The two businessmen clinched the deal quickly. 两位生意人很快达成了协议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Evidently this information clinched the matter. 显然，这一消息使问题得以最终解决。 来自辞典例句

14 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。