Chavez's recovery sees progress, says Venezuelan VP

 　　CARACAS, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's Vice¹ President Nicolas Maduro Tuesday said President Hugo Chavez is making progress in recovering from his recent cancer surgery in Havana, Cuba.

　　"We can say that our commander is climbing the hill, he is advancing," Maduro told a gathering² of officials in the presidential palace, during the first meeting of the national government council for the 2013-2019 presidential term.

　　"Our commander is fighting a battle," said Maduro, adding aides were keeping the president abreast³ of events at home.

　　"We amply update him on how our country is changing, on the political forces, on the plans," he said.

　　Arriving from Cuba, Maduro confirmed that other senior officials accompanied him on the trip, including Adan Chavez, a governor and brother of Chavez, National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello, General Attorney Cilia Flores and Rafael Ramirez, Minister of Energy and Petroleum⁴.

　　Jorge Arreaza, Minister of Science and Technology and Chavez's son-in-law, stayed in Cuba, said Maduro.

　　In the absence of Chavez, Maduro is scheduled to present the executive branch's 2012 annual report later Tuesday.

　　Chavez, who was reelected in October, was unable to attend his inauguration⁵ on Jan. 10, leaving Maduro in charge of running the nation.

　　Chavez, 58, underwent his fourth cancer operation in December, then contracted a lung infection that has complicated his recovery.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 abreast   

adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地

参考例句：

• She kept abreast with the flood of communications that had poured in.她及时回复如雪片般飞来的大批信件。
• We can't keep abreast of the developing situation unless we study harder.我们如果不加强学习，就会跟不上形势。

4 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

5 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。