CCTV9英语新闻：Japan's PM addresses businessmen, economic officials

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has addressed the country's key business leaders and economic officials at a New Year gathering¹.

Abe stressed the importance of revitalizing the Japanese economy and he outlined the policies he hopes will achieve that goal. Statistics released in early December show Japan's economy shrank by 1.9 percent in the third quarter last year.  

This caught many economists² by surprise, as they thought the economy could recover sooner from the tax hike. Over a week ago, Japan approved a 3.5 trillion yen³, or 29 billion US dollar stimulus⁴ package, to spur consumption, as well as provide funds to ease the pain of inflation on businesses and consumers.

 

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has addressed the country's key business leaders and economic officials at a New Year gathering.

1 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。

2 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 yen   

n. 日元；热望

参考例句：

• He wanted to convert his dollars into Japanese yen.他想将美元换成日币。
• He has a yen to be alone in a boat.他渴望独自呆在一条船上。

4 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。