India's PM-Designate Pledges Balance between Reform and Deve

 

Anjana Pasricha

India's prime minister-designate Manmohan Singh is promising² to balance economic reforms with development for the poverty-stricken. He also says he will continue the peace process with nuclear-rival Pakistan and seek harmony between India's religious communities.

A day after being named India's next prime minister, Manmohan Singh, says he will seek the "most friendly relations with our neighbors, more so with Pakistan than any other."

"It is not impossible. Who could have imagined some 15 years ago that the Berlin Wall would melt? Then the world saw what was impossible in international politics became a norm," he said. "It will be our effort, without sacrificing our national security imperatives⁴, to create an environment to move forward."

The previous Hindu nationalist government had made great strides in the last year to improve relations with nuclear-rival Pakistan, with which India has fought three wars in five decades. In addition to continuing peace initiatives, Mr. Singh says his government will broaden the current economic development to raise living standards for farmers and other poorer segments of society through new investment in rural roads, schools and power supplies.

Mr. Singh's Congress Party scored a surprise victory in parliamentary elections despite the outgoing Hindu nationalists' government's strong economic record. Analysts⁵ say the Congress Party won because the current policies did not benefit the country's poorer people.

But Mr. Singh, the key figure in opening up India's once-closed socialist⁶ economy while finance minister in 1991, also promised to continue investor-friendly policies that have spurred India's economic growth in recent years.

He told reporters he does not believe the Congress Party's close alliance with leftist parties, particularly the Communists, is an obstacle to furthering pro¹ business and investment policies.

"I do not see any problems in working out a program, which is forward-looking, which is progressive, which is growth oriented, which provides ample opportunities for the growth of enterprise, both domestic and foreign," he said.

Mr. Singh, who will be India's first Sikh prime minister in the predominantly Hindu nation, also pledged that his government would ensure harmony between India's religious communities. Mr. Singh was designated India's prime minister late Wednesday, after congress party leader Sonia Gandhi turned down the job. After resolving the leadership issue, the Congress Party is now in talks with allies to finalize⁷ the shape of the coalition⁸ government.

注释：
prime minister-designate 新任总理
poverty-stricken adj. 为贫穷所困恼的
Pakistan [7pB:kis5tB:n] n. 巴基斯坦（南亚国家）
harmony [5hB:mEni] n. 协调，融洽
religious [ri5lidVEs] adj. 宗教上的
Berlin Wall 柏林围墙，环绕西柏林的一道围墙。
melt [melt] v. 拆除，倒塌
norm [nC:m] n. 标准，规范
sacrifice [5sAkrifais] v. 牺牲
security [si5kjuEriti] n. 安全
imperative³ [im5perEtiv] n. 需要
previous [5pri:vjEs] adj. 在前的，早先的
Hindu nationalist government 印度民族主义政府
strides [straid] n. 大的步伐，步幅
initiative [i5niFiEtiv] n. 主动精神
segment [5se^mEnt] n. 地方，部分
rural [5rJEr(E)l] adj. 乡下的，农村的
Congress Party （印度）国大党
parliamentary [7pB:lE5mentEri] adj. 议会的
spur [spE:] v. 激起，刺激
leftist parties （印度）左翼政党
Communist [5kCmjunist] n. 共产主义者
pro [prEu] adv. 正面地
work out 可以解决，设计出
domestic [dE5mestik] adj. 国内的
Sikh [si:k] n. 印度锡克教徒
predominantly [pri5dCmineitli] adv. 占优势地
finalize [5fainElaiz] v. 把……最后定下来
coalition government  联合政府

 

1 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

2 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

3 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

4 imperatives   

n.必要的事( imperative的名词复数 )；祈使语气；必须履行的责任

参考例句：

• Nixon, however, had other imperatives. 但尼克松另有需要。 来自辞典例句
• There could be some cultural imperatives in there somewhere! 在公共传播那里，在某些方面，可能有更迫切的文化需要！ 来自互联网

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

7 finalize   

v.落实，定下来

参考例句：

• Let us finalize tonight.让我们今天晚上干完
• 。At the same time,industrial designers work with engineers to finalize components and assembly.同时，工业设计师和工程师一道来完成部件和组装部分的工作。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。