2006年VOA标准英语-Bush in Vietnam for APEC Summit

By Paula Wolfson
Hanoi
17 November 2006

U.S. President George W. Bush is escorted by Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Friday, November 17, 2006   
  
President Bush has arrived in Hanoi for talks with Vietnam's leaders prior to the Pacific Rim¹ economic summit. Mr. Bush is also meeting privately² with other participants in the APEC forum³, discussing such issues as North Korea, trade and the war in Iraq.

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Three decades after the end of the Vietnam War, a marching band and military units in formation welcomed the president of the United States to Vietnam.

It is a sign to the world, says Mr. Bush, that two countries can reconcile a troubled past.

"I guess my first reaction is, history has a long march to it, and that societies change, and relationships can constantly be altered to the good," he said.

Roughly six years after Bill Clinton became the first U.S. president since the war to visit Vietnam, George W. Bush arrived in Hanoi. Both men are part of the generation that fought in and against the Vietnam War. Neither served in combat, but their lives were touched by the conflict half a world away.

Speaking to reporters shortly after his arrival Friday, Mr. Bush reflected on his impressions of the Vietnamese capital.

"You know, Laura and I were talking about - we were talking about how amazing it is we're here in Vietnam," said Mr. Bush. "And one of the most poignant⁴ moments of the drive in was passing the lake where John McCain got pulled out of the lake."

John McCain, now a member of the U.S. Senate and a potential presidential candidate, was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. While here, Mr. Bush will meet with military teams searching for Americans still missing in action long after the end of hostilities⁵. But he will also look to the future, talking about trade and mutual⁶ security concerns.

The president was asked if there are any lessons from the Vietnam War that can be applied⁷ to the current conflict in Iraq. He pointed⁸ to Vietnam's emergence⁹ over decades from a nation scarred by bloodshed, to a country with one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

"One lesson is that we tend to want there to be instant success in the world, and the task in Iraq is going to take a while," he said.

Throughout his stay in Hanoi, Mr. Bush is meeting not only with Vietnamese officials, but also individually with other leaders of some of the 21 nations attending the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Saturday and Sunday.

 
U.S. President George W. Bush, left, looks towards Australia's Prime Minister John Howard as he makes a statement to reporters in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday, November 17, 2006
  
The first of these one-on-one talks occurred almost immediately after he landed in Vietnam. Over lunch with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Mr. Bush discussed the situation in Iraq.

The president said he wants all of America's coalition¹⁰ partners to know that the recent Democratic Party victory in U.S. Congressional elections does not mean there will be an abrupt¹¹ shift in U.S. policy.

"We'll succeed, unless we quit. The Maliki government is going to make it, unless the coalition leaves before they have a chance to make it," he added. "And that's why I assured the [Australian] prime minister we'll get the job done."

Mr. Howard has been a strong supporter of the war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq. Several hundred Australian troops serve with coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Bush noted¹² that his administration is currently reviewing the situation in Iraq, as is an independent panel authorized¹³ by Congress. He said he will share the results first with members of the Iraq coalition, including Prime Minister Howard.

1 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

2 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

3 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

4 poignant   

adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的

参考例句：

• His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
• It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。

5 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

6 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

7 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

8 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

9 emergence   

n.浮现，显现，出现，（植物）突出体

参考例句：

• The last decade saw the emergence of a dynamic economy.最近10年见证了经济增长的姿态。
• Language emerges and develops with the emergence and development of society.语言是随着社会的产生而产生，随着社会的发展而发展的。

10 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。

11 abrupt   

adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的

参考例句：

• The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
• His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。

12 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。

13 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。