2006年VOA标准英语-G-20 Ministers Call for Global Trade Talks Resu

By Heda Bayron
Hong Kong
19 November 2006

Finance ministers and central bankers from 20 powerful economies meeting in Australia have urged an early resumption of stalled global trade talks and greater cooperation against illegal financing. 

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The Group of 20 wrapped up its annual meeting Sunday, warning of increased protectionism following the collapse¹ of World Trade Organization talks.

The latest series of WTO free-trade negotiations², known as the Doha round, stalled in July because of disagreements over how much developed countries should cut farm subsidies³.

In its final communique, the G-20 says a successful Doha round could speed global economic growth, and reduce financial instability and poverty.

The G-20 call for an early resumption of the talks echoed a declaration from leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific economies meeting in Hanoi.  

Police relax on the front line as protests fail to eventuate at the G-20 finance summit in Melbourne, 19 November 2006

Both G-20 and WTO meetings have attracted mass anti-globalization protests, which have often turned violent.

The annual G-20 meeting in Melbourne was no different, as protesters clashed with police. On Saturday, 10 police officers were injured and seven protesters arrested.

Christine Nixon, the police commissioner⁴ for Australia's Victoria State, says foreign activists⁵ suspected of instigating⁶ the attacks will be investigated.

"They are people who are well trained. What we saw was guerilla tactics and it required us to respond in similar ways," said Nixon.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard denounced the protests as "thuggish behavior."

The G-20 economies account for 90 percent of the world's gross domestic product. Members include the United States, the European Union, Japan, China, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.

Energy security, foreign exchange flexibility⁷ and reform of the International Monetary⁸ Fund and the World Bank were also on the agenda at the two-day meeting in Australia.

The delegates called for greater cooperation in fighting illicit⁹ financial activities, such as funding terrorism and money laundering¹⁰.

The G-20 ministers also condemned¹¹ last month's nuclear test by North Korea.

1 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 instigating   

v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Distant but clear Longyin instigating the eardrums of every person. 遥远却清晰的龙吟鼓动着每一个人的耳膜。 来自互联网
• The leader was charged with instigating the workers to put down tools. 那位领导人被指控煽动工人罢工。 来自互联网

7 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

8 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。

9 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

10 laundering   

n.洗涤（衣等），洗烫（衣等）；洗（钱）v.洗（衣服等），洗烫（衣服等）( launder的现在分词 )；洗（黑钱）（把非法收入改头换面，变为貌似合法的收入）

参考例句：

• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering. 洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was charged with laundering money. 他被指控洗钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。