2006年VOA标准英语-US Vice President Cheney Notes Growing US-India

By Michael Bowman
Washington
22 June 2006

U.S. Vice¹ President Dick Cheney has hailed the growing partnership² between the United States and India, saying the two countries share common goals, from the fight against terrorism to the expansion of trade. Cheney addressed a bilateral³ business council Thursday.

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Dick Cheney  
  
He said the United States and India are committed to combating terrorism, and agree on the best long term approach for doing so.

"The United States and India strongly support the advance of democratic values as the surest way to long term security and peace," the vice president said.

Cheney was speaking at the 31st anniversary leadership summit of the U.S.-India Business Council at the Washington headquarters of the U.S. Chamber⁴ of Commerce.

He said trade between the two nations has expanded dramatically in recent years, as India has moved to open its economy to foreign trade and investment.

"The U.S. is India's largest trade partner, and we intend to remain so. Many billions of dollars in goods and services flow between the two countries. By itself, India has a middle class of more than 300 million people, more than the entire population of the United States. India is one of the fastest growing markets for American goods and services, and in fact our exports to India grew by more than 30 percent last year alone," he said.

At the same time, the vice president called on India to reduce tariffs⁵ on foreign goods and to boost protection for intellectual property.

He noted⁶ that many U.S. companies have moved operations overseas to nations like India, leading to what is termed the "outsourcing" of American jobs. Cheney said such job losses lead some in the United States to call for protectionist measures, but asserted that erecting⁷ barriers to protect jobs is counterproductive. He said the United States must preserve and strengthen its entrepreneurial spirit so that new jobs are created to replace jobs lost overseas.

Turning to energy matters, the vice president hailed an agreement between Washington and New Delhi on nuclear power. The pact⁸, which has yet to be ratified⁹ by the U.S. Congress, would give India access to U.S. civil nuclear technology, while India would open its nuclear power facilities to international inspection¹⁰.

"Given the forecast for India's increased energy needs in the future, diversifying¹¹ India's sources of energy is important in relation to the world energy market and to U.S. energy prices. And as the United States begins a serious effort to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, it makes sense to encourage others to do the same. And to do so without slowing modernization¹², sacrificing economic growth, or bringing needless harm to the environment," he said.

Relations between the United States and India were cool for much of the Cold War, but have warmed considerably¹³ in recent years. Some analysts¹⁴ say India's growing economic and diplomatic clout¹⁵ could serve as a counterweight to the influence of another emerging power: China.

Vice President Cheney said U.S.-Indian ties go beyond trade, energy, and international politics. He said a human connection exists as well, noting that 80,000 Indians attend school in the United States and more than two million people of Indian origin call America home

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 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

3 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。

6 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。

7 erecting   

v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立

参考例句：

• Nations can restrict their foreign trade by erecting barriers to exports as well as imports. 象设置进口壁垒那样，各国可以通过设置出口壁垒来限制对外贸易。 来自辞典例句
• Could you tell me the specific lift-slab procedure for erecting buildings? 能否告之用升板法安装楼房的具体程序？ 来自互联网

8 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

9 ratified   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
• The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。

10 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

11 diversifying   

v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的现在分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• Some publishers are now diversifying into software. 有些出版社目前正兼营软件。 来自辞典例句
• Silverlit is diversifying into new markets, such as Russia and Eastern Europe. Silverlit正在使他们的市场变得多样化，开发新的市场如俄罗斯和东欧国家。 来自互联网

12 modernization   

n.现代化，现代化的事物

参考例句：

• This will help us achieve modernization.这有助于我们实现现代化。
• The Chinese people are sure to realize the modernization of their country.中国人民必将实现国家现代化。

13 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

14 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。

15 clout   

n.用手猛击；权力，影响力

参考例句：

• The queen may have privilege but she has no real political clout.女王有特权，但无真正的政治影响力。
• He gave the little boy a clout on the head.他在那小男孩的头部打了一下。