2006年VOA标准英语-US-Arab Economic Forum Opens in Houston

By Greg Flakus
Houston, Texas
27 June 2006

Leaders and senior officials from numerous Arab nations are in Houston for the US-Arab Economic Forum¹, which runs there through Wednesday. Top executives from several large American corporations are also on hand, along with diplomats² and other U.S. government officials. 

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There are some 800 participants in this second US-Arab Economic Forum.  They are gathered at the convention center in downtown Houston to discuss everything from prospects³ for peace in the Middle East to the development of economic relations that go beyond oil and gas projects.

Karen Hughes at the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum in Houston, June 26, 2006  
  
State Department Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy⁴ and Public Affairs Karen Hughes spoke⁵ at one of the opening sessions, Monday.  She centered on how increased dialogue between the United States and Arab nations could help in the fight against those in the Arab world who advocate terrorism.

"Together, we must undermine the extremists by providing platforms for debate, by empowering mainstream⁶ voices of tolerance⁷ and inclusion and by demonstrating respect for Muslim cultures and contributions to our society and world society," Hughes said.

Ambassador Hughes said Arab-Americans can serve as a bridge between this country and the Arab world, to promote mutual⁸ understanding.

Ismael Ahmed at the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum in Houston, June 26, 2006   
  
One of the forum organizers, Ismael Ahmed, says that was a principle idea behind the forum, which started in Detroit three years ago. He says he and other Arab-Americans can help bridge the gap between the cultures, but that attitudes must change on both sides.

"We ask the Arab world to believe in us and support these efforts," he said. "We ask Arab-Americans not to give up the fight, to come together and try to change America and the way it looks at the Arab world."

One key issue at this meeting is economic development and the role it could play in advancing the economies of countries in the Middle East. A number of large oil companies are playing a prominent role here, but much of the focus is on developing economies in the Arab nations that go beyond energy. 

Abdullah Zainal Alireza at the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum in Houston, June 26, 2006  
  
Saudi Arabia's Minister of State, Abdullah Zainal Alireza, outlined plans for his nation to build a more diversified⁹ economy and to promote regional trade.

"One of our biggest problems in the Arab world has been that there is no intra-Arab trade and (we are) hoping that Saudi Arabia will act as the engine of growth for the whole of the Arab world, much as Germany did for Europe," Alireza said.

Arab-American leaders and the representatives of Arab countries here agree that both the United States and the Arab world would benefit from greater economic cooperation and trade.  But Arab-American relations have been strained since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Forum organizers say some 100 contracts, worth more than one trillion dollars, were awarded to foreign companies from the Arab world, last year, and only two went to American companies.

Organizers say they chose Houston for this forum because of its ties to the Middle East, through the energy industry, and because of the 65,000 Arab-Americans who live in the Houston area. They note that Houston's Arab community features a large number of professionals and successful entrepreneurs

1 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。

2 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

4 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

7 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

8 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。

9 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》