2006年VOA标准英语-India, Brazil and South Africa Boost Cooperatio

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
17 September 2006 

Forum1 Trilateral Commission meet at Itamaraty palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil" src="/upimg/allimg/070419/1120240.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> India, Brazil and South Africa Dialogue Forum Trilateral Commission meet at Itamaraty palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (File photo - March 30, 2006)

India, Brazil and South Africa have taken steps to increase trade between their emerging economies.

For decades, India, Brazil, and South Africa had little to do with each other economically.

The three countries, which have emerged as economic and political leaders in the developing world, set out to change their relationship in 2003.

They launched an initiative known as the India, Brazil and South Africa Dialogue Forum to promote the interests of their rapidly growing economies. As part of that effort, they held their first summit recently in Brazil, where agreements to boost cooperation in trade, technology and politics were signed.

India wants to use South Africa as a gateway² to trade with the rest of Africa, and Brazil as a route to other Latin American nations. South Africa and Brazil in turn hope to gain entry into South Asia through India.

Members of the large business delegation³ that accompanied Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the summit say India's potential for enhancing trade in Africa and Latin America is vast.

"The Indian industry is raring to go into African nations, as well as Latin American nations," said Shipra Tripathi, a Director at the Confederation of Indian Industry in New Delhi. "The Indian industry is looking at large number of sectors⁴ for participation⁵, starting from agriculture, agro-processing, small and medium industries in all the sectors, engineering, research and development, as well as in adding value to natural resources in Africa."

As the three countries' growing economies guzzle⁶ more fuel, the leaders agreed to cooperate on developing alternative sources of energy. India has offered to share wind and solar power technologies, while Brazil says it can help India and South Africa develop ethanol, which it produces in large quantities from sugar cane⁷.

Three-way trade between India, Brazil and South Africa currently totals about $8 billion. The leaders plan to increase that to $10 billion by 2007.

Two-way trade between India and South Africa has jumped by 150 percent in four years to $4 billion last year. Trade between India and Brazil is also up, from $400 million in 1999 to more than $2 billion in 2005.

The three nations are also exploring the possibility of establishing a free-trade agreement that they hope will eventually cover the continents they represent.

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 gateway   

n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法

参考例句：

• Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
• A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。

3 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

4 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

6 guzzle   

v.狂饮，暴食

参考例句：

• Melissa had guzzled gin and tonics like they were lemonade.梅利莎像喝柠檬汽水一样大口地喝着加奎宁水的杜松子酒。
• Pigs guzzle their food.猪总是狼吞虎咽地吃东西。

7 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。