2007年VOA标准英语-New Bhutanese King to Update Treaty With India

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
06 February 2007

 
Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam, center, then Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, right, as then Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck looks on,  in New Delhi (File photo - 26 July  2006)  
The new leader of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is making his first visit to neighbor India since assuming the throne. VOA's Steve Herman reports from New Delhi the monarch¹ is expected to sign a revised treaty that will give his nation more control over its foreign affairs and defense².

Bhutan's king, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk, arrives here Wednesday for a six-day official visit.

On the top of the agenda is a revision of the 57-year-old India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, which gives New Delhi control of its small neighbor's foreign policy. Among other things, the revision will allow the Buddhist³ kingdom to import non-lethal military equipment from countries other than India.

The treaty dates from a time when Bhutan was almost entirely⁴ dependent on India.

The director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Dipankar Banerjee, sees little practical change occurring after the revision because India has avoided dictating⁵ foreign policy to Bhutan.

"Therefore Bhutan pursued its own national interests as it perceived. It carried out a 
Maj. General (Ret.) Dipankar Banerjee
dialogue with China resolving its outstanding issues with that country on the border, [and] did not establish diplomatic relations, [or] opening up trade routes, et cetera, considering India's sensitivities on those issues," he said.

But he predicts that as India's ties with China mature, Bhutan will be able to establish closer relations with its giant neighbor to the north.

The treaty revision was discussed in detail during a visit last year by then-king Jigme Singye Wangchuk. In December he handed over control of the kingdom to his 27-year-old son.

Bhutan, which just decades ago had virtually no infrastructure⁶ or contact with the outside world, is preparing its first constitution to pave the way for national elections next year. The monarchy⁷ plans to transform Bhutan into a British-style parliamentary democracy. 

Bhutan remains⁸ important to India as the mountainous land-locked kingdom provides hydropower to its huge and booming neighbor, which faces serious electricity shortages.

 Banerjee, at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, says the economic relationship is likely to remain significant for decades.

"This generation of hydropower and the supply of that to India is a relationship that will last for 50 years, if not more," he added.

Nearly half of Bhutan's revenue is estimated to come from energy sales to India.

1 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 dictating   

v.大声讲或读( dictate的现在分词 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• The manager was dictating a letter to the secretary. 经理在向秘书口授信稿。 来自辞典例句
• Her face is impassive as she listens to Miller dictating the warrant for her arrest. 她毫无表情地在听米勒口述拘留她的证书。 来自辞典例句

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

7 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。