2007年VOA标准英语-APEC Ministers Push to Revive Stalled Global Tr

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Sydney
05 September 2007

Foreign and trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members are pushing for ways to revive stalled global trade talks. In a meeting ahead of the annual APEC summit, top trade officials and diplomats¹ also will discuss climate change, global financial markets and security. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports from Sydney where APEC officials are gathered.

Australian Trade Minister Warren Truss, front row right, and other participants to APEC ministerial meeting pose for an official photo session in Sydney, 05 Sep 2007

Trade in all forms will dominate talks by the trade and finance ministers at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum².

As the two-day meeting began in Sydney on Wednesday, outlined the agenda.

"We'll cover the multilateral trading system and contributions APEC can make to the successful conclusion of the WTO [World Trade Organization] Doha round. We'll also be looking at ways and means of promoting further regional economic integration³, structural⁴ reform and behind the border issues which impact on the costs and risks of competitiveness of doing business in our region and the sorts of things that inhibit⁵ our genuine market integration," said Truss.

Truss plans to talk to other officials about reviving the World Trade Organization talks, which have been stalled by differences over agricultural trade barriers and barriers on imports of manufactured goods.

He also says the delegates at the ministerial meeting will discuss the potential for a free trade zone for the 21 economies that make up APEC. The idea, which has been discussed for several years, has been slow to progress.

One of the main topics of this year's APEC meeting is how to deal with global warming, without reducing growth and development.

After their summit ends on Sunday, the leaders of the APEC members are expected to issue a joint⁶ statement calling for members to reduce carbon emissions⁷, which are thought to contribute to climate change.

The ministerial meeting will prepare that statement, and statements on other key issues, such as clean development.

"I think it's important that over the next few days we provide clear advice to our leaders on these key issues, that we develop an appropriate response to the matters of concern," added Truss. "It's also proposed to brief colleagues on preparations for the leaders meeting including some of the issues that will be on their agenda like climate change, energy security, clean development."

The trade minister says the gathered ministers also will discuss such issues as security, terrorism and recent financial market instability.

1 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》

2 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。

3 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

4 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

5 inhibit   

vt.阻止，妨碍，抑制

参考例句：

• Don't let ego and greed inhibit clear thinking and hard work.不要让自我和贪婪妨碍清晰的思维和刻苦的工作。
• They passed a law to inhibit people from parking in the street.他们通过一项法令以阻止人们在街上停车。

6 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

7 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。