VOA标准英语2009-Trans-Asian Railway Would Improve Transport,

Asian nations have agreed to form a network of railroads that aims to connect 28 countries in the region to each other and Europe. The Trans-Asian Railway holds out the promise of improved trade, transport, and integration¹. But, forming the massive network is no small challenge.
　
South Korean visitors look at a map showing a proposed Asian railway routes during a Transport & Logistics Fair 2006 in Busan (File Photo - 10 Nov 2006)

The agreement to form a Trans-Asian Railway Network has been in the works since the 1960s, but was held up by wars and ideological² conflict.

The U.N.-sponsored agreement finally came into force Thursday, after the last of eight Asian nations, the minimum number required, signed on.

The agreement commits the countries to coordinate³ the development and operation of international rail routes that would eventually link 28 nations in the region.

Noeleen Heyzer is the executive secretary of the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Speaking at a ceremony in Bangkok marking the event, she said the rail network would help form the "backbone⁴" of regional trade.

"This would be a tremendous opportunity not just to improve the physical infrastructure⁵, but also the governance infrastructure, as well as the human capacity infrastructure of our region as we become a more coordinated⁶ Asia," said Heyzer.

The connecting rail arteries⁷ would span from Turkey to China to Singapore, and would open up land-locked nations and remote areas to development.

Heyzer said the timing⁸ of the agreement was particularly significant as Asia is looking to promote trade and investment to stimulate⁹ economic recovery.

The planned network would be made up of 114,000 kilometers of railway lines, linking stations designed as "dry" trading ports to coastal¹⁰ ports

But 8,300 kilometers of the rails have not been built and will cost an estimated $25 billion. Billions more will have to be spent on upgrading existing railroads.

Heyzer says the countries would also have to work out cross-border problems, including technical and legal standards and customs procedures.

But she held out hope they would only need a matter of years to sort out the problems, rather than the decades it took to agree to form the Trans-Asian Railway.

1 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。

2 ideological   

a.意识形态的

参考例句：

• He always tries to link his study with his ideological problems. 他总是把学习和自己的思想问题联系起来。
• He helped me enormously with advice on how to do ideological work. 他告诉我怎样做思想工作，对我有很大帮助。

3 coordinate   

adj.同等的，协调的；n.同等者；vt.协作，协调

参考例句：

• You must coordinate what you said with what you did.你必须使你的言行一致。
• Maybe we can coordinate the relation of them.或许我们可以调和他们之间的关系。

4 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

5 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。

6 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 arteries   

n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道

参考例句：

• Even grafting new blood vessels in place of the diseased coronary arteries has been tried. 甚至移植新血管代替不健康的冠状动脉的方法都已经试过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is the place where the three main arteries of West London traffic met. 这就是伦敦西部三条主要交通干线的交汇处。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

9 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

10 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。