VOA标准英语2011--China Wields Power as G20 Leaders Prepare for France

China Wields¹ Power as G20 Leaders Prepare for France

 

Leaders of the G20 group of industrialized nations will meet in France later this week - with the threat of another economic crisis still looming² over the world economy. The summit comes just days after European countries held an emergency meeting to try to save the euro currency.

The resort of Cannes is best known as a billionaire’s playground.

This week it’s austerity on the agenda, as G20 leaders gather here to discuss the dark shadows hanging over the world economy.

Twelve thousand French police will be backed by special forces and helicopter teams to keep the expected protesters at bay.

With the euro debt crisis still unresolved, there could be plenty of conflict within the summit, says Stephanie Rickard of the London School of Economics.

“This is the opportunity for the G20 partners to weigh in on how they feel about the eurozone debt deal," said Rickard. "I think behind closed doors there will be very frank, very difficult discussions about the actual details of the program. Where’s the money going to come from? How’s it going to work? Is it going to contain the crisis within the eurozone? In public, they are going to be very careful about presenting a unified³ front, they’re going to try to be as optimistic as they can so that they don’t sink the eurozone deal.”

French policemen check identity papers and cars in La Turbie, southeastern France, near the Franco-Italian border, in spite of the EU's passport-free zone Schengen, as security measures are taken ahead of the G20 Summit of Cannes, October 31, 2011.

European leaders agreed last week on a deal to try to stop the euro debt crisis spreading. Central to the plan is the beefing up of the EU’s bailout fund.

Europe is looking east to countries like China for help. It’s not yet clear if they will ride to Europe’s rescue, says Tobias Blattner of Daiwa Capital Markets.

“At the G20 summit what we are really looking out for is some kind of commitment and real figures coming from these countries, that they clearly state that they will give money in order to support the euro area. And that is the next event that markets are looking out for,” said Blattner.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Austria Monday before heading to Cannes.
The Chinese currency has long been a bone of contention⁴ at G20 summits.

Europe and the United States accuse Beijing of keeping the Yuan artificially low to aid exports.

“China’s in a very interesting position. China has some power potentially," added Stephanie Rickard of the London School of Economics. "They can provide the resources to help bailout the eurozone economies, but in return they’re going to be asking for some leniency⁵ on the currency issue and potentially more power at the international bargaining table.”

After the late night euphoria at the euro meeting last week, investors⁶ are now looking to the G20 for detail on who will pay what.

If that’s not forthcoming - analysts⁷ warn the chink of economic light emerging from Brussels will quickly be extinguished on the French Riviera.

1 wields   

手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的第三人称单数 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响）

参考例句：

• She wields enormous power within the party. 她操纵着党内大权。
• He remains chairman, but wields little power at the company. 他还是主席，但在公司没有什么实权了。

2 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

3 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

4 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。

5 leniency   

n.宽大（不严厉）

参考例句：

• udges are advised to show greater leniency towards first-time offenders.建议法官对初犯者宽大处理。
• Police offer leniency to criminals in return for information.警方给罪犯宽大处理以换取情报。

6 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。