(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Leaders of Southeast Asian nations are in Malaysia this weekend for talks on terrorism, territorial disputes and trade.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the main political and economic organization for that area. The leaders summit is their last meeting before the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community, or AEC, on December 31.
The AEC will be equivalent to the world's seventh-largest economy. It was set up to create a highly competitive single market and production area.
Organizers hope it will ease the movement of capital, goods, investment, services and skilled labor across ASEAN countries. The goal is to make the whole area more competitive and economically successful.
But, some business leaders have low expectations for the ASEAN summit. Anthony Nelson is a director at the US-ASEAN Business Council in Washington. He believes that security will be an important issue at the meetings, especially after the terrorist attacks in Paris last week.
"The November summit includes the East Asia Summit, which primarily focuses on political and security issues. So that's going to be a big part of what is actually going on around the summit. A lot of the work that business gets really involved in tends to happen around the ASEAN economic ministers' meeting in August."
But, the AEC may have only limited influence on business activity when it comes into being next year. Experts expect little to change at first because there is still much to be done.
"The ASEAN single window, which is a customs project, is still very much a work in progress. But beginning next year they will start limited trials with five of the 10 ASEAN countries. And there have been past mutual recognition agreements for credentials of skilled professionals. But there's still a lot of work to be done in terms of actually implementing those agreements."
Some critics say the AEC will mainly help businesses, not the majority of people in Southeast Asia.
Earlier this year, the ASEAN Civil Society Conference and ASEAN Peoples' Forum expressed concern about regional economic integration. In a statement, the group said such a move would mean unequal and unsustainable economic growth. This, it said, would result "in worsening poverty and inequalities of wealth."
Jerald Joseph is co-chair of the ASEAN Peoples' Forum. He says people crossing borders to find employment need more protections.
He said: "Cross-border migrant workers don't have the same level of protection or interest in the whole negotiation. So that's a little bit of a pity, a wasted chance, if it's not reflected in the coming document."
The 27th ASEAN Summit includes the organization's partners. Nations including China, India, Japan and the United States are to attend.
I'm Mario Ritter.
译文由可可原创,未经许可请勿转载 。
词汇学习
1.launch n.发射;发行
The launch of their new machines in this factory received much media coverage.
这个工厂投产的新机器广获传媒报道 。
2.competitive adj.竞争的,比赛的; (价格等)有竞争力的
The betting is that the experience will make Japan more competitive still.
这场经历很有可能使日本更具竞争力 。
3.primarily adv.首先;首要地
Investment remains tiny primarily because of the exorbitant cost of land.
投资仍然微乎其微,主要原因在于土地成本过高 。
4.mutual adj.共有的; 共同的
He left the company by mutual consent last September.
去年9月,经双方同意,他离开了公司 。
5.implement vt.实施,执行; 使生效
Leadership is about the ability to implement change.
领导才能就是要有实施变革的能力 。
6.reflect vt.反射,反照; 表达; 显示
Their success does not necessarily reflect a leftward shift in politics.
他们的成功并不一定表示政治气候转向亲左 。
内容解析
1.The AEC will be equivalent to the world's seventh-largest economy.
be equivalent to相等[当]于…,等(同)于,与… 等效
Boldness and arrogance will be equivalent to scholarship.
冒失和自大会等同于学识 。
2.The November summit includes the East Asia Summit, which primarily focuses on political and security issues.
focus on致力于; 使聚焦于
Their talks are expected to focus on arms control.
他们的会谈预计会集中讨论军备控制问题 。
3.The ASEAN single window, which is a customs project, is still very much a work in progress.
in progress进行中
Morning parade was in progress on the parade ground.
阅兵场正在进行早间检阅 。
4.But there's still a lot of work to be done in terms of actually implementing those agreements."
in terms of就…而言
There is a substantial payback in terms of employee and union relations.
雇员和工会关系大有改观 。
5.But, the AEC may have only limited influence on business activity when it comes into being next year.
come into being产生; 诞生
Magazines come into being to voice the new sentiments in the air.
鼓吹新风尚的刊物纷纷问世 。
参考翻译
本周末,东南亚国家领导人在马来西亚商讨恐怖主义、领土争端和贸易问题
。东南亚国家联盟(The Association of Southeast Asian Nations,简称ASEAN)是该地区主要的政治和经济组织
。本次领导人峰会是12月31日东盟经济共同体(ASEAN Economic Community,简称AEC)成立前的最后一次会议 。东盟经济共同体将会相当于世界第七大经济体
。成立该共同体是为了创造一个有着高度竞争力的单一市场和生产区域 。组织者希望它能缓解东盟各国资本、商品、投资、服务和熟练劳动力的流转
。其目标是让整个地区更具竞争力,并取得经济上的成功 。但是,一些企业领导人对东盟峰会期望值很低
。Anthony Nelson是位于华盛顿的美国-东盟商务理事会董事 。他认为,安全将成为这次会议上的重要议题,尤其是在上周巴黎发生恐怖袭击事件之后 。“十一月的峰会包括东亚峰会,主要集中在政治和安全方面
。因此这将会成为这次峰会的重要组成部分 。企业真正参与进来的诸多工作主要在8月份的东盟经济部长会议上 。”但是,东盟经济共同体在明年形成之时对商务活动的影响可能比较有限
。专家预计最初不会有什么变化,因为还有很多工作要做 。“东盟单一窗口很大程度上是仍在进展中的海关项目
。但是从明年起,他们将会在东盟10国中的5个国家中试点运行 。而且已经通过了技术专业人才证书的互认协议 。但是目前要实际执行这些协议仍然任重而道远 。”一些批评人士表示,东盟经济共同体将主要帮助企业,而不是东南亚的大多数人口
。今年早些时候,东盟民间团体会议暨东盟人民论坛表达了对区域经济一体化的担忧
。该组织在一份声明中表示,此举将意味着经济增长的不平等和不可持续 。这会导致贫困以及财富不平等现象的加剧 。Jerald Joseph是东盟人民论坛的联合主席
。他说,跨境求职的人们需要得到更多保护 。他说,“在整个谈判过程中,跨境移民未得到同等水平的保护,他们的利益未得到保障
。如果后续文件中未能反映这一点,就有点遗憾,是浪费机会 。”第27届东盟峰会的与会人员包括该组织的合作伙伴
。中国、印度、日本和美国等国家将会出席 。我是Mario Ritter
。