(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is In The News.
This weekend, President Barack Obama is set to make his second trip to India since taking office. The president will attend India's Republic Day celebrations on Monday. The event includes a military parade and a public showing of Indian weaponry. Experts say the parade may be symbolic of Mr. Obama's visit.
The American leader is to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They are expected to discuss increasing defense and security ties between the two countries.
Defense and trade cooperation between the two has been increasing in recent years. In 2013, the United States overtook Russia as the largest arms supplier to India, which has spent billions of dollars to modernize its armed forces. India takes part in more joint military exercises with U.S. forces than any other country.
Some observers say Mr. Modi wants to build an even stronger relationship with the United States. C. Raja Mohan works at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. He expects the two sides to begin work on what he calls "a genuine strategic partnership" with far-reaching agreements.
"You have now a government here in Delhi that is prepared to walk the full distance with the U.S., and the U.S., too, I think, has sensed the new opportunity in India."
During Mr. Obama's visit, Indian and U.S. officials are expected to re-state support for a defense cooperation agreement that ends this June. They have also been working to finalize agreements that could lead to U.S. companies producing some military equipment in India.
The Indian government wants American companies to produce more weapons at home under what are known as technology transfer agreements. But that would not be easy. The United States has many rules on limiting movement of sensitive technology.
Bharat Karnad is a security expert at New Delhi's Center for Policy Research. He does not expect major outcomes from Mr. Obama's visit. He thinks India will not be satisfied with what the U.S. offers on technology transfers of military equipment.
"As I see it, it is going to be more platitudes, more instruments being created, more committees being set up, but nothing really there on the ground, in terms of both countries being satisfied with something substantive and hefty."
Experts say it will take time for the two countries to build trust in some areas. But they are moving closer because of security issues.
Chintamani Mahapatra is with New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. He says both sides are concerned about signs of a more aggressive China and possible unrest in Afghanistan after withdrawal of Western troops.
"Indians and Americans have been quarrelling over economic issues, IPR (intellectual property rights) issues, dumping issues, etc., etc., and, of course, on critical areas of foreign affairs, like Pakistan and Iran and China, the two countries do not agree 100 percent. But in matters of defense and security cooperation, there is hardly any dispute. The idea is to have a good, positive win-win balance of power in Asia."
During his first visit to India in 2010, President Obama told Indian lawmakers that the relationship between the two countries will be the "defining partnership of the 21st century." There is hope that this visit will re-energize that partnership.
And that's In The News from VOA Learning English. I'm Bob Doughty.
词汇学习
1.symbolic adj.象征的，象征性的
The move today was largely symbolic.
今天的举动在很大程度上只是象征性的。
2.overtake vt.追上，赶上
It's the first time at these games that the Americans have overtaken the Cubans...
这是美国人在这一运动会上首次超越古巴人。
3.sense vt.感到；理解，领会
She probably sensed that I wasn't telling her the whole story...
她可能意识到了我并没有对她全盘托出。
4.finalize vt.完成；使结束
They have not finalized the deal with the government.
他们还没有和政府达成最终交易。
5.outcome n.结果
Whatever the outcome, it's going to be one hell of a fight.
不管结果如何，这都会是场艰苦的战斗。
6.substantive adj.本质的；实质性的
The report concluded that no substantive changes were necessary.
报告的结论是，无须作任何重大变更。
7.hardly adv.几乎不；简直不
My eyes were so swollen I could hardly see.
我的眼睛肿得很厉害，几乎看不到东西。
内容解析
1.This weekend, President Barack Obama is set to make his second trip to India since taking office.
set to定于
The talks are set to continue through the week.
谈判可能会持续一周。
2.He expects the two sides to begin work on what he calls "a genuine strategic partnership" with far-reaching agreements.
work on从事于；致力于
We got to work on putting the book together.
我们得努力编成这本书。
3.but nothing really there on the ground, in terms of both countries being satisfied with something substantive and hefty.
in terms of从…方面说来；根据，按照
In terms of quantity, production grew faster than ever before.
从数量上看，产量增长的速度比以往任何时期都要快。
参考翻译
美国之音慢速学英语节目，这里是时事新闻。
奥巴马总统将于本周末对印度进行上任以来的第二次访问。周一，奥巴马将出席印度共和国国庆日的庆祝活动。活动包括阅兵式和印度武器公开展示。专家称阅兵式可能会成为奥巴马访问的象征性活动。
美国总统将会见印度总理纳伦德拉·莫迪(Narendra Modi)。两位国家元首将讨论增强两国之间国防和安全合作的问题。
近年来两国之间的国防和贸易合作不断加强。2013年，美国超越俄罗斯成为印度最大的武器供应商——印度已经花费了数十亿美元实现军队现代化。印度比任何其它国家更频繁地与美军进行联合军事演习。
一些观察人员表示，莫迪希望与美国建立更强有力的联系。C.Raja Mohan就职于新德里智库观察家研究基金会(Observer Research Foundation)。他预计双方将会致力于建立“真正的战略伙伴关系”，达成意义深远的协议。
“德里政府做好了抛开分歧与美国合作的准备，我认为美国也已经意识到了印度的新机遇。”
在奥巴马访问印度期间，印度和美国官员将重申对于今年六月结束的国防合作协议的支持。他们也一直致力于完成一些协议，使得美国企业在印度生产一些军事装备。
印度政府希望美国公司根据技术转让协议在印度生产更多的武器。但是这并不容易。美国对敏感技术的转让有诸多限制。
Bharat Karnad是新德里政策研究中心的安全专家。他预计奥巴马的访问不会取得重大成效。他认为印度不会满足于美国提出的军事设备技术转让。
“在我看来更像是陈词滥调，不过是出炉更多法律文件，建立更多的委员会，但没有任何实质性的内容，两国都无法得到实质性的巨大的满足。”
专家表示，两国在某些领域建立信任尚需时日。但由于安全问题，两国之间的关系正在变得更加密切。
Chintamani Mahapatra就职于新德里的贾瓦哈拉尔·尼赫鲁大学。他说双方都对中国更为进取的迹象以及西方军队撤出阿富汗后可能的动荡表示担忧。
“印度和美国在经济问题上一直争吵，包括知识产权问题，倾销问题等等。当然，在巴基斯坦和中国等外交事务的关键领域，双方的立场并不是完全一致。但在国防和安全合作问题上，双方几乎没有任何分歧。其目标就是在亚洲达成良好、积极和双赢的力量平衡。”
在2010年首次访问印度期间，奥巴马曾对印度议员们表示，印度和美国之间的关系将是21世纪决定性的伙伴关系。这次访问有望为这一关系重新注入活力。
以上就是本期美国之音慢速英语时事新闻的全部内容。我是Bob Doughty。
