(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.
More than 40 countries, including Russia and Taiwan, have agreed to be founding members of China's proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. However, two of the world's largest economies, the United States and Japan, have held off at this time.
China proposed the bank last October as a way to finance roads, bridges, ports and other needed infrastructure projects in Asia. The time limit for joining as a founding member was March 31.
In only a few months, the number of countries seeking membership nearly doubled. They came from Africa, Europe, South America, Asia and the Pacific. Some European powers added themselves to the list. They include Britain, Germany, France and Italy. Other important economies include South Korea, Australia and Russia.
Taiwan also sought to become a founding member. But it is not clear how China will react. Taiwan and China do not have diplomatic ties. But, relations have improved since the election of President Ma Ying-jeou in 2008. The two sides also are working on details of a trade agreement. However, popular opposition in Taiwan to mainland China's increased influence on the island remains very strong.
The U.S. and Japan have said they are concerned about the governance of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, or AIIB. The United States has urged countries to consider details about the bank's governance and standards -- its social and environmental policy -- before joining. Critics say the AIIB threatens the work of existing development banks such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank.
Yet, the Asian Development Bank itself noted in a recent report that the need for infrastructure projects in Asia is great. The institution, led by the U.S. and Japan, estimated last May that the Asia Pacific area needed $800 billion each year in infrastructure development.
Experts are watching to see how China will take its leadership role in the new bank. The AIIB is expected to start with $100 billion in capital, mostly from China. Some experts point to the high interest in membership. Shi Yinhong is a political scientist at Renmin University in Beijing. He says China's leading part in the bank comes with benefits and costs.
In other words, while China has gained from the effort to develop the AIIB, it will also have to satisfy other bank members and multi-national institutions. Officials at the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank say they are looking for ways to cooperate with the AIIB.
And that's the Economics Report from VOA Learning English. I'm Mario Ritter.
词汇解释
1.governance n. 管理；统治；支配
...he will meet with officials from several countries to discuss ways to promote good governance.
...他将与诸国官员会面，讨论如何促进对国家的良性管理。
2.time limit 期限；限期
We have extended the time limit for claims until July 30.
我们已经把索赔的时限延长到7月30日了。
内容解析
1.However, two of the world's largest economies, the United States and Japan, have held off at this time.
hold off 拖延；不接近；不使…接近
The football match had to hold off for about half an hour because of a driving rain.
一场瓢泼大雨使足球比赛被迫推迟了半个小时。
The monsoon held off for a month, then the rain fell in torrents.
雨季推迟了一个月，接着便不停地下倾盆大雨。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。
包括俄罗斯和台湾在内的40多个国家决定成为中国提议建立的亚投行成员国，然而，全世界最大的两个经济体美国和日本这次迟疑了。
去年10月中国提出建立该银行，以此来作为亚洲道路、桥梁、港口和所需基础设施的融资途径，成为成员国的最后期限是3月31日。
在过去几个月里，希望成为成员国的国家数量已近翻倍，主要是非洲、欧洲、南美洲、亚太地区国家。一些欧洲大国也希望加入，包括英国、德国、法国和意大利，其他重要经济体包括韩国、澳大利亚和俄罗斯。
台湾也希望成为成员国，但尚不清楚中国将如何应对。台湾和中国并没有外交关系，但自从2008年马英九总统当选以来，两岸关系已经改善。两岸还在制定一项贸易协议的细节问题，然而，中国对台湾影响力日益增强，台湾民众对此非常抵抗。
美国和日本表示担心亚投行(AIIB)的治理问题，美国敦促各国在加入之前考虑该行治理和标准方面的细节，包括社会和环境政策。批评者称亚投行威胁到现存的开发银行的业务，包括世界银行、国际货币基金组织和亚洲开发银行。
然而，亚洲开发银行最近在一份报告中称，亚洲的基础设施需求非常大。这个由美国和日本领导的机构去年5月份估计，亚太地区每年需要8000亿美元的资金用于基础设施开发。
专家在关注中国如何在新银行中发挥领导角色，亚投行有望以1000亿美元的资金开始运营，其中大部分资金来自中国。一些专家提到各国对成员国的高度兴趣，时殷弘是北京人民大学的一名政治科学家，他说中国在该银行的主导地位包括收益和成本两方面。
也就是说，在中国从开发亚投行的努力中获益时，也必须让其他成员国和多国机构满意。世界银行、国际货币基金组织和亚洲开发银行的官员们表示他们在寻找与亚投行进行合作的途径。
这就是美国之音慢速英语经济报道，我是马里奥·利特。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
