VOA标准英语2009-Ethiopia's Meles says US at Fault for Africa
时间:2019-02-12 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2009年(十一月)
By Peter Heinlein
Addis Ababa
13 November 2009
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (file photo)
Ethiopia Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says failures in the U.S. financial system are largely to blame for Africa's economic crisis, and pointed 1 to China as a possible key to recovery. Our correspondent in Addis Ababa has details of the Ethiopian leader's keynote address to the annual African Economic Conference.
Speaking to an audience of academics and policymakers, Ethiopia Prime Minister Meles Zenawi painted a gloomy picture of Africa's economic outlook. He said the theme of the conference, fostering development in the current economic climate, may be impossible.
"The first question that comes to my mind is: Is it possible to foster development when we have a whole era of economic crisis ahead of us? I am going to suggest today that while it is probable that Africa will not be able to foster development in the current era, it is nevertheless possible to do so," said Meles Zenawi.
Mr. Meles, a former Marxist rebel leader, launched a blistering 2 attack on what he called "discredited 3 neo-liberal economic policies" imposed on Africa from outside. He said unsustainable consumption by the United States when times were good had condemned 4 Africa to a protracted 5 period of low growth ahead.
"The United States has hitherto served as the consumer of last resort and helped to maintain the unsustainable division of labor 6 and division of production and consumption," he said. "It is no longer able to do it, and this is the main cause of the current crisis."
Mr. Meles suggested Africa's best hope might be a massive infusion 7 of cash from China and other countries that have amassed 8 surplus savings 9 by producing goods for the consumers.
"It is possible to imagine that the Chinese will decided 10 to redirect some of their surplus savings to infrastructural 11 development in Africa," said Meles Zenawi. "It is possible to do so because to some extent it is already happening. Such a shift would mean tens of billions of dollars per annum invested in African infrastructure 12, again opening the opportunity for the transformation 13 of the overall economy. Indeed, it is not only possible but highly probable that the Chinese will take steps that would widen the window of opportunity for Africa."
The Ethiopian prime minister, who will lead the African delegation 14 to next month's Copenhagen climate summit, expressed doubt the world is serious about tackling global warming. But he said a climate deal could be a boon 15 to Africa, with its sources of renewable energy.
Some experts say Africa stands to receive as much as $100 billion a year from rich countries to offset 16 the effects of climate change.
The three-day African Economic Conference is being held against a backdrop of low-growth forecasts for the near future. The 2009 growth estimate for sub-Saharan Africa is just 1.3 percent, with a prediction of an increase to four or five percent next year.
African Development Bank chief Donald Kaberuka, said prospects 17 for recovery remain fragile. He said a full recovery would not occur until the continent returns to seven-percent growth, possibly within a few years.
- He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
- She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
- The runners set off at a blistering pace. 赛跑运动员如脱缰野马般起跑了。
- This failure is known as preferential wetting and is responsible for blistering. 这种故障称为优先吸湿,是产生气泡的原因。 来自辞典例句
- The reactionary authorities are between two fires and have been discredited. 反动当局弄得进退维谷,不得人心。
- Her honour was discredited in the newspapers. 她的名声被报纸败坏了。
- The war was protracted for four years. 战争拖延了四年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- We won victory through protracted struggle. 经过长期的斗争,我们取得了胜利。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
- He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后,他已经疲惫不堪了。
- Old families need an infusion of new blood from time to time.古老的家族需要不时地注入新鲜血液。
- Careful observation of the infusion site is necessary.必须仔细观察输液部位。
- He amassed a fortune from silver mining. 他靠开采银矿积累了一笔财富。
- They have amassed a fortune in just a few years. 他们在几年的时间里就聚集了一笔财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假,那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
- By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时,他的存款已全部用完。
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
- Must increase the investment dynamics unceasingly, strengthens the countryside infrastructural facilities. 要不断加大投入力度,加强农村基础设施建设。 来自互联网
- In the 1980s, India started with some infrastructural advantages over China. 1980年代,印度在某些基础设施方面优于中国。 来自互联网
- 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。
- Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
- He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。
- The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
- We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。
- A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住,有辆汽车确实极为方便。
- These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。
- Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
- He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。