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VOA慢速英语2015 Chinese Development Bank Gains Members

时间:2015-03-30 22:31来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
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Chinese Development Bank Gains Members

Development banking1 in Asia has been in the news lately. Last year, China proposed creation of a development bank called the Asian Infrastructure2 Investment Bank. Chinese officials say the institution would help finance infrastructure projects throughout Asia.

The area has a need for better roads and other infrastructure, including ports and power supplies. The Asian Development Bank, another organization, was set up to reduce poverty in Asia and the Pacific. It estimated last May that the Asia-Pacific area needs about $800 billion a year in infrastructure development.

China reports that more than 20 countries have agreed to be founding members of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, or AIIB. Recently, some European powers added themselves to the list. U.S. allies Britain, Germany, France and Italy have joined up. So has South Korea. And Australia has agreed to move forward with negotiations3.

The United States, however, has said it is concerned about the governance of the AIIB. It has urged countries to consider the bank’s standards, its social and environmental policies, before joining.

Some observers say the United States should join the bank as a founding member. Asia expert Alejandro Reyes said the way the U.S. has dealt with the bank shows outdated4 thinking.

Yet other observers have said it is unlikely the U.S. will do so. The last day to become a founding member is March 31st.

Robert Kahn is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He said U.S. officials are concerned that the AIIB may be seeking to replace existing institutions, such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

“In a world with the better politics, the United States would be joining this institution, but because of the environment on the Hill (in Washington), the United States is not only not in position where it could join this institution and get it approved by Congress, it cannot get even basic reform in the IMF through in a way that would make the existing institutions more attractive to the rising powers.”

The U.S. Congress has failed to approve reforms of voting rights for the International Monetary5 Fund. The delay has led China and other countries to consider setting up their own institutions as a way to gain more influence in world economic governance.

Still, officials at the IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank say they are looking for ways to cooperate with the AIIB.  

U.S. officials say they welcome new multi-lateral institutions that would observe high standards that the international community has built. China says it will uphold high standards. But most details will not become clear until the new bank is operational.

The bank is expected to start with $100 billion in capital, mostly from China.

Experts say it remains6 to be seen how China will take on a leadership position in the AIIB or whether it will work with existing organizations. Tom Wright is director of the Project of International Order and Strategy at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC.

“This is not the end. It really is just [the] beginning and especially the beginning of a new chapter for China.  It set up this bank, it said it is going to take a leadership position, but huge questions still hang over how it is going to behave.”

China considers itself in a good position to carry out infrastructure projects in Asia. However, it has depended on state-owned companies and labor7 when working overseas.

Using international labor standards rather than Chinese labor rules would be a step forward, says economist8 Liu Li-gang of the ANZ Banking Group. He says China should open up competition for bank-supported projects. He said this will reduce criticism from often linked to Chinese foreign investment.

Words in This Story

founding - adj. a person or group which helps to create or establish something; a person who founds something

multi-lateral - adj. involving more than two groups or countries

standards - n. values; a level of quality that is considered acceptable or desirable

capital – n. goods or possessions


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 banking aySz20     
n.银行业,银行学,金融业
参考例句:
  • John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
  • He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。
2 infrastructure UbBz5     
n.下部构造,下部组织,基础结构,基础设施
参考例句:
  • 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。
3 negotiations af4b5f3e98e178dd3c4bac64b625ecd0     
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过
参考例句:
  • negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
  • Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。
4 outdated vJTx0     
adj.旧式的,落伍的,过时的;v.使过时
参考例句:
  • That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了,许多地址已经改了。
  • Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。
5 monetary pEkxb     
adj.货币的,钱的;通货的;金融的;财政的
参考例句:
  • The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
  • Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。
6 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
7 labor P9Tzs     
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦
参考例句:
  • 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。
8 economist AuhzVs     
n.经济学家,经济专家,节俭的人
参考例句:
  • He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
  • He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家,自以为什么都懂。
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