VOA English【2011/01/18】

Britain Says Diplomatic Focus Will Shift to Developing Economies

Britain's foreign secretary says his country will shift its diplomatic focus to the developing countries of the South and East in recognition of their growing political and economic clout. 

Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday that China and India will be a "particular focus" of Britain's attention. He said his government will also reach out to other emerging economic powers in Asia, Latin America and the Persian Gulf. 

Speaking at an annual economic forum in Hong Kong, Hague said Britain has a "double imperative" to shift its focus since it needs to cooperate with many of the same countries on issues like nuclear proliferation, terrorism and climate change. 

Hague noted that China and Japan are the word's two biggest markets for luxury goods, which are vital British exports. He said his government understands that "foreign policy and economic success go hand in hand."

 

 

 

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foreign secretary  外交大臣           diplomatic  [dip·lo·mat·ic || ‚dɪplə'mætɪk]adj.  外交的; 老练的

 clout  [klaut]  n. 猛击, 影响力 [英]破布v. 猛击        reach out to：接触, 联系, 把手伸向      Persian Gulf：波斯湾

imperative  [im·per·a·tive || ɪm'perətɪv]n.  命令; 需要; 诫命 adj.  命令式的, 势在必行的, 急需的

  proliferation  [pro·lif·e'ra·tion || prə‚lɪfə'reɪʃn]n.  增殖; 扩散; 激增             go hand in hand ：密切相关地; 同时并进地

 

 

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英国外交大臣说，他的国家将把其外交重点转向东半球和南半球的发展中国家，承认它们日益扩大的政治和经济影响力。

外交大臣黑格星期一说，中国和印度将成为英国注意力的“特别关注点。他说，他的政府也将与亚洲、拉美和波斯湾的其它发展中经济体进行接触。

黑格在香港的一个年度经济论坛上发表讲话说，英国转移外交重点具有“双重的紧迫性 ”，因为英国需要与这些国家中的很多国家在核扩散、恐怖主义和气候变化等问题上进行合作。

黑格说，中国和日本是世界两个最大的奢侈品市场，而奢侈品是英国至关重要的出口商品。他说，他的政府明白，“外交政策和经济上的成功是携手并进的”。