第一篇Passage 1

相关词语 Related Words and Expressions

见证人 witness

义和团战争 the Boxer war

水缸 water vat

八国联军 Allied Forces

刮去水缸表面的镏金 strip away the gold plating on the vats

掀开我们新的关系史上新的一页 turn a new leaf in our new history

联合国安理会常任理事国 permanent members of UN Security Council

groundless 无根据的，无理由的

wield influence 发挥最大作用

conviction 坚定的信念

huge sense of 强烈的印象

be engaged in drug smuggling 从事毒品走私

get the right type of conviction 树立正确的信念

（中央电视台记者采访英国首相布莱尔，一下是采访的部分内容。）

问： 首相先生，您看那边有很多人，我想他们已经知道今天这里有一位尊贵的客人来到了。故宫给您留下什么印象？

A: This is a piece of extraordinary history. In fact, I actually came here ten years ago for my very first visit to China. I’ve just noticed so many changes in China in the ten years I’ve been away. This is just marvelous.

问： 这么说，这是您第二次来了。

A: It’s my second time that I’ve been here in China.

问： 首相先生，说到故宫，许多中国人把故宫看成是中国近代史的见证人。当然，这段历史中也包含了中英两国的关系，您知道在义和团战争期间，我们两国之间有些令人不快的回忆。就在这道大门之内，在这儿数百米距离以内，有几十口非常大的水缸。在那次战争中，八国联军的士兵到过这里，并把这些缸表面上的镏金给刮走了，当然那是一段过去的历史了。正如您所说的，随着香港的回归，我们已经卸掉了历史的包袱，正在期待两国关系进入一个崭新的时期。那么，今天您作为一个客人来到这里，同时也作为英国政府的领导人来到这里，你将如何掀开我们新的关系史上新的一页？

A: I think there is a new relationship between Britain and China today. I mean you’re right in saying in history we’ve had some times of a trouble past but on the other hand the historical links are very strong and what we are trying to do is to renew them for today. And the handover of Hong Kong is obviously a very important moment for Britain and for China. And it’s gone well; it’s gone far better than people expected. I think that’s all to the good really. As to the situation in Hong Kong, there were a lot of concerns expressed about it before the handover took place. I think these concerns have largely proved to be groundless. But it’s been a success story from that point of view. So that is good also for Britain and China. There are many common interests in how we open up trade with one another, in how we ensure that China takes its place in the world as a major power, able to wield influence for good.

问： 您刚刚提到了联合国，中国和英国都是世界上很有影响的国家，我们两国都是联合国安理会常任理事国。您认为我们两国如何能促进在国际事务中的合作？比如说在对付贩毒方面？

A: I think the closer we work together, the better will be our work on these issues. What we’re learning in the world today is the big challenges that we face. Whether it’s international crime or drugs or it’s the global economic crisis, or it’s political instability in various parts of the world, they can only be tackled together. They can only be tackled by countries recognizing they’ve got a common interest in trying to find the way through the difficulties and challenges that they face. So, for example, on the issue of international crime and drugs, we are now working with China, with other countries, to try and get the right type of conviction together, which will allow us to chase after those people who are engaged in drug smuggling. Now, China’s role in that I think is tremendously important. And again, I think, there is huge sense of China taking its place, rightful place really in the world debating these issues.