VOA慢速英語: 亞洲國家從低價石油中獲益

所屬教程:Economics Report

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[00:00.00]From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. [00:06.57]Today we tell you more about the effects of falling oil prices. [00:12.61]Lower demand for oil and too much supply have sent prices to their lowest levels in five years. [00:21.60]Last week, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries decided to keep production at current levels. [00:31.25]Representatives of the 12-nation group met in Vienna, Austria. [00:37.55]They were unable to reach agreement on changing OPEC’s production targets. [00:44.70]Lower oil prices are causing economic hardship in some OPEC members. [00:52.29]Officials there are exploring ways to cut government spending. [00:59.71]The president of Venezuela announced last week that he and other government officials should take pay cuts as part of budget reductions. [01:11.52]The Reuters news service says the reductions are meant to answer the lower oilprices. [01:18.95]It says Venezuela gets 96 percent of its export earnings from oil sales. [01:27.35] The nation has among the highest inflation rates in Latin America. [01:33.98]Russia is a major oil exporter, but does not belong to OPEC. [01:40.60]This week, Russia’s economic development ministry predicted that the Russian economy will shrink by eight-tenths of a percent in 2015. [01:52.91]Oil exports are important to Russia. [01:56.85]The value of Russian money has lost about 40 percent of its value this year compared to the American dollar. [02:05.96]Observers have blamed the drop on falling profits from oil exports, and Western sanctions to punish Russian actions in Ukraine. [02:18.59]But economists say the fall in oil prices is helping economies in Asia. Andrew Colquhoun is with Hong Kong-based Fitch Ratings. [02:30.26]"Most Asia-Pacific economies are oil importers and therefore the decline in oil prices is equivalent to a kind of income gain for them and [02:41.73] the impact depends on whether they save or spend the income gain." [02:46.07]In a recent report, Fitch Ratings said China and most major Asian economies would effectively earn more money from sustained lower oil prices. [02:59.07]Thailand spends 15 percent of national income on oil, the largest percentage in the area. [03:07.54]Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia all are moving to reduce oil price supports, or subsidies, which are often a major part in government spending. [03:19.22]Last month Indonesian President Joko Widodo raised subsidized fuel prices by over 30 percent. [03:28.96]Trade unions and opposition parties criticized the move. [03:34.10]The Indonesian government says it is providing social assistance to over 15million people to ease the effect of higher fuel costs. [03:46.21]But some experts say it is a matter of time before prices recover. [03:52.27]Jack Gerard is president of the American Petroleum Institute. [03:57.68]He says demand for oil will rise, and prices will find an equilibrium. [04:04.91]And that’s the VOA Learning English Economics Report. I’m Mario Ritter.

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Some Asian Countries Gain from Low Oil Prices

一些亞洲國家從低價油中獲益

Motorists fill up their vehicles at Petronas petrol station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in this 2010 file photo. Many asian nations are seeing gains from lower oil prices. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

這里是美國之音的經濟報道。

Today we tell you more about the effects of falling oil prices. Lower demand for oil and too much supply have sent prices to their lowest levels in five years.

今天我們會講一下石油價格下降的更多影響。由于對石油需求降低，而供應較多，這樣導致五年內石油價格出現最低水平。

Last week, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries decided to keep production at current levels. Representatives of the 12-nation group met in Vienna, Austria. They were unable to reach agreement on changing OPEC’s production targets.

上周，石油輸出國組織決定按照現有的水平生產石油。12國的代表在奧地利首都維也納會面，他們沒能就歐佩克的石油生產目標達成一致意見。

Lower oil prices are causing economic hardship in some OPEC members. Officials there are exploring ways to cut government spending.

石油價格低導致歐佩克成員國出現經濟困難，官員正在尋求辦法削減政府開支。

The president of Venezuela announced last week that he and other government officials should take pay cuts as part of budget reductions. The Reuters news service says the reductions are meant to answer the lower oil prices. It says Venezuela gets 96 percent of its export earnings from oil sales. The nation has among the highest inflation rates in Latin America.

委內瑞拉的總統(tǒng)宣布他和其他政府官員應該接受降薪作為削減預算的一部分。路透社新聞報道削減預算是應對低價油的一種方式，委內瑞拉96%的出口收入來自石油。委內瑞拉是拉丁美洲通貨膨脹最高的國家。

Russiais a major oil exporter, but does not belong to OPEC. This week, Russia’s economic development ministry predicted that the Russian economy will shrink by eight-tenths of a percent in 2015. Oil exports are important to Russia. The value of Russian money has lost about 40 percent of its value this year compared to the American dollar. Observers have blamed the drop on falling profits from oil exports, and Western sanctions to punish Russian actions in Ukraine.

俄羅斯是主要的石油輸出國之一，但是它不屬于歐佩克組織。這周，俄羅斯的經濟發(fā)展部門預測2015年，俄羅斯的經濟會縮減8%。石油輸出對俄羅斯來說非常重要。與美元相比，俄羅斯的盧布面值已經貶值40%。觀察者把利潤的下降歸因于石油出口，西方的制裁作為對俄羅斯在烏克蘭所作所為的懲罰。

But economists say the fall in oil prices is helping economies in Asia. Andrew Colquhoun is with Hong Kong-based Fitch Ratings.

但是經濟學家稱石油價格的下降對亞洲經濟有所幫助。安德魯·科洪是香港惠譽國際評級的一員。

"Most Asia-Pacific economies are oil importers and therefore the decline in oil prices is equivalent to a kind of income gain for them and the impact depends on whether they save or spend the income gain."

“大部分亞太經濟體都是石油進口國，因此，石油價格的下降在某種程度上等于是增加了亞太經濟體的收入；石油價格下降的影響在于他們是否能夠省錢或者更好地使用他們財政收入。”

In a recent report, Fitch Ratings said China and most major Asian economies would effectively earn more money from sustained lower oil prices. Thailand spends 15 percent of national income on oil, the largest percentage in the area.

最近的一篇報道中，惠譽國際評級稱中國和主要的亞洲經濟體會從持續(xù)的低價石油中賺更多錢。泰國15%的收入用在購買石油上，這一比例是該地區(qū)所占比重最大的國家。

Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia all are moving to reduce oil price supports, or subsidies, which are often a major part in government spending.

泰國、馬來西亞和印度尼西亞會減少石油的資金扶持或者補助，而用在石油上的這部分資金占政府支出的主要部分。

Last month Indonesian President Joko Widodo raised subsidized fuel prices by over 30 percent. Trade unions and opposition parties criticized the move. The Indonesian government says it is providing social assistance to over 15million people to ease the effect of higher fuel costs.

上個月，印度尼西亞的總統(tǒng)佐科·維多多增加了30% 的燃油補貼。工會和反對黨批評他這一行為。印度尼西亞政府稱為1500萬的人提供社會援助，幫助減輕高水平的燃油費用。

But some experts say it is a matter of time before prices recover. Jack Gerard is president of the American Petroleum Institute. He says demand for oil will rise, and prices will find an equilibrium.

但是一些專家稱油價恢復需要一些時間，杰克·格拉德是美國石油協(xié)會的主席，他說石油的需求會增長，石油價格會達到一個平衡。

And that’s the VOA Learning English Economics Report. I’m Mario Ritter.

這里是美國之音經濟報道，我是馬里奧·瑞特。

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Words in This Story

Targets - n. a goal or object that is aimed at

Influence - v. to have an effect on someone or something; to cause change

Assistance - n. help, aid or support

Sustained - adj. continued, being able to hold in place or carry forward

Equilibrium - n. a state in which opposing forces or actions are balanced sothat one is not stronger or greater than the other

Some Asian Countries Gain from Low Oil Prices

Motorists fill up their vehicles at Petronas petrol station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in this 2010 file photo. Many asian nations are seeing gains from lower oil prices. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

Today we tell you more about the effects of falling oil prices. Lower demand for oil and too much supply have sent prices to their lowest levels in five years.

Last week, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries decided to keep production at current levels. Representatives of the 12-nation group met in Vienna, Austria. They were unable to reach agreement on changing OPEC’s production targets.

Lower oil prices are causing economic hardship in some OPEC members. Officials there are exploring ways to cut government spending.

The president of Venezuela announced last week that he and other government officials should take pay cuts as part of budget reductions. The Reuters news service says the reductions are meant to answer the lower oilprices. It says Venezuela gets 96 percent of its export earnings from oil sales. The nation has among the highest inflation rates in Latin America.

Russia is a major oil exporter, but does not belong to OPEC. This week, Russia’s economic development ministry predicted that the Russian economy will shrink by eight-tenths of a percent in 2015. Oil exports are important to Russia. The value of Russian money has lost about 40 percent of its value this year compared to the American dollar. Observers have blamed the drop on falling profits from oil exports, and Western sanctions to punish Russian actions in Ukraine.