By Theodore Pigott, Special Correspondent

July 5, 2017 Vol. 253

by Theodore Pigott, special correspondent

Belt and Road Initiative Gains Steam

In the past, the Silk Road was one of the most important trade routes in the world. It connected countries in the East and the West, and it encouraged commerce, while allowing for an exchange of products, ideas, and even cultures. Now, thousands of years later, a new type of Silk Road is being established──the Belt and Road Initiative.

The official name of this project is actually “the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road.” It is also known as the Belt and Road (B&R). Basically speaking, it is a large-scale development project that is meant to increase commerce and cooperation between Asia, Europe, and Africa. The Belt and Road Initiative was first announced in 2013, and it has been championed by Chinese PresidentXi Jinping.

In fact, Chinese PresidentXi Jinping is so committed to the project that he has promised US$124 billion for the Belt and Road Initiative. Much of this money will be spent on strengthening China’s own infrastructure, but at least US$9 billion will be spent on improving the infrastructure in developing countries that are a part of this trade route.

Some experts claim that Chinese officials are now looking to international trade as an alternative because economic growth in China slows. Chinese PresidentXi Jinping once said that free trade was an important engine for development. He has also promised that the program will bring about win-win cooperation and mutual benefit, and not become a “game between foes.”

However, some critics worry that the program is just another way for China to expand its influence in the region. And a few wonder if the project can be successful in developing countries that are politically unstable.

Yet, many say that the Internet is already making the Belt and Road Initiative a necessity. Today, millions of people are using e-commerce sites like Alibaba to buy and sell products, and all of these products must be shipped between countries in the East and West. As this e-commerce continues to grow, the infrastructure that the Belt and Road Initiative promises to build will become increasingly important.

Clearly, the Belt and Road Initiative will play a major role not only in the growth of China, but also in the growth of trade between the East and the West in the 21th century.

Reading Comprehension

( ) 1. What is the main idea of this passage?

(A) A detailed review of the history of trade between China and Europe.

(B) A brief look at the most important parts of the ancient trade route Silk Road.

(D) A closer look at China’s decision to strengthen its own infrastructure.

( ) 2. The word “championed” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to “______.”

(A) won (B) defeated (C) supported (D) controlled

( ) 3. According to the passage, how much money in the Belt and Road Initiative will be spent in developing countries?

(A) US$9 billion. (B) US$124 billion.

( ) 4. What is the purpose of the Belt and Road Initiative?

(A) To make the developing countries more politically stable.

(B) To create a new kind of small-scale development project.

(D) To exert an influence on some western countries’ politics.

( ) 5. This passage would most likely be found in ______.

(A) a fashion magazine (B) a financial column

Vocabulary and Phrases

1. initiative [] n. [C] 倡議，方案

．The president announced a government initiative to help stimulate the domestic economy.

2. gain steam [] phr. 備受矚目

．Recently, the issue of same-sex marriage has gained steam, especially in Taiwan.

3. commerce  n. [U] 商業，貿易

．International trade really plays an important role in this country’s economy since it has engaged in commerce with many countries.

4. basically  adv. 基本上

．Basically, I don’t agree with Judy’s radical views about politics.

5. scale  n. sing. 規模，程度

．Scientists tried to figure out why the dolphins died on a large scale.

6. champion [] vt. 捍衛，聲援

．Emmeline Pankhurst, who was a British political activist, championed the cause of women’s rights.

7. strengthen vt. 增強，加強

．My teacher’s words of encouragement strengthened my hope that I could study abroad.

8. at least [] phr. 至少

．Dining in this Michelin three-star restaurant will cost you at least NT$6,000.

9. alternative n. [C] 替代的選擇、方案等

．The owner of the hotel had no alternative but to close it down because its business was really bad.

10. win-win  adj. 雙贏的

．It was a win-win situation that the two enemy countries finally reached a ceasefire agreement.

11. benefit  n. [C] 益處，優勢

．The town will gain benefit from the establishment of the new school and train station nearby.

12. foe  n. [C] 敵人，仇敵

．Mr. Brown has criticized his political foe for poor governance.

13. expand vt. 擴大，增加

．To expand her horizons, Amber travels abroad whenever she can to learn more about different cultures.

14. influence n. [U] 影響，影響力

．The chairman of the board has influence over company policies.

15. politically  adv. 政治上

．The presidential candidate comes from a powerful, politically influential family. It is reported that he has a good chance of winning the presidential election.

16. unstable [] adj. 不穩定的

．Due to the military coup, the country’s political situation was highly unstable.

17. necessity n. [C] 必然性

．The economist claims that thehigh cost of livingis an unfortunate necessity.

18. increasingly [] adv. 漸增地

．Increasingly, people rely on smartphones and tablets for mobility, convenience, and a variety of functions.

19. major adj. 重要的，主要的

．A lack of perseverance can be a major obstacle to overcoming reading problems.

Words for Recognition

1. Belt and Road[] n. 一帶一路

「一帶一路」意指陸上絲綢之路經濟帶及21世紀海上絲綢之路，是中國在2013年倡議與主導的跨國經濟帶。橫跨歐亞非大陸，涵蓋東南亞、中亞、西亞、中東及北非等60多國，目前生產總值佔全球三成，貨物貿易量亦佔全球總額逾三成。

2. Silk Road [] n. 絲綢之路

1877年，德國地理學家費迪南．馮．李希霍芬在其著作中將這條陸上交通路線稱為「絲綢之路」，此說法沿用至今。絲綢之路為古中國與西方政治、經濟、文化往來通道的統稱，而在經由這條路線所進行的貿易中，就以絲綢最具代表性。

3. maritime [] adj. 海的，海事的

4. Europe [] n. 歐洲

5. Africa [] n. 非洲

6. Xi Jinping [] n. 習近平 (1953─)

2012年當選中國共產黨中央委員會總書記，現為中國最高領導人。

7. infrastructure [] n. 基礎建設，基礎設施

8. Alibaba [] n. 阿里巴巴集團

阿里巴巴集團由馬雲為首的18人於1999年創立，是一間提供電子商務線上交易平臺的公司，業務包括網上零售、購物搜尋引擎和第三方支付等。

Translation

一帶一路備受矚目

絲綢之路過去曾是世上最重要的貿易路線之一。這條路線連結東、西方國家，提倡貿易，促進貨物、觀念、甚至文化上的交流。數千年後的今天，新型態的絲綢之路再現──也就是一帶一路倡議。

此方案的正式名稱其實是「絲綢之路經濟帶和21世紀海上絲綢之路」，也稱為「一帶一路」。基本而言，這是一個大規模的建設開發案，目的是增加亞洲、歐洲與非洲之間的貿易合作。中國國家主席習近平先是在2013年提出一帶一路倡議，並推動至今。

事實上，中國國家主席習近平全力推動此案，已承諾為一帶一路投入1240億美元。這筆錢大部分會花在強化中國自身的基礎建設，但至少有90億美元會用來改善沿線開發中國家的基礎建設。

有些專家表示，由於中國經濟成長趨緩，中國官員轉向國際貿易尋求機會。中國國家主席習近平曾說過：「自由貿易是發展的重要引擎。」他也承諾一帶一路將會帶來雙贏合作和互惠互利，而非「敵人間的角力」。

然而，部分批評者擔憂，一帶一路是中國擴大區域影響力的另一種手段。有一些人也質疑該方案在政治不穩定的開發中國家能否成功。

但許多人說網際網路已使一帶一路成為必然。今日，有數百萬人使用阿里巴巴之類的電子商務平臺買賣商品，所有的這些產品都必須在東、西方國家之間往來運送。隨著此一電子商務持續成長，一帶一路所承諾興建的基礎設施將會變得越來越重要。

顯然地，一帶一路不僅會在21世紀中國的成長上，而且也在東、西方的貿易成長上，扮演重要角色。

閱讀測驗解答：1. C 2. C 3. A 4. C 5. B