G8 Summit
Leaders of the Group of Eight Major Industrialized Nations will meet in Scotland in July this year. Representatives from China, India, Mexico, South Africa and Brazil have also been invited. Heres what the G8 leaders want from the meeting.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair wants the G8 to cancel debt to the worlds poorest countries. He wants them to double aid to Africa to 50 billion pounds by 2010. He has also proposed reducing subsidies to Western farmers and removing restrictions on African exports. This has not got the approval of all members because it will hurt their agricultural interests. On climate change, Blair wants concerted action by reducing carbon emissions .
US President George W. Bush agrees to give help to Africa. But he says he doesnt like the idea of increasing aid to countries as it will increase corruption. Bush said he would not sign an agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions at the summit, according to media. The US is the only G8 member not to have signed the Kyoto Protocol . Although the US is the worlds biggest polluter, Bush so far refuses to believe there is sufficient scientific data to establish beyond a doubt that there is a problem.
French President Jacques Chirac supports Blair on Africa and climate change. He is determined to get the US to sign the climate change deal.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder remains doubtful of Blairs Africa proposals. Schroders officials have dismissed the notion that money will solve Africas problems as old thinking. Berlin says that African states should only receive extra money if they can prove theyve solved the corruption problem.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was doubtful about the value of more aid to Africa. But he has seen a way to make this work to his advantage. Putin intends to use the aid to Africa as a springboard next year to propose aid to the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Moldova.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumis priorities are a seat on the UN Security Council, for which he will be lobbying at the summit. And hes concerned about the Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas nuclear weapons programme.
1 The G8 countries include China, India, Mexico, South Africa and Brazil.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
2 Blair hopes that the G8 countries will work together to reduce carbon emissions.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
3 India has accepted the invitation to attend the G8 meeting.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
4 Bush agrees to increase aid to Africa.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
5 Chirac takes a stand similar to Blairs on Africa and climate change.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
6 According to media, Bush will sign the Kyoto Protocol at the summit.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
7 Japan will reject Blairs proposal to increase aid to Africa.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
【参考答案】
1. B 2. A 3. C 4. B 5. A
6. B 7. C