相關(guān)詞語 Related Words and Expressions
vow 發(fā)誓;立誓
relieve poverty 濟貧
eke by 竭力維持
altruism 利他主義
breed 滋生;產(chǎn)生
holdings 擁有的財產(chǎn)(尤指股票、債券)
gaping differences 巨大差異
MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) - After decades of cutbacks in aid to the developing world, rich nations have agreed to pump billions of dollars into poor countries in exchange for their efforts to stabilize their governments and economies.
More than 50 heads of state wrapped up a weeklong U.N. International Conference on Financing for Development on Friday, agreeing to do more for the half of the world's population that ekes by on less than $2 a day.
Leaders said providing aid is no longer a matter of altruism. They argued that richer nations make better markets for their products - and breed fewer terrorists.
We will challenge the poverty and hopelessness and lack of education and failed governments that too often allow conditions that terrorists can seize and try to turn to their advantage, said President Bush.
We must do more than just feel good about what we are doing, he said. "We must do good."
Tunisian President Ben Ali said the world would not live in peace until poverty is eradicated.
Peace and security cannot prevail worldwide unless all forms of poverty, marginalization and exclusion are eliminated, he said.
Even business leaders, who participated in the conference, seemed to agree. Carlos Slim, whose telecommunications and retail holdings make him the richest man in Latin America, told reporters Friday night: "The poor aren't a market. You have to end poverty to strengthen markets." "This isn't charity," he said.
The summit was the first to bring together heads of state, finance ministers, business leaders, aid activists and international lending institutions to address reducing extreme poverty.
Leaders closed the meeting by adopting the "Monterrey Consensus," a preapproved agreement that urges rich nations to give billions more dollars in aid and calls for poor countries in return to battle corruption, adopt solid economic practices and spend the funds efficiently.
Other such summits have drawn bloody protests, but the streets of this conservative industrial city have been largely quiet this week.
It seems to me that in recent times there has not been a meeting of this type that has turned out so peacefully, Mexican President Vicente Fox said Friday after the summit.
Activists say part of the reason there weren't larger protests was that the leaders are now discussing the issues they have long been pushing, but they warned if their words are not backed by action, demonstrators will return to the streets.
Many nations still have gaping differences in their interpretations of the "new partnership." Rich nations want to rely heavily on private investment to bring wealth to the developing world, while some poor countries say the rich owe it to them to make up for centuries of colonialism, subjugation and slavery.
The Monterrey Consensus didn't go as far as many activists --- and even some governments - had urged. An early proposal called for developed nations to devote 0.7 percent of their gross national product --- the value of all goods and services --- to development aid. The final document mentioned that figure only as a goal to work toward, without giving a timetable.
The consensus also placed heavy responsibilities on poor countries receiving aid, committing them to work toward increasing investment in their economies and toward greater political and economic stability.