歐盟與中國關係緊張
Italy’s government has notified Beijing ahead of the year-end deadline that it will withdraw from China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.
義大利政府已在年底截止日期前通知北京，將退出中國雄心勃勃的「一帶一路」倡議。
notify(v.)(正式)通知=inform
With this announcement, Italy, which was the “only major Western nation” among the 18 European Union members involved, will cease participation in the Chinese infrastructure and trade scheme in 2024.
在參與該倡議的歐盟18個會員國中，義大利是「唯一的西方大國」，隨著這一聲明的發布，義大利將於2024年停止參與中國的基礎建設和貿易計畫。
involved(adj.)相關的;有關的;涉入的infrastructure(n.)基礎建設
Known as the BRI for short, China’s Belt and Road Initiative was launched in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping and has been pitched as a combination of revitalizing the historical Silk Road trade routes across Asia and Europe and developing new “Indo-Pacific sea routes through Southeast Asia to South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.”
中國的「一帶一路」倡議英文簡稱BRI，由中國國家主席習近平於2013年提出，被宣揚為重振歷史上橫跨亞歐的絲綢之路貿易路線，同時開發新的「印度洋-太平洋海上新航線，經由東南亞通往南亞、中東和非洲」的結合體。
launch(v.)啟動;推出;發起=introducepitch(v.)宣傳、推銷、宣揚promote(v.)宣傳;宣揚a combination of A and B 是A與B的結合revitalize(v.)重振、振興Silk Road絲綢之路
To achieve these goals, the project will invest an estimated $1 trillion in building and upgrading infrastructure, including roads, railways, ports, and power stations, across this vast swath of the world.
為實現這些目標，該計畫將向這片廣大區域投資約1兆美元，建設和升級道路、鐵路、港口和發電站等基礎設施。
estimated(adj.)估算的;預計的=approximateswath(n.)大塊區域a vast swath of~廣大的=a broad or wide swath of~
Since the inception of the BRI, nations have been encouraged to join the initiative by signing a memorandum of understanding with China.
自一帶一路啟動以來，各國都被鼓勵透過與中國簽署諒解備忘錄來加入這項倡議。
inception(n.)開端、開始=launching=commencementmemorandum of understanding諒解備忘錄=MOU
As of August 2023, Fudan University reported that 154 countries were “formally affiliated” with the BRI.
根據復旦大學報告，截至2023年8月，已有154個國家「正式加入」一帶一路。
as of…截至…為止be affiliated with隸屬於～、附屬於～、與～有關=be associated withbe affiliated with a terrorist group隸屬於某恐怖組織
Despite its seemingly positive benefits, the BRI has become a target of Western criticism.
儘管一帶一路表面上帶來正面效益，但卻成為西方批評的對象。
despite(prep.)儘管=in spite of=regardless of
For instance, the EU, while admitting China’s importance as a key trading partner, has noted that there are “clear imbalances” regarding China’s BRI intentions that must be addressed.
例如，歐盟雖然承認中國作為重要貿易夥伴的重要性，但指出中國在一帶一路的意圖方面存在「明顯的不平衡」，必須加以解決。
imbalance(n.)不平衡、不均衡、失衡regarding(prep.)關於=about=with regard to=concerningaddress(v.)處理;解決=deal with
Meanwhile, the United States has been more blatant in its assessment of the BRI, denouncing the project “as an example of ‘debt-trap diplomacy’,” which could give Beijing leverage over countries that undertake infrastructure projects which they are unable to finance.
與此同時，美國對一帶一路的評價則更加直接了當，譴責該項目為「債務陷阱外交」的一個例子，可能會讓北京對那些開展基礎建設項目，卻無力融資的國家施加影響力。
blatant(adj.)明目張膽的、公然的straightforward(adj.)直接的brazen(adj.)毫不隱瞞的;明目張膽的denounce...as... 譴責～為～condemn(v.)譴責debt-trap diplomacy債務陷阱外交leverage(n.)槓桿(作用)、好處、優勢、影響力She used the situation to gain leverage in the negotiations.她當時利用情勢，在談判中佔據優勢地位。Talk to him. He has leverage with the city council.和他談去吧。他對市議會有影響力。finance(v.)融資、用貸款買She financed her new car through the bank.她透過銀行貸款買了新車。
Italy’s decision to pull out of this controversial Chinese initiative comes as the country’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni works to establish a more “pro-Western” foreign policy than her predecessors.
義大利決定退出這一備受爭議的中國倡議之際，義大利總理喬治亞·梅洛尼正努力制定比任何前任總理都「親西方」的外交政策。
controversial(adj.)具有爭議性的=contentiouspro-親、傾向、支持anti-反對、排斥anti-Chinese movement排華運動predecessor(n.)前任;前輩successor(n.)繼任者
Although Meloni has voiced wanting to maintain “good relations with China,” the timing of her government’s decision to withdraw from the BRI coinciding with rising tensions between the EU and China over electric vehicle production could test if such an outcome is possible.
雖然梅洛尼表示希望保持與中國的「良好關係」，但她的政府決定退出一帶一路的時機，恰逢歐盟與中國因電動車生產的問題而緊張關係加劇，這可能會考驗這樣的結果是否可能實現。
voice(v.)表達=expresscoincide with 與～同時發生outcome(n.)結果=result