VOA标准英语2010年-African Finance Ministers Discuss Econ

（单词翻译）

Senior African finance officials say per capita income in Africa fell for the first time in a decade because of the global economic recession. But during a meeting in Malawi they also noted¹ that the economic rebound² had improved growth prospects³ for this year.

African finance ministers and central bank governors have concluded a two-day meeting in Lilongwe that focused on ways to soften⁴ the effects of global economic shocks on Africa.

They were among several-hundred delegates from across the continent to attend a joint⁵ meeting of the African Union and the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa.

ECA Executive-Secretary Abdoulie Janne told delegates Africa's projected economic growth rate for this year would improve to 4.3 percent from 1.6 percent last year, although he noted this rate is still too low to meet the Millennium⁶ Goal of halving⁷ poverty in five years.

"Moreover, global recovery remains⁸ fragile and given the vulnerability of our economies to external shocks it is only prudent⁹ to remain vigilant¹⁰ and to imbibe¹¹ the hard-learned lessons of global economic crisis," said Janne.

Janne said the global economic crisis had compelled a global re-think of development strategies and policies.

The ministers heard the global recession had cut demand for commodities, a major source of export revenue in Africa. This hurt economic growth and destroyed jobs.

Officials said increased trade between African countries would reduce such external shocks. Trade within Africa reportedly accounts for less than 10 percent of all African exports.

Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika opened the conference, saying greater cooperation in the production and distribution of food would boost regional trade and reduce hunger.

"A nation that depends on other nations to feed it cannot claim sovereignty. Africa therefore has agreed that we must conceptualize food security on a regional basis," Mutharika said.

He called for the creation of regional structures to build up and maintain food stocks in various regions and for transport networks to carry these stocks from areas with food surpluses to those with food deficits¹² in times of need.

Mr. Mutharika criticized the economic liberalization policies of international donor¹³ groups.

"We were told that poor African farmers in rural areas must compete through market structures with highly advanced farmers in industrialized countries," Mutharika adds. "We were also told that subsidies¹⁴ reduced market liberalization and are not conducive¹⁵ to good governance. Unfortunately, Africa accepted this falsehood. How wrong we have been and what a price we have paid."

Mr. Mutharika, after his election six years ago, implemented¹⁶ a program to provide poor farmers with fertilizer and seed at subsidized prices. In a few years Malawi became a net exporter of food and its annual economic growth rate reached six percent.