Bush Discusses Trade, Tourism with Caribbean Leaders

The three prime ministers came to Washington at the invitation of the president to talk about regional matters.

Mr. Bush says trade and tourism topped the list.

The president says he also went out of his way during the session to assure the three prime ministers that the United States remains engaged in what he called "the neighborhood."

"It was important for these leaders to know that we believe a good, strong, healthy, vibrant neighborhood is in the interest of the United States."

Two of the Caribbean leaders who took part in the meeting were recently elected to office, David Thompson of Barbados, and Dean Barrow of Belize. Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham of the Bahamas, the veteran" class="hjdict" word="veteran" target=_blank>veteran of the group, spoke for the three at the end of the White House meeting.

He told reporters he was especially interested in their discussions with President Bush on trade, specifically the fate of the package of trade programs known as the Caribbean Basin Initiative.

The Caribbean Basin Initiative was launched in 1983 and expanded in 2000. It currently provides 19 Caribbean countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for most goods.

参考译文：

三位总理应总统之邀来到华盛顿，讨论区域性问题。

布什总统说贸易和旅游问题居首位。

总统说，在会议中他也尽力向3位总理保证美国仍致力于他他所说的"睦邻友好"中。

"重要的是让这些领导人知道：我们认为一个良好、坚实、健康和有活力的睦邻关系对美国有利。"

出席该会议的加勒比海领导人中的两位---巴巴多斯岛的大卫汤普森和伯利兹城的迪安鲍磊最近被选举担任公职。巴哈马总理休伯特英格拉哈姆是该组织的元老，他在白宫会议最后代表这三个人讲话。

他告诉记者自己对三人与布什总统就贸易方面的讨论尤为感兴趣，特别是被称为"加勒比区域计划"一揽子贸易计划的命运。

"加勒比区域计划"开始于1983年，2000年得到了进一步发展。目前它为19个加勒比地区的国家的大部分货物进口美国实行免税。

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