In first Trump-Merkel meeting, awkward body language and a quip

ដកស្រង់ចេញពីសារព័ត៌មានសិង្ហបុរី (Channel News Asia) ចេញផ្សាយនៅថ្ងៃទី១៨ ខែមីនា ឆ្នាំ២០១៧។

WASHINGTON: The first face-to-face meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel started awkwardly on Friday and ended even more oddly, with a quip by Trump about wiretapping that left the German leader visibly bewildered.

The two leaders share different views on trade, Russia and immigration, leading to some uncomfortable moments at a joint news conference on Friday in which they took pains to downplay differences that were hard to mask.

Friday’s meeting was the first between the new U.S. president and the long-serving stateswoman, who leads Europe’s largest economy. It was seen as one that could help determine the future of the transatlantic alliance and shape their working relationship.

Though Merkel appeared relaxed, the body language between them was not especially warm.

Trump and Merkel shook hands when she arrived at the White House but did not do so in the Oval Office where she frequently leaned towards him while he stared straight ahead, sitting with his legs apart and hands together. In the Oval Office both leaders described their meeting in brief remarks to reporters as having been very good.

She began her remarks at the news conference by saying it was better to speak to each other than about each other.

“We held a conversation where we were trying to address also those areas where we disagree, but we tried to bring people together … (and) tried to find a compromise that is good for both sides,” Merkel said.

They shook hands again at the end of the press conference and then exited the East Room together.

Near the start of the news conference, Trump pressed Merkel for Germany to meet NATO’s military spending target, and Merkel reiterated her country’s commitment to the 2 percent military spending goal.

Vocabulary (វាក្យសព្ទ)

Leader /ˈliː.dər/ (N) apersonincontrolof agroup,country, orsituation.(មេដឹកនាំ)

Trade/treɪd/(N)theactivityofbuyingandselling,orexchanging,goodsand/orservicesbetweenpeopleorcountries.(ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម)

Immigration /ˌɪm.ɪˈɡreɪ.ʃən/ (N) theactof someone coming tolivein a differentcountry.(អន្តោប្រវេសន៍)

Economy /iˈkɒn.ə.mi/ (N)thesystemoftradeandindustryby which thewealthof a country is made and used.(សេដ្ឋកិច្ច)

Relationship /rɪˈleɪ.ʃən.ʃɪp/ (N) the way in which two things areconnected.(ទំនាក់ទំនង)

Reporter/rɪˈpɔː.tər/ (N) apersonwhosejobis todiscoverinformationaboutnewsevents anddescribethem for anewspaperormagazineor forradioor television.( អ្នកយកព័ត៌មាន​ )

Conference /ˈkɒn.fər.əns/ (N) anevent, sometimeslastinga fewdays, at which there is a group oftalkson aparticularsubject.(សន្និសិទ)

Target /ˈtɑː.ɡɪt/ (N)anobjectshotat duringshootingpractice, often acirclewith a pattern ofrings, or anyobjectorplaceat whichbullets,bombs, etc. areaimed.(គោលដៅ)

Commitment /kəˈmɪt.mənt/ (N) awillingnessto giveyourtimeandenergyto something that youbelievein, or apromiseorfirmdecisionto do something.(ការប្តេជ្ញាចិត្ត)

Military Spending /ˈmɪl.ɪ.tər.i ˈspen.dɪŋ/ (N) themoneythat is used for military forces to serve and protect country.(ការចំណាយលើវិស័យយោធា)