国际英语新闻：Obama attends summit, envisions "new beginning" with Cuba

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Apr. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to say that he envisions to seek "a new beginning" in relationship with Cuba here Friday.

    "I am not interested in talking for the sake of talking. But I do believe that we can move U.S.-Cuban relations in a new direction," Obama will say, according to his prepared remarks to be delivered at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Summit of the Americas.

    He will also say that he wants an "equal partnership" with other countries in the Americas, according to excerpts of the remarks released by the White House. The United States would be a friend to its neighbors because the country's future is bound to them, the president added.

    Obama is expected to say that there is no senior partner nor junior partner among countries in the western hemisphere, stressing that nations of the region must work together based on mutual respect and shared values and interests.

U.S. President Barack Obama (C) attends the opening cermony of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17, 2009

    Obama will say his attendance at the summit was aimed "to launch a new chapter of engagement that will be sustained throughout my administration." He conceded that the United States at some times sought to "dictate terms to other democracies."

    Obama is expected to offer 30 million U.S. dollars in assistance to increase security in the Caribbean region, along with fresh funds to help provide small loans to entrepreneurs in Latin America

    Obama also calls for a region-wide partnership on energy and environmental issues to confront the threat of climate change, saying that nations need to work together to produce and use energies to create jobs.

    Obama arrived here in the afternoon and was greeted by Paula Goppe-Scoon, Trinidad and Tobago's foreign minister at the airport of Port of Spain. As his motorcade drove to the Hyatt Regency, the summit's site, groups of people stood along the road watching and waving to him.

    Obama will be the fourth of the five speakers addressing the opening ceremony. After the ceremony, Obama will meet with Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Patrick Manning and then hold a meeting with a group of Caribbean country leaders.