《中英對照讀新聞》Japan, China ministers invent "toilet diplomacy " 日、中部長發明「廁所外交」

◎張沛元

Diplomacy often takes place on the sidelines of international gatherings -- an impromptu tete-a-tete between global leaders at a coffee break, or a chance encounter in the corridors of a convention centre.

外交活動通常發生於國際聚會的場外—全球領袖彼此之間在休息時間來一段未事先準備的密談，或在會議中心的走廊上來一場偶遇。

It took a new form at a meeting of Asian officials when the Japanese and Chinese foreign ministers ran into each other in the men's room.

當參與一場亞洲官員會議的日本外相與中國外長在男廁偶遇時，（這種場外外交）有了新的形式。

"I had meaningful discussions with Minister Li at the toilet," a Japanese official quoted Foreign Minister Taro Aso as telling the meeting of Asian ministers, referring to his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing.

一名日本官員引述外相麻生太郎告訴（其他）與會的亞洲國家部長，談及他與中國外長李肇星的巧遇時說：「我跟李部長在廁所裡有一場有意思的討論。」

While Aso and Li are due to see each other -- at a hotel room -- later, their meetings have been hardly frequent, reflecting the icy ties between the Asian neighbours.

儘管麻生與李肇星預定稍後要在飯店房間會面，兩人之間的會面卻稱不上頻繁，反映這兩個亞洲鄰國之間不睦的關係。

Asked whether Aso went to the men's room knowing Li was there, the Japanese official said it was purely nature's call.

被問到麻生前往男廁，是否因為知道李肇星也在那裡，這名日本官員說，（麻生去廁所）純粹是想上廁所的生理反應。

新聞辭典

take place：發生，舉行。例句：Large scale smoking ban study will take place in Scotland.（蘇格蘭將舉行大規模的禁菸研究。）

tete-a-tete：可作形容詞或名詞，指面對面交談，私下密談。

men's room：男廁，亦可做 gentlemen's room。相對於 men's room，女廁就是women's room或 ladies' room。至於廁所，則有 toilet, washroom, restroom, lavatory等不同說法。

nature's call：各種生理上的自然反應，通常是指想上廁所。