Will APEC leaders wear this for this week's official APEC photograph?

Australian Prime Minister John Howard assured Asia Pacific leaders Monday that they would not have to parade around Sydney in tiny swimsuits and flip-flops for this week's official APEC photograph.

But there is speculation the 21 government leaders will don Australian bush outfits when they line up for the obligatory Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) photograph in the host nation's traditional costume.

As Australia lacks a distinctive national outfit, wags have had a field day making helpful suggestions about how to clothe the leaders in a manner that reflects life Down Under.

Some want to see them clad in men's lycra Speedo swimming trunks, paired with the flip-flop sandals or thongs that are must-have wear for the Australian beach.

Howard ruled out any such affront to the dignity of his honoured guests, saying only that the APEC outfit would be "very Australian".

"The only Australian garb I'd rule out is Speedos and thongs," Howard said. "I don't think I'd do that, that wouldn't be very diplomatic.

"Think Australian. Think Australian in a very positive way, one we all identify with."

The Akubra wide-brimmed hat worn by Australian bushmen is considered a strong possibility, along with oilskin coats and boots.

Howard admitted the often colourful consumes selected for APEC meetings sometimes raised the eyebrows of the leaders who had to wear them, including US President George W. Bush.

"Looking at me and me looking at him in one of the less memorable (outfits) -- Bush said, 'Thank heavens I've just had my election.' The suggestion being that he wouldn't win very many votes being photographed in that," Howard said.

The Australian leader said his favourite APEC outfit was a leather bomber jacket handed out at the 1997 meeting in Canada.

"It was so good, both my sons wanted to purloin it when I brought it back," he said.

参加悉尼亚太经合组织峰会的领导人们可以放心了，澳大利亚总理约翰•霍华德于本周一表示，不会让他们穿着泳裤和夹指拖上阵拍本周的APEC官方“全家福”。

按照惯例，参加亚太经合组织峰会的领导人们要穿着东道国的传统服装拍张大合照。有人猜测，今年，21位国家领导人将穿着澳大利亚的“丛林服”拍“全家福”。

由于澳大利亚没有什么别具特色的民族服装，一些“搞怪”人士就如何让领导人们穿得具有澳洲特色这一问题，忙着出主意。

有些人建议让领导人们穿Speedo男式紧身泳裤和夹指沙滩凉拖（在澳洲被称为thongs），这些都是澳大利亚的海滩必备装。

而霍华德总理则不赞成此类有损于领导人尊严的建议，他只是说，这次为领导人们准备的服饰“很有澳大利亚特色”。

霍华德总理说：“紧身泳裤和夹指凉拖是唯一一个我不会考虑的方案。我不可能让领导人们穿这个，因为那不太合乎与外交礼仪。”

“想想澳大利亚的特色，往积极的方面去想，有一样我们都认同的东西。”

有人认为极有可能是澳大利亚丛林人戴的亚古巴宽边帽及油布装和靴子。

霍华德坦称，为APEC领导人们准备的五颜六色的服饰有时真是会让领导人们皱眉头，美国总统布什就有过一次。

霍华德说：“（当时，）他看着我，我看着他，布什说，‘谢天谢地，我已经赢得选举了。’意思是说，他要是穿着那件衣服拍照，不会赢得那么多选票。”

霍华德总理说，他最喜欢的APEC服饰是1997年在加拿大开会时发的一件皮质飞行员夹克。

他说：“那件衣服太棒了，我带回来之后，我的两个儿子都想将它据为己有。”

Vocabulary: 

have a field day: 忙了一整天

raise one's eyebrows: 吃惊；目瞪口呆