新加坡地理经济文化英语介绍.pdf

新加坡地理经济文化英语介绍 新加坡共和国Republic of Singapore Singapore,officiallythe Republicof Singapore,isanislandcountry locatedatthesouthern tipofthe Malay Peninsula.It lies 137kilometres(85mi) northoftheequator,southofthe MalaysianstateofJohorandnorthofIndonesiasRiauIslands.At707.1km2(273.0sqmi), Singapore isoneoffourremainingtruecity-states intheworld.It isthesmallest nationin SoutheastAsia. Priorto Europeansettlement,the island now knownas Singaporewasthe site of a Malay fishingvillageatthemouthoftheSingaporeRiver.SeveralhundredindigenousOrangLaut peoplealso livedalongthe nearby coast, riversandonsmallerislands.In 1819the British EastIndiaCompanyestablishedatrading postontheisland,whichwasusedthereafteras astrategictradingpostalongthespiceroute.[4]Singaporewouldbecomeoneofthemost important commercial and military centres of the British Empire, and the hub of British power in Southeast Asia. The city was occupied by the Japanese during World War II, whichWinstonChurchillcalled Britains greatest defeat.[5]Singapore revertedto British rule immediately postwar, in 1945. Eighteen years later the city, having achieved independence from Britain, merged with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia. However, less than two years later it seceded from the federation and became an independent republic on 9 August 1965. Singapore joined the United Nations on 21 Septemberthat sameyear.It isalsoa memberoftheCommonwealthof Nations. Since independence, Singapores standard of living has been on the rise. Foreign direct investmentandastate-leddrivetoindustrialisationbasedonplansdrawnupbythe Dutch economist Albert Winsemius have created a modern economy focused on electronics manufacturing, petrochemicals, tourism and financial services alongside traditional entrepôt trade.[citation needed] Singapore is the 5th wealthiest country in the world in termsofGDP(PPP)percapita.[6]Thissmallnationhasforeignexchangereservesof more thanUS$177 billion.[7] The pop