国务委员刘延东在中英出版传媒产业投资论坛上的演讲

2012年4月15日，伦敦

Opening a New Chapter in China-UK Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges

--Speech by State Councilor Liu Yandong at The China-UK Publishing and Media Industry Investment Forum

London, 15 April 2012

　　女士们，先生们，朋友们：

　　Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　Dear Friends,

　　在中英建立大使级外交关系40周年之际，很高兴参加中英出版传媒产业投资论坛。我谨代表中国政府对论坛的召开表示热烈祝贺！向所有为中英出版传媒合作作出贡献的朋友们表示衷心感谢!

　　I am delighted to attend the China-UK Publishing and Media Industry Investment Forum on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of ambassadorial diplomatic relations between China and the United Kingdom. On behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to extend warm congratulations on the opening of the forum and express heartfelt thanks to all the friends who have contributed to China-UK cooperation in the publishing and media sector.

　　30年前，我率中国青年代表团第一次访英，英国青年的友好情谊至今历历在目。此后我多次参与两国教育、科技、体育、青年等领域的交流合作，深感两国人民之间加强交流的重要性。

　　Thirty years ago, I visited the United Kingdom for the first time, leading a Chinese youth delegation. Even today, I still have vivid memory of the friendship of the British young people. In the years after that trip, I have been involved, on a number of occasions, in China-UK exchanges and cooperation in education, science, technology, sports, youth and other areas, and I feel keenly the importance of closer people-to-people exchanges.

　　我此次访英，是为了落实温家宝总理和卡梅伦首相去年达成的重要共识，建立中英高级别人文交流机制，这是中国继中俄、中美之后与第三个国家建立的高级别人文交流机制，也是中国与欧盟成员国建立的第一个人文交流机制。明天，我将与杰里米·亨特大臣正式启动这一机制，主持首轮会议，我期待会议取得丰硕成果。

　　The purpose of my current visit is to implement the important agreement between Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister David Cameron last year to establish the China-UK High-level People-to-People Dialogue. This is the third high-level people-to-people exchange mechanism China has established with other countries, following the ones with Russia and the United States, and the first of its kind with an EU member. Tomorrow, I will join Secretary Jeremy Hunt to officially launch this mechanism and co-chair the first meeting. I look forward to a productive meeting tomorrow.

　　女士们、先生们，

　　Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　英国是第一个承认中华人民共和国的西方大国，两国建立大使级外交关系40年来，国际形势风云变幻，双边关系不断向前发展。近年来，双方建立了全面战略伙伴关系，形成了全方位合作格局，各领域交流日趋活跃并富有成效。这一局面来之不易，需要双方倍加珍惜。

　　The United Kingdom was the first major Western country to recognize the People's Republic of China. Over the past 40 years since the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic relations, China-UK relations have been forging ahead despite international vicissitudes. In recent years, we have established a comprehensive strategic partnership, conducted all-round cooperation and carried out dynamic and fruitful exchanges across the board. These hard-won achievements should be cherished by both sides.

　　当今世界正处在大变革大调整大发展时期，国际金融危机深层次影响仍未消除，气候变化、粮食安全、能源资源安全、公共卫生安全、重大自然灾害等全球性问题日益突出，地区冲突时有发生，人类面临的共同挑战和风险不断增多。作为安理会常任理事国和东西方文化的两个典型国家，中英友好合作不仅将会为两国人民带来更大福祉，而且将对世界带来重要影响。我们愿与英方共同努力，从战略高度和长远角度把握双边关系，增进战略互信，深化各领域合作，密切在国际事务中的沟通与协调，妥善处理双方分歧，推动中英关系达到新水平。

　　The world of today is undergoing major transformation, major adjustment and major development. The deep-seated impact of the international financial crisis is still with us. Climate change, food, energy and resource security, public health safety, big natural disasters and other global issues have become all the more pronounced. Regional conflicts occur from time to time. Mankind is facing increasing common challenges and risks. China and the United Kingdom are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and fine examples of the Eastern and Western civilizations. Friendship and cooperation between our two countries are not only of greater benefit to our two peoples, but also important to the world. We hope to work together with the United Kingdom, approach the bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen cooperation in all areas, strengthen communication and coordination in international affairs and properly handle our differences in a joint effort to raise China-UK relations to a new high.

　　国之交在于民相亲，民相亲在于心相通。人文交流在两国关系中具有基础性先导性作用。两国政府决定把人文交流提升到双边关系的战略层面，使之与政治互信、经贸合作一道，共同构成全面战略伙伴关系的三大支柱，以民众间的相知与理解培育两国友好的深厚土壤，使全面战略伙伴关系更加稳固、富有活力。这一富有远见的创举，在中英关系史上具有里程碑意义！

　　The key to sound relations between state lies in the affinity between their peoples, which largely stems from mutual understanding. Therefore, people-to-people and cultural exchanges play a fundamental and leading role in bilateral relations. Our two governments have decided to lift cultural and people-to-people exchanges to a strategic level so that such exchanges, together with political mutual trust and business cooperation, will form three pillars in China-UK comprehensive strategic partnership. In this way, the mutual understanding and appreciation between our peoples will add to the popular support of China-UK friendship and put our comprehensive strategic partnership on a more stable and dynamic footing. This pioneering and visionary endeavor is indeed a milestone in China-UK relations.

　　女士们、先生们，

　　Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　中英两国都是历史文化大国，都以自己的独特创造为人类的文明进步作出了不可磨灭的贡献。中国有5000年不曾中断的文明传承，博大精深、辉煌灿烂的中华文化所孕育的东方智慧，比如“天人合一”、“民为邦本”、“和而不同”、“义利兼顾”等，是世界文明殿堂的瑰宝，其时代价值越来越为国际社会所认同。英国是启蒙运动和工业革命重要发源地，所创造的科学技术、市场经济、金融制度、法律体系和工商业文化，对近代以来的世界发展产生了重大影响。

　　Both China and the United Kingdom, with long histories and rich cultures, have made unique and remarkable contribution to human civilization and progress. In the 5,000-year continuous Chinese civilization, the profound and splendid Chinese culture has produced such philosophies as "harmony between man and nature", "people being the fundamental of the state", "harmony without uniformity" and "taking into account both interests and obligations". The wisdom embodied in these philosophies are valuable assets of world civilization and its value is increasingly recognized by the international community. The United Kingdom, as the birthplace of the Enlightenment Movement and the industrial revolution, has a significant impact on modern world with its science and technology, market economy, financial system, legal system and business culture.

　　中英两国相距遥远，但并没有阻挡人文交流的脚步。早在2000多年前，中国就开辟了三条“丝绸之路”，从陆上、海上连通亚欧非三大洲，开始了与其他国家的友好交往。在长期交往中，两国的优秀文明成果深受彼此欣赏。中国儒家思想和科举制度等传入欧洲后，曾得到英国启蒙思想家的推崇。文艺复兴之后英国涌现出的哲学家、文学家、艺术家，在中国闻名遐迩。莎翁的作品100多年前就在中国出版，并陆续以话剧、京剧等形式上演，哈姆雷特的悲情、奥赛罗的正直、鲍西亚的智慧，至今在中国脍炙人口、经久不衰。培根“知识就是力量”的名言，悬挂在很多中国偏远的乡村学校。

　　The great geographic distance between China and Britain did not hold back our cultural and people-to-people interactions. More than 2,000 years ago, China opened three routes of the Silk Road on land and sea, connecting Asia with Europe and Africa, and heralding an era of friendly exchanges with countries along the routes. Through millennia of interflows, both countries have shown great admiration for the fine cultural achievements of the other side: China's Confucianism and imperial examination system, when introduced to Europe, were highly commended by British Enlightenment thinkers, while British philosophers, writers and artists of the post-Renaissance age enjoyed tremendous popularity in China. Shakespeare's works were published in China more than 100 years ago and have been staged in a variety of forms such as drama and Peking Opera. The tragedy of Hamlet, the integrity of Othello and the wit of Portia are all familiar to generations of Chinese readers. The golden saying of Francis Bacon, "Knowledge is power", can be found even on the walls of remote village schools in China.

　　近年来，中英人文交流得到了官方与民间的双重推动，规模和活跃程度都前所未有。中国有３亿人学英语，有数千万英超联赛观众，英国有500多所中小学开设汉语课，建立了19所孔子学院，居欧洲各国之首，英国伦敦大学学生蒋思哲获得汉语桥世界大学生中文比赛冠军；48对中英省郡、城市缔结友好关系，去年中国赴英人次达20多万；上海世博会英国馆吸引了800万中国观众，兵马俑和故宫珍品在伦敦展出深受欢迎……

　　In recent years, thanks to the strong push from both the governments and non-government sectors, China-Britain cultural and people-to-people exchanges have seen unprecedented expansion and dynamism. Over 300 million Chinese are learning English, and tens of millions in China watch Premier League events. In Britain, the Chinese language is taught in over 500 primary and secondary schools, and there are altogether 19 Confucius institutes in the UK, more than any other country in Europe. Stewart Johnson, an undergraduate from the University of London, won the first prize at the Chinese Bridge language competition for non-native university students. Forty-seven Chinese provinces and cities have forged sister relationships with their counterparts in the UK, and last year, over 200,000 Chinese visited this country. The British pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo attracted eight million Chinese visitors, while the terracotta warriors and the treasures from the Palace Museum were warmly received when displayed in London.