中国驻南非大使田学军在2012年非洲地区孔子学院联席会议上的讲话

南非斯坦陵布什大学

2012年9月11日

Address at the Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Africa by Amb. TIAN Xuejun

Stellenbosch

11 September, 2012

　　很高兴出席2012年非洲地区孔子学院联席大会。孔子曰，有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎！

　　It's my great pleasure to attend the joint conference of Confucius Institutes in Africa. As we have today in the audience many outstanding figures, both old and young, I wish to quote what Confucius said, that "when you have friends coming from afar, isn't that a great pleasure"!

　　今天，群贤毕至，少长咸集，来自国内和非洲各国从事和支持汉语教学与推广工作的领导、老师们齐聚一堂，共同见证孔子学院在非洲的发展壮大，共同为非洲地区孔子学院未来的发展规划蓝图、出谋划策。在这里，请允许我代表中国驻南非使馆，对此次会议的举办致以热烈的祝贺，对远道而来的中国和非洲教育界的各位领导、老师和朋友，表示热烈的欢迎！欢迎大家来到美丽的南非！

　　All the officials, teachers and friends gather here have long been committed to Chinese language teaching and promotion in China and African countries and you are all witnesses of the success of Confucius Institutes in Africa. Today, we come to draw the blueprint for future development of Confucius Institutes in this Continent. Please allow me to express, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, our heartfelt congratulations on the opening of this conference, and our warmest welcome to everyone of you, officials, teachers and friends from afar. Welcome to the beautiful country of South Africa!

　　昨天是9月10日，中国的教师节。教师是一个崇高的职业，尊师重教是我们中华民族的传统美德。在中国，孩子们被视为花园中的鲜花，而老师则是培养鲜花的园丁。让我们一道，向在座非洲和中国的园丁们致以节日的祝贺和崇高的敬意！

　　Yesterday we celebrated the Teachers Day in China. Teacher is a noble profession, and it is a traditional Chinese virtue that we respect teachers and pay special attention to education. In China, children are regarded as flowers in the garden and teachers are the gardeners that look after the flowers. Therefore, I suggest that, we pay our highest tribute and respects to all the "gardeners" from both China and Africa, and wish them a happy Teachers Day!

　　在这里还要特别感谢远道而来的许琳主任、朱崇实校长、高玉葆校长及各位朋友，向大家多年来为推广汉语教学、传播中国文化所作辛勤努力表示衷心的感谢！

　　My special thanks also goes to Director General Xu Lin, President Zhu Chongshi and President Gao Yubao and all the friends that have travelled a long distance to the conference. Thank you for your long time commitment to the promotion of Chinese language and culture. Thank you for all that you have done!

　　此次会议的主办方斯坦陵布什大学为会议的举办作了精心、周到的安排。借此机会，我谨代表中国驻南非使馆再次向你们表示感谢。

　　The University of Stellenbosch, as the host, has made careful and thoughtful arrangements for this Conference. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I wish to show our appreciation to you once again.

　　孔子曰，仁者乐山，智者乐水。相信在这山清水秀的地方，大家将为孔子学院的发展贡献出更多、更好的思想和思路。

　　"Man of virtue loves mountains, and man of wisdom loves waters." That's what Confucius believed. And therefore I believe the picturesque mountains and waters in Stellenbosch will inspired every one of us so that we can contribute more to the development of Confucius Institutes.

　　女士们，先生们，

　　Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　国之交在于民相亲。中国与非洲虽然相距遥远，但中非人民的交往源远流长，中非人民的友谊历久弥坚。新中国成立以来，中非关系取得了长足发展。特别是2000年中非合作论坛成立后，中非关系迅速提升，政治互信不断增强，经贸合作成果斐然，人文交流蓬勃发展。今年7月，中非合作论坛第五届部长级会议在北京成功召开，胡锦涛主席宣布了五项对非工作的新举措。我相信，在双方的共同努力下，中非友好合作将不断迈上新的台阶。

　　Amity between people holds the key to sound relations between states. Although geographically far apart, China and Africa enjoy a long history of exchange, and the friendship between our two peoples are becoming ever more vibrant with the change of the times. Ever since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, China-Africa relationship has witnessed remarkable progress. The establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000 has, in particular, injected new impetus into China-Africa relations. Now we are enjoying enhanced political mutual trust, fruitful economic cooperation and dynamic cultural and people-to-people exchanges. This July, the fifth FOCAC Ministerial Conference held in Beijing was another major success. During that conference, President Hu Jintao announced five new policy measures boosting China-Africa relationship. I believe under our joint effort, the friendly cooperation between China and Africa will reach a new high.