昂首走进新时代 携手共奏黄金曲
Play a Golden Symphony in the New Era
驻英国大使刘晓明在英国48家集团俱乐部2018年新春晚宴上的主旨演讲
Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the “Icebreakers” Chinese New Year Dinner 2018
2018年2月12日，多切斯特饭店
The Dorchester, 12 February 2018
尊敬的48家集团俱乐部主席斯蒂芬·佩里先生，
尊敬的刘明康先生，
各位来宾，
女士们、先生们：
Chairman Stephen Perry,
Mr Liu Mingkang,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
大家晚上好！
Good evening!
很高兴出席48家集团俱乐部中国农历狗年春节晚宴。
It is a real pleasure to join you at the annual “Icebreakers” Chinese New Year Dinner.
再过两天就是狗年除夕。每年这个时候出席48家集团俱乐部的春节晚宴，我都翘首以盼，期待与大家共同梳理过去一年的收获和思考，分享对未来一年的展望和心愿。
The New Year’s Eve is only two days away. I have been looking forward to the “Icebreakers” dinner, and to the opportunity to sit down with friends old and new and share with you my thoughts on the past year and my expectations for the new year.
在中国传统文化中，60年为一甲子，十二生肖完成一个轮回。今年是戊戌狗年，两个甲子之前，中国发生“戊戌变法”，一些晚清维新派人士试图通过变革，改变中国被欺凌瓜分的命运，但以失败告终，史称“百日维新”。时势变迁，沧海桑田。
In the Chinese calendar, sixty years form a cycle. Exactly two cycles ago, in the final days of the Qing Dynasty, reformists in China launched a movement in 1898. They sought to stop the foreign bullying and dismemberment of their country through reform. However, their attempt failed and was henceforth known as the “Hundred Day’s Reform”.
120年后的今天，又恰逢戊戌狗年，中国已发生翻天覆地的变化，中国与世界的关系也发生了历史性变化，中英关系也今非昔比。抚今追昔，令人感慨万千。
Now, after two cycles, both China itself and its relations with the world have achieved tremendous and historic progress. The same is true in the relations between China and the UK. What a sea of change two cycles have brought about!
说到今年的生肖“狗”，在中英两国文化中，狗都是忠诚、勇敢、吉祥的象征。在中国汉字中，狗吠声“汪”与“旺”字谐音，因此人们经常用“旺”来表达对自己、对国家、对未来的期盼。我认为，用“旺”字来形容过去一年中国的发展和中英关系的进展非常恰如其分。
The coming New Year will be the Year of the Dog. In both China and Britain, dog is regarded as a symbol of loyalty, courage and good luck. Moreover, the barking of the dog sounds similar to “prosperous”, or “wang”, in the Chinese language. For the Chinese people, “wang” is our hope for ourselves, for our country and for the future. In my view, there is no better word than “wang” to describe the development in China and the progress in China-UK relations in the past year.
对于中国而言，2017年是“繁荣兴旺”、具有划时代意义的一年。中国共产党第十九届全国代表大会胜利召开，挚画了中国未来发展的宏伟蓝图，中国人民昂首迈进中国特色社会主义新时代。
For China, 2017 was a prosperous and epoch-making year. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China outlined a grand blueprint for China’s development in the future. It also ushered in a new era for building socialism with Chinese characteristics.
对于中英关系而言，2017年是中英关系“运旺时盛”的一年，两国关系取得丰硕成果。
For China-UK relations, 2017 is also a prosperous and fruitful year.
这是中英关系承前启后的一年。我们共同庆祝中英建立大使级外交关系45周年，习近平主席和梅首相在二十国集团汉堡峰会期间成功会晤，两国高层互动频繁。中英关系的战略性、务实性、全球性和包容性更加突出。
It was a year of consolidation and success. We celebrated the 45th anniversary of ambassadorial diplomatic ties between China and the UK. President Xi and Prime Minister May had a successful meeting during the G20 Summit in Hamburg. And the two countries maintained frequent high-level exchanges. All these underscored the strategic, practical, global and inclusive nature of China-UK relationship.
这是中英合作收获满满的一年。新一轮经济财金、人文以及安全对话达成140多项成果。2017年中英双边贸易额超过790亿美元， 其中英国对华出口增长近20%；中国对英投资存量超过191亿美元，英国对华投资总量超过225亿美元。中英签署《科技创新合作战略》，开启中国与其他国家科技合作的先河。
2017 was a year laden with fruits of cooperation. Over 140 outcomes were reached during the new rounds of the China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue, the High-Level People to People Dialogue, and the High-Level Security Dialogue. Bilateral trade exceeded $79 billion, with British export to China up by nearly 20%. Chinese investment in the UK topped $19.1 billion, and British investment in China was over $22.5 billion. The China-UK Joint Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation was signed. This is the very first such document for China’s cooperation with other countries in the field of science and technology.
这是中英打造“一带一路”合作亮点的一年。英国财政大臣哈蒙德作为梅首相特使赴华出席“一带一路”高峰合作论坛。英国成为第一个签署《“一带一路”融资指导原则》的西方大国，并设立了“一带一路”融资合作特使和专家理事会，宣布支持250亿英镑“一带一路”亚洲项目。双方共建首期10亿美元投资基金。我很高兴看到英国“一带一路”特使范智廉先生和他的夫人菲奥娜今天与我们一道出席新春晚宴。
2017 was a year of many highlights in China-UK cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative. Chancellor Hammond attended the Belt and Road Forum as Prime Minister May’s personal envoy. The UK became the first major Western country to sign the Guiding Principles on Financing the Development of the Belt and Road. The City Envoy to the Belt and Road Initiative was appointed and the City Expert Board was set up. I am very pleased that Mr. Douglas Flint, the City Envoy, and his wife Fiona are with us tonight. A total of £25 billion was pledged in support of Belt and Road projects in Asia. The UK also joined China in announcing the establishment of a bilateral investment fund, with an initial capital injection of $1 billion.
这是中英国际协作日益深化的一年。中英在推动经济全球化、反对保护主义、完善全球治理、应对气候变化等方面共识增多，就朝核、伊朗核、叙利亚等国际热点问题保持密切沟通与合作。
2017 was a year of ever deeper cooperation between China and the UK in global affairs. From promoting economic globalization to improving global governance, from opposing protectionism to tackling climate change, our two countries broadened our consensus on a wide range of global issues. We also maintained close communication and cooperation on international hotspots, including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iran nuclear issue and the situation in Syria.
回顾过去一年，我们充满自豪；展望新的一年，我们充满期待。
While we take great pride in our accomplishments in the past year, we are full of expectations for the new year.
2018年是中国全面贯彻中共十九大精神的开局之年，是中国改革开放40周年，也是中英“黄金时代”加速推进之年。新年伊始，梅首相成功访华，中英关系实现“开门红”：
In China, 2018 is the opening year for the implementation of the blueprint outlined at the 19th Party Congress. It also marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. For China-UK “Golden Era”, 2018 is the year for us to shift our bilateral ties into a higher gear. Prime Minister May’s successful visit to China at the beginning of the year is a good start for China-UK relations in the whole year.
一是规划了双边关系新蓝图。两国领导人从战略和全球高度看待双边关系发展，一致同意赋予“黄金时代”新的时代内涵，共同打造“黄金时代”增强版。
First, the visit outlined a new blueprint for China-UK ties. During the visit, leaders of our two countries exchanged views thoroughly on China-UK relationship from strategic and global perspective. They agreed on building a “Golden Era” 2.0.
二是达成了务实合作新成果。双方签署了12项政府间合作协议，签订了总额约98.9亿英镑的商业大单，将为英国新创2666个就业岗位。例如，渣打银行获批中国境外非金融企业熊猫债主承销资格，中国京东集团计划在未来2-3年内向中国市场引进20亿英镑英国商品等等。
Second, the visit harvested new fruits of business cooperation. China and the UK reached 12 inter-governmental agreements on cooperation and signed business contracts worth about £9.89 billion. These are expected to create 2,666 new jobs in the UK. What is more, Standard Chartered Bank received a lead underwriting license for overseas non-financial corporate Panda bonds. China’s Jingdong Group planned to sell £2 billion worth of British goods in the Chinese market in the coming two to three years. The list can go on and on.
三是提升了人文交流新热度。中英教育、文化、青年领域互动亮点纷呈，中国网民亲切地称呼梅首相为“梅姨”，汉语和英语展现了“非凡”吸引力，中英两国民众的手拉得更紧、心贴得更近。
Third, the visit boosted bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges. It was filled with new highlights in educational and cultural cooperation and interactions between the young people. In the Chinese social media, Prime Minister May is affectionately known as “Auntie May”. The Chinese and English languages have shown “great” appeal in both countries respectively. The people of the two countries are drawn closer to each other than ever before.
新的一年开局红火，我们完全有理由对打造中英关系“黄金时代”增强版充满信心。在英文中，DOG（狗）可以理解为勤奋（Diligence）、担当（Obligation）和进取（Goal）的缩写。
With this good start in the year of the dog, there is every reason to be confident in China-UK “Golden Era” 2.0 if we all pull together in the spirit of the DOG. By that I mean: D stands for diligence. O stands for obligation. G stands for goal.
让我们以勤奋的工作抓住新机遇。中英两国都站在新的历史起点上，两国各自发展的“新时代”互为机遇、互为助力，“中国梦”和“英国梦”交相辉映，将给双方提供更加广阔、更富活力的合作平台。中国正致力于建设现代化经济体系，发展更高层次的开放型经济，中国对外开放的大门只会越开越大，这将为英国带来更多发展机遇。今年11月，中国将在上海首次举办国际进口博览会，欢迎包括英国在内的世界各国分享中国的发展机遇。英国致力于建设“全球化英国”，正在推进现代产业战略，积极加强与全球伙伴经贸关系，将在“一带一路”建设中发挥独特作用。我们应牢牢抓住新时代赋予中英关系的历史机遇，促进两国共同发展。
First, in the spirit of diligence, let us work hard to seize the new opportunities. Both China and the UK now stand at the entrance to a new historic stage. Each embraces a new era, and each has a new dream. Our converging new eras set the stage for our two countries to explore opportunities and achieve common development. Both the Chinese Dream and the British Dream point to broader and more dynamic cooperation. China is committed to building a modernized economy and an open economy of higher standards. This means that China will open its door wider to the world. And this will create more opportunities for the UK. November 2018 will see the opening of the first-ever China International Import Expo in Shanghai, where all countries, including the UK, are welcome to share the opportunities created by China’s development. The UK is committed to building a “Global Britain”. For this purpose, Britain is accelerating the implementation of its Modern Industrial Strategy and has vowed to strengthen economic and trade links with global partners. In this process, Britain could play a unique role in the Belt and Road Initiative. It is important that both our countries seize these historic opportunities in the new era to advance China-UK relations and promote common development.
让我们以担当的精神打造新动力。改革开放是40年来中国发展进步、与世界深化互动、合作共赢的持久动力。中英同为自由贸易和开放型经济的积极拥护者、推动者和受益者，双方应秉持“开放”和“伙伴”精神，向开放要活力，向合作要动力。我们要以推进“一带一路”合作为新契机，开展更大范围、更高水平、更深层次互利合作，推动投融资合作，携手开发第三方市场，增添中英合作新动力。我们要加强两国发展战略对接，引领双方在基础设施、核电、金融、高科技等领域务实合作。我们要以语言交流为新主题，举办丰富多彩的人文交流活动，让汉语和英语搭建起两国人民相交相知的桥梁。我们要以创新合作为新引擎，探索在人工智能、绿色能源、数字经济、共享经济等新业态的合作，推动中英合作全面可持续发展。
Second, in the spirit of obligation, we are duty-bound to gather new impetus for our bilateral cooperation. For four decades, reform and opening-up have served as the powerhouse for China’s growth and its interactions and win-win cooperation with the world. Both China and the UK are committed to upholding and promoting free trade and open economy. We both have long benefited from it. Openness creates vitality. Cooperation generates power for growth. It is therefore important that our two countries continue to uphold the open spirit. It is important that we continue to build partnership. The Belt and Road Initiative will create new opportunities and gather new impetus for broader, higher-level and deeper cooperation that is in the interest of both China and the UK. Under this framework, there is a great potential to advance cooperation on investment and financing, and to jointly explore a third market. More impetus could come from matching the development strategies of our countries and encourage business cooperation in infrastructure, nuclear power, finance, high-tech and other fields. Further impetus comes from language exchanges. We should encourage and promote language inspired cultural events of all kinds and colors. This is one of the most effective ways to build a strong bond of friendship and understanding between the people of our two countries. Impetus also comes from the field of innovation. We need to explore cooperation on new industries such as artificial intelligence, green energy, digital economy and sharing economy. These are key to an all-round and sustainable development of China-UK cooperation.
让我们以进取的姿态创造新成果。“雄关漫道真如铁，而今迈步从头越”。我希望中英各界人士登高望远，不断赋予两国关系“黄金时代”新的内涵。我期待大家共同发扬新时代的“破冰精神”，敢为人先，开拓进取，把中英关系打造成为新型大国关系的典范。我愿意与大家共同努力，积极落实两国领导人推进中英关系“黄金时代”增强版的重要共识，深化互信，排除干扰，一步一个脚印扎实前行。我坚信，中英关系“黄金时代”提速增质不仅将为两国人民带来更多“黄金成果”，也将为世界和平与繁荣注入正能量，为构建人类命运共同体做出新贡献。
Third, we must have a clear goal and focus on producing new outcomes. The road to the greatest achievements is always strewn with difficulties. Despite what we have achieved, a new year is a new beginning. I hope friends from both China and the UK will aim high and continue to enrich the China-UK “Golden Era”. I hope you will carry forward the spirit of “icebreakers” in the new era. I hope you will blaze new paths and set China-UK relations as an exemplar of a new type of major-country relations. I look forward to working with you to translate the “Golden Era” 2.0 into reality. This is an important agreement of the leaders of our two countries. It calls for deeper mutual trust, determination against disruption, and a down-to-earth approach. I am convinced that the accelerated and upgraded China-UK “Golden Era” will deliver more “golden fruits” for the people of our two countries. Moreover, it will inject positive energy to world peace and prosperity. It will be a new contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
女士们，先生们，
Ladies and gentlemen,
道虽迩，不行不至；事虽小，不为不成。打造中英关系“黄金时代”增强版是中英双方共同奋斗的目标，需要我们不驰于空想、不骛于虚声，需要我们不懈的努力。
The Chinese people often say, if you don’t get moving, you won’t reach even the nearest destination; if you don’t take action, you won’t achieve even the smallest success. The China-UK “Golden Era” 2.0 is our shared goal. To reach this goal, we must not entertain impractical notions or indulge in rhetoric. We should get down to tireless work.
英国工商界始终是中英关系的开拓者。上个世纪50年代，以斯蒂芬父亲老佩里先生为代表的第一代“破冰者”，冲破重围，打破坚冰，与新中国开展贸易。今天，打造中英关系“黄金时代”增强版，推进中英“一带一路”合作，依然需要“破冰者”。让我们发扬“破冰者精神”，抓住机遇，勠力同心，开拓前行，为中英关系“黄金时代”增强版贡献智慧和力量，共同奏响新时代的“黄金乐章”！
In the history of China-UK relations, the British business community has had many pioneers. In the 1950s, the first generation of “icebreakers” led by the late father of Chairman Stephen Perry, known affectionately by his Chinese friends as Old Perry, overcame obstacles and “broke the ice” to trade with New China. Today, as we work together to build the China-UK “Golden Era” 2.0 and advance Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries, we still need “icebreakers”. Let us carry forward the spirit of “icebreakers”. Let us seize the opportunities and join hands to blaze new trails. Let us dedicate our wisdom and strength to building the China-UK “Golden Era” 2.0 and play a “golden symphony” in the new era.
现在，我提议，让我们共同举杯，
Now please allow me to propose a toast:
为中英关系“黄金时代”增强版，
To the China-UK “Golden Era” 2.0,
为“中国梦”和“英国梦”早日实现，
To the Chinese Dream and the British Dream, and
为在座各位朋友狗年吉祥，幸福安康，
To a happy and prosperous Year of the Dog for all the friends present tonight.
干杯！
Cheers!