驻奥克兰总领事许尔文在第19届奥克兰元宵灯节开幕式上的致辞
Remarks by Consul General Xu Erwen at the 2018 Auckland Lantern Festival
2018年3月1日，奥克兰中央公园
Auckland Domain, 1 March 2018
尊敬的新西兰民族事务部长萨莱萨女士，
尊敬的奥克兰市长戈夫先生，
尊敬的新西兰国会议员梅丽莎女士、霍建强先生，
各位奥克兰市政官员，
女士们，先生们：
Hon. Minister Jenny Salesa,
Hon. Mayor Phil Golf,
Respected Members of Parliament Mellisa Lee, Raymond Huo,
Dear Councilors,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
大家晚上好！
Good Evening!
非常高兴也非常荣幸与各位嘉宾、各位朋友欢聚一堂，共同庆祝2018年奥克兰元宵灯节。在中国的传统文化中，元宵是整个农历新年庆祝活动的最后一天，也是家人和朋友们相聚赏月、赏灯、祈福的节日。值此欢乐吉祥的时刻，我谨代表中国驻奥克兰总领馆，向大家致以最诚挚最美好的新春祝福。
It is my great pleasure and honor to be here today, joining so many distinguished guests and friends to celebrate the 2018 Auckland Lantern Festival. In Chinese traditions, the Lantern Festival is the last day of the Chinese Spring Festival celebration, a time for families and friends to worship the moon and lanterns together and pray for good fortune for the New Year. So at this auspicious occasion, please allow me to extend on behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Auckland, my best wishes to all of you for a very happy and prosperous new year, a year of good fortune.
在过去的几个星期里，奥克兰和新西兰各地举办了许许多多庆祝中国新春佳节的活动。其中，今天开幕的元宵灯节无疑是最引人注目的，它将奥克兰的节日气氛推向了高潮。这项活动举办19年来，规模越办越大，越来越有吸引力，已成为海外规模最大、持续时间最长的元宵节庆活动，每年吸引近30万新西兰各界各族裔民众参与。
Over the past several weeks, numerous events have been held in Auckland and other parts of New Zealand in celebration of Chinese New Year, among which today’s lantern festival is crowned to be the highlight and pushes the serials of spring festival celebrations into a new high. Started 19 years ago, Auckland Lantern Festival has been growing fast and become more and more attractive year by year. It turned out to be the largest and longest-lasting one out of China in the whole world, attended annually by close to 300,000 people from different ethnic groups and all walks of life in New Zealand in recent years.
女士们，先生们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
奥克兰元宵灯节的蓬勃发展，充分表明了以下事实：
The fast growing Auckland Lantern Festival is a strong reflection of the following points:
一是展现了广大侨胞和新西兰各界朋友对中国文化的真挚喜爱。通过欣赏中国民间艺术、杂技、武术表演，品尝中国美食等，大家切身体验到中华优秀文化的博大精深和丰富内涵，感受到5000年绵延不断的中华文明的独特魅力，这些都是全体中国人引以为豪的。元宵灯节为新西兰人民增添了许多欢乐和喜悦，成为当地多元文化的重要组成部分。
First, it fully demonstrates the true love of the Chinese culture not only by our Chinese compatriots but also by our Kiwi friends in New Zealand. Through enjoying Chinese acrobats, Chinese food, folk arts, performances, martial arts, etc, the participants are experiencing the richness of Chinese fine culture, fascinated by Chinese civilization which I am so proud of. Chinese civilization has been the only civilization in the whole world uninterrupted for more than 5000 years. The lantern festival has become a very important part of multi-culture in New Zealand and has brought so much joy and happiness to the people of New Zealand.
二是反映了奥克兰凭借其高度开放性和包容性，在各领域取得的快速发展。奥克兰不仅是新西兰的商业之都和创新中心，也是一个融合世界各地不同文明和文化精华的大熔炉，为不同族群相互交流互鉴提供了非常有吸引力的环境。元宵灯节不仅极大丰富了奥克兰和新西兰人民的文化生活，也为这座城市的经济繁荣做出了贡献。
Secondly, it reflects the fast growing development of Auckland in various areas because of its openness and inclusiveness. Auckland is not only the commercial and innovative center of New Zealand but also a great melting pot which absorbs merits of different civilizations and cultures from the whole world. It provides a very attractive environment for different ethnic groups to mingle with each other and learn from each other. The lantern festival not only greatly enriched the cultural life of people of Auckland and New Zealand, but also brought the economic prosperity to this city.
三是反映了中新两国和两国人民之间交流、合作和友谊的快速向纵深发展。我很高兴地告诉大家，中新之间包括文化交流在内各领域合作交流正突飞猛进。作为新西兰最大贸易伙伴，中国与新西兰的双边贸易额每年增长17%，已成为新西兰经济增长的重要推动力。作为新西兰最大海外留学生来源地，中国在新留学生人数已达5万多，极大地促进了两国的教育交流与合作。作为新西兰第二大海外游客来源国，中国游客去年给新西兰贡献了15亿美元的旅游业收入。特别是在奥克兰领区，“一带一路”建设已取得早期收获，例如每周来往于中国主要城市和奥克兰之间的直航航班超过150架次。这些成果密切了双方之间的联系，增进了两国人民之间的交流,也促进了新西兰的多元文化。
Thirdly, it also reflects the extensiveness and depth of fast growing communication, cooperation and friendship between China and New Zealand as well as our two peoples. Along with the fast growing cultural exchanges, I am so glad to say that China-New Zealand cooperation and communication have been increased quickly in all other areas as well. As New Zealand’s largest trading partner, China’s trade with New Zealand grew at an annual rate of 17 %, serving as a major driving force of New Zealand’s economic growth. As the largest source of international students, Chinese students in New Zealand rose to over 50,000, greatly enhanced the educational communication and exchanges of our two countries. As New Zealand’s second largest source of tourists, Chinese tourists brought 1.5 billion US dollars to New Zealand last year. In our consulate district particularly, the One Belt and One Road constructions have yielded early harvest, such as the direct flights between China’s major cities and Auckland back and forth having exceeded more than 150 per week, which greatly foster the connectivity and facilitate the communication of our two peoples and increase the diversity of the cultures in New Zealand.
展望新的一年，中新合作交流面临着巨大的发展机遇。我们期待着与新西兰各界朋友一道，在相互尊重、平等互利、合作共赢的基础上继续深化两国全面战略伙伴关系。我坚信，良好的中新关系不仅有利于两国和两国人民，也有利于亚太地区乃至整个世界。
Looking forward to the new year of 2018, we are faced with great opportunities to develop our co-operations and communication. We look forward to working together with our New Zealand friends to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries based on mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation. A sound and good China New Zealand relationship benefits not only the two countries and two peoples, but also the Asia-Pacific as well as the whole world.
值此特殊时刻，我要感谢奥克兰旅游、大型活动和经济发展局(ATEED)等众多机构、合作伙伴和赞助商为本次活动所做的贡献。借此机会，我也要感谢新西兰各界朋友为加强中新两国和两国人民之间的友好合作提供的大力支持。
At this special occasion, I would like to express my appreciation to the Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED) and many other institutions, partners and sponsors for your contribution to making this fantastic event possible. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our friends in New Zealand for their support in strengthening the bilateral relationship between our two countries and two peoples.
最后，再次祝各位来宾和朋友新年快乐，吉祥安康，万事如意!祝中新关系再创新高！祝两国人民之间的友谊万古长青！现在，我宣布第19届奥克兰元宵灯节开幕!
Once again, my warmest greetings and best wishes to all the guests present and friends in New Zealand, for a very happy and prosperous New Year! Wish China-New Zealand relations a greater success and our two peoples an ever-lasting friendship! Now I declare the opening of this lantern festival!