新时代，新馆舍，新目标
New Era, New Premises, New Goals
驻英国大使刘晓明在驻英国使馆新馆舍房产交割仪式上的讲话
Remarks by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Official Transfer Ceremony of the New Diplomatic Premises of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the UK
中国驻英国大使馆新馆，英国，2018年5月18日
The New Diplomatic Premises of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, 18 May 2018
女士们、先生们、朋友们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends:
下午好！
Good afternoon!
欢迎大家出席中国驻英国大使馆新馆舍房产交割仪式，与我们共同见证这一历史性时刻。
Welcome to the official transfer ceremony of the New Diplomatic Premises of the Chinese Embassy in the UK. It is a pleasure to have you with us to witness this historic moment.
1877年，波特兰大街49号成为中国历史上第一个驻外外交机构。它跨越3个世纪，历经百年风霜，见证时代变迁，目睹了中国和世界的沧桑巨变，也承载了一代又一代中国外交人的光荣与梦想。
In 1877, 49 Portland Place became the premises of China’s first diplomatic mission abroad. It has since witnessed three centuries of changes and transformation in China and the world. It also carries the glory and the dream of generations of Chinese diplomats.
141年后的今天，中国驻英国大使馆新馆舍房产诞生了。此时此刻，作为中国驻英国大使，我不禁心潮澎湃，感慨万千。我认为，新馆舍具有三个“划时代”的重要意义。
Today, after 141 years, the Chinese Embassy in London is going to have a new home! As the Chinese Ambassador overseeing this historic moment, I have so many thoughts that I want to share with you. But in the interest of time, I only want to mention three significance of this new premises.
第一，这是新时代中英关系结出的“黄金果实”。2015年，习近平主席对英国进行国事访问，开启了中英关系“黄金时代”。两国政治互信不断增强，各领域交流与合作持续发展。梅首相今年初成功访华，两国领导人就提升中英关系“黄金时代”战略性、务实性、全球性和包容性达成重要共识。中英关系成为中西方合作共赢、共同发展的典范。中国驻英国大使馆新馆舍应运而生，它既是新中国成立以来中国重大的外交馆舍项目，也是中英关系“黄金时代”的最新“黄金成果”。
First, it is a golden fruit of China-UK “Golden Era”. Since President Xi Jinping’s successful state visit in 2015 unveiled the “Golden Era” of China-UK relations, our two countries have further enhanced political mutual trust and deepened exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Early this year, Prime Minister May paid a successful visit to China, where the leaders of our two countries reached important consensus on building a more strategic, practical, global and inclusive China-UK relationship. These have made China-UK relationship a good example of win-win cooperation and common development between China and the West. Today, we are here to mark a major purchase of China’s diplomatic premises since the founding of New China. I regard it as a fresh golden fruit of China-UK “Golden Era”.
第二，这是新时代中国外交的“新气派”。一个国家的使馆代表着国家的形象。中国驻英国大使馆现有馆舍虽历经多次改造，但已难以满足新时代中国外交的要求。新馆舍无论面积还是外观，都与中国的大国形象十分契合。我相信，在改造工程完成后，新馆舍将成为伦敦地平线上的新坐标，也是新时代中国在英国的一张“新名片”。
Second, the new premises is the new image of China’s diplomacy in the new era. An embassy is the face of a country. Our current premises in Portland Place has gone through many renovations in order to meet the growing needs of our diplomatic mission. However, the new era is calling for a new premise consistent with China’s current role and influence in the world. I am confident that after the renovation, the new premises of the Chinese Embassy will become a new landmark in London and a new face of China in the new era.
第三，这是新时代中国“世界梦”的一个缩影。中国文化重视“房屋”的概念，以汉字为例，“家”、“安”、“宁”等字都以“房屋”为部首。中国驻英国大使馆就是一个和谐、奋进的大家庭，中国外交官的任务就是为了“世界大同，天下一家”的“世界梦”而努力，就是为了建设“人类命运共同体”这个“大家庭”而奋斗。
Third, the new premises embodies China’s dream for a harmonious world in the new era. Family is an important concept in the Chinese culture. In the Chinese language, the characters for home, security and tranquility all have in them the pictograph symbolizing family. The Chinese Embassy in the UK is a big, loving and hardworking family of diplomats striving for a harmonious world – for the “one big family of mankind”. This is Chinese diplomats’ dream for the world. This dream for the world is to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
中国驻英国大使馆新馆舍所在地原为皇家造币厂（Royal Mint Court），简称RMC，也可解读为“中国的不朽之作”（Right Monument of China）。站在新馆舍前，我深深感到，这就是属于中国的时刻（Right Moment of China），这就是“中国的不朽之作”。
Today’s event, I believe, has given a new meaning to the Royal Mint Court, that is, RMC also stands for the Right Monument of China. Standing in front of the new Chinese diplomatic premises, I feel deeply that we are living this Right Moment of China and we are witnessing the Right Monument of China.
眺望不远处，静静流淌的泰晤士河不仅孕育了不列颠文明，也为世界文明做出了贡献。今天，它也与我们一道见证了中国驻英国大使馆新馆舍房产交割的历史性时刻。的确，历史也是一条奔流不息、始终向前的河流，谁顺应大势、应时而动、顺势而为，谁就能成为时代的弄潮儿。我衷心希望中英双方能抓住历史机遇，永立时代潮头，携手书写中英关系“黄金时代”新篇章，为构建人类命运共同体做出新贡献！
Not far from here, the River Thames has quietly and softly flowed for centuries, giving birth to the British civilization and adding splendour to the crown jewels of world civilizations. Today, the Thames is bearing witness to the historic moment of the transfer of the new diplomatic premises of the Chinese Embassy in the UK. Indeed, history is like a river that flows steadily and firmly forward. Follow and keep abreast with its current, we can ride the tide of the times. I sincerely hope that China and the UK will seize the historical opportunities and stay ahead of the tide of the times. I hope our two countries will work together to write a new chapter for China-UK “Golden Era” and make new contribution to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
最后，我要感谢伦敦哈姆雷特塔区政府在规划方面的大力支持，感谢原房主Delancey和LRC公司，感谢中方代理CBRE公司和Addleshaw Goddard律师事务所以及卖方Mishcon律师事务所所做工作。
Before I conclude, I have a few words of thanks: I wish to thank London Borough of Tower Hamlets for your support in planning. I also want to thank Delancey, CBRE, Addleshaw Goddard and Mishcon for all your efforts in the whole process.
谢谢大家！
Thank you.