发展地方友好，促进合作共赢
Twinningship, Friendship and Win-win Cooperation
驻爱尔兰大使岳晓勇在亚洲事务论坛中爱地方友好关系峰会上的讲话
Speech at the Local Government Summit Held by Asia Matters by Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong
2019年1月14日
January 14, 2019
尊敬的杜克斯主席，
尊敬的李修文大使，
尊敬的马奎尔主席、米思郡首席执行官，
各位代表，
女士们、先生们、朋友们，
大家下午好。
Chairman Mr. Alan Dukes,
Ambassador H.E. Mr. Eoin O’Leary,
Chairperson Ms. Jackie Maguire
Ladies, Gentlemen, and Friends,
Good afternoon.
很荣幸应邀出席亚洲事务论坛举办的地方友好关系峰会。2019年春节即将到来，我们将迎来象征着和平、机遇、繁荣、共享与合作的农历猪年，我在这里预祝大家新春快乐。2019年是中爱建交40周年。中国有句古话，“四十不惑”，也就是四十岁的时候应该有坚定的信心和明确的目标。这句话也适用于中爱关系和地方交往。我愿借此机会回顾中爱地方交往历程，展望美好未来。
It is my great pleasure to be invited to attend the Asia Matters Local Government Summit As you know, we just celebrated the new year of 2019 and are going to celebrate the Spring Festival, the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Pig, a year symbolizing new opportunities, prosperity, sharing, contribution and cooperation. I would take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Chinese lunar new year in advance. The year of 2019 is also the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Ireland. As Confucius teachings put it, at the age of 40, one would become really smart and wise, meaning that when you reached the age of 40, you know where you are going and firm with your goal. That is exactly what has happened regarding China-Ireland relations of local government. And I would share with you my views on that trend, focusing on the fields of bilateral local governmental friendly exchanges and cooperation.
民间交往是中外双边关系的重要组成部分，中国政府一向支持中国各省市与爱方各郡市发展友好合作。自1973年以来，中国31个省、自治区、直辖市和490个城市与136个国家的542个省（州、县、大区、道等）和1669个城市建立了2618对友好城市（省州）关系，有力促进了中外地方经济社会发展，增进了中国人民同世界人民的相互了解和友谊。为此，中国对外友好协会在1992年发起成立中国国际友好城市联合会，专门负责协调中国同世界各国建立和发展友好城市工作。
Those relations of local governments are growing fast and playing an important role in our bilateral relations in general. The general situation is good and sound. Since 1973, 31 provincial level governments and 490 cities in China have established 2618 pairs of twinningship with their counterparts from all together 136 countries. All that twinningship has played strong and positive role in the development of China’s provinces, autonomous regions, municipal cities by supporting their economic and cultural exchanges and enhancing the friendship and mutual understanding between Chinese people and the peoples from the rest of the world. In 1992, in order to strengthen the efforts of expanding and deepening the relations between our local governments with those in the world, China International Friendship Cities Association (CIFCA) was established by CPAFFC.
2018年12月，中国人民对外友好协会、中国国际友好城市联合会和武汉市人民政府共同主办了中国国际友好城市大会。会议着眼构建人类命运共同体和地方政府发展实际需要，围绕“共享发展机遇、深化互利合作”的主题，共同探讨城市现代化、国际化、生态化问题，分享友好城市间的先进经验，促进共同繁荣和发展，700余位中外方代表参加。
In December 2018, CPAFFC, CIFCA together with Wuhan City government held “the 2018 China International Friendship Cities Conference”. The Conference focused on the real needs of China’s national development and regional growth, emphasizing “shared opportunity and enhancing mutual cooperation”, discussing all the important issues regarding city’s modernization, international outreaching environmental-friendly and eco-growth in urban areas. More than 700 representatives attended from China and all over the world, sharing their experience in urban region development on common prosperity.
中国外交部对于对外地方交流也秉持积极态度。不久前，王毅国务委员表示，2019年中国外交部将继续支持地方外事工作，帮助、服务地方更好发展。2019年，中国外交部将继续举办外交部省区市全球推介会，展示中国各地取得的巨大发展成就，展现地方扩大对外开放交流的决心和美好前景。
The Chinese central government has always supported our local governments and regions’ development of their ties globally. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, repeatedly emphasized that our Embassies abroad and other institution together with the MFA in Beijing itself should put more resources to help our provinces, autonomous regions, municipal cities go out to the world. In China, sponsored and supported by the MFA, we will continue to hold a series of promotion events for our local governments to present and feature our local regions to the international communities and help them to expand their contacts with foreign countries in their efforts of opening-up and international cooperation.
女士们，先生们，
Ladies and gentlemen,
中爱地方交往和友城关系得到了两国领导人的高度重视和亲切关怀。2014年12月，在中国国家主席习近平主席和爱尔兰总统希金斯的共同见证下，中国人民对外友好协会会长李小林和时任爱尔兰外交贸易部长弗拉纳根签署《中国人民对外友好协会与爱尔兰外交贸易部关于共同加强中国与爱尔兰两国民间交流合作框架的谅解备忘录》，旨在进一步加深中国与爱尔兰两国人民之间相互了解与信任,增进传统友谊，促进两国务实合作，推动两国省郡和城市间交流合作及友城发展，加强在教育、科技、创业、学术、农业、文化和青少年等领域的友好往来，为中爱双边关系及两国重大事件、历史文化重要纪念日举办相关庆祝活动。
We are very happy to see that top leaders of both China and Ireland pay close and important attention to the ties among cities, provinces and counties. They indeed have given far-reaching and timely guidance to our local governments in their external exchanges and cooperation. In December 2014, jointly witnessed by President Xi Jinping and President Michael D. Higgins, Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC signed the MOU with the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Charles Flanagan regarding the cooperation between the Association and DFAT, setting aims and goals on supporting closer bilateral people-to-people relations in the wide realms such as education, science and technology, innovation, academic research, agriculture and young people exchanges. Both also agreed to jointly organize events regarding the major historical memorial days and celebrations, to help enhancing our bilateral relations in general.
在这一备忘录精神指引下，我们两国友城合作在以下三方面不断取得新成绩：
Guided by the spirit of this MOU, the following three new achievements have been made in our friendly cooperation.
一是增进双边友好。从2005年上海市与科克市结为友城起，中爱地方间已经累计结成7对友好城市或省郡，分别是北京市和都柏林市、上海市与科克市、海南省与威克洛郡、江苏省与科克郡、甘肃省和斯莱果郡、云南省和克莱尔郡、成都市和芬戈郡等。两国地方政府还签署了一批友好交往与合作备忘录，根据双方实际情况就友好交流与务实合作进行不同阶段的探讨。在座各位都是上述成果的建设者，我要向大家表示感谢。
First, bilateral friendly relations have been greatly enhanced. Ever since 2005 when Shanghai and Cork City set the twinningship, 7 pairs of twinningship between our two countries have been established. They are Beijing and Dublin, Shanghai and Cork City, Hainan Province and County Wicklow, Jiangsu Province and County Cork, Gansu Province and County Sligo, Yunnan Province and County Clare, Chengdu City and County Fingal. Quite a number of MOUs also have been signed between the local governments from China and Ireland to start their work for a deeper and bigger exchanges and cooperation. I’d like to use this opportunity to express my appreciation to our friends who have dedicated themselves to the growth of those valuable ties.
二是推动相互了解。我到任两年多来接待了50多个中国地方省市代表团来访。中方代表团从爱尔兰的经济优势、产业模式、生态环境等中看到了进一步开展两地合作的潜力。在座的不少人都访问过中国，相信你们对中国的改革开放与发展也印象深刻。中爱虽然远隔万水千山，但两国各界能够向亲友串门一样相互走访、了解对方，这为下一步更深入的交流与合作打下了坚实基础。
Second, mutual understanding and trust have been promoted. Ever since I came here to be ambassador from mid-2016, more than 50 high level delegations visited each other between China and Ireland. Most of them are from China’s provinces, autonomous regions and municipal cities. They came and saw in their own eyes Ireland’s advancement in your economy, industry, and business and social improvement and up-grading. They are all passionate to expand dialogues with their Irish partners. Those Irish friends who have been visited China must have seen also significant changes and new look brought by China’s Reform and Opening-up endeavor. All those exchanges are very helpful for us to understand each other better, wider and deeper, to make friends and laid solid foundation for the growth for our ties.
三是深化互学互鉴。北京市—都柏林市、上海市—科克市两对友城关系孕育出政府人员访问交流这样新型的交往形式。圣诞节前，来自北京市政府的3名工作人员刚刚结束了为期三个月的交流。期间，三名北京市公务员在都柏林市政府不同部门工作，了解都柏林的市政规划和建设，并与当地政府工作人员结下了深厚友谊。这一项目非常成功，得到了两市领导人的一致肯定与赞赏。上海市与科克市的政府人员往来、公共管理经验交流等项目启动更早、规模更大。近年来，北京、江苏、广州、山东等地经贸、科技部门纷纷来爱举办产业洽谈会、招商引智会等形式多样的活动，为双方产业界务实合作搭建平台。
Third, mutual learning has been deepened. I want to give you two good examples. One is Beijing-Dublin twinningship. Last year, Mr. Cai Qi, Member of Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, paid a very successful visit to this country. During his meeting with the leadership of Dublin City Council, both among other things initiated the plan of personal exchanges program to let government staffs to work in each others’ governmental departments. Beijing side has sent 3 young officials to Dublin City Council government. They worked with Irish colleagues in Dublin and also shared their experience on how Beijing government works. Both sides learned a lot from this program and have got very happy and deep impression with the exchanges, and seen great value from the arrangement. Last week, the Party Secretary happily told me that they in Beijing would continue to carry out these exchanges and welcome Dublin City Council to send their people to China. Shanghai and Cork City have also similar exchanges program with much longer history including local government personal exchanges and professional exchanges between emergency medical institution. When Chinese local governmental delegations visit Ireland, quite often they would hold all kinds of roundtable events for business communities, science and technology, and educational institutions from both sides to meet and mingle. The Chinese Embassy is always ready to help enhancing those efforts from both sides. I am sure that all those endeavors have born and are going to bear more fruits for all of us in the days, months and years to come.
女士们，先生们，朋友们，
Ladies and gentlemen,
我到任至今2年多，已走访了22个郡市，不但同地方政商界就中爱地方友好交往与务实合作进行了卓有成效的讨论，还亲身体会了不同郡市的独特风貌，深深为爱尔兰人民的热情友好所感动。
Since my arrival in Ireland, I have visited 22 counties and many beautiful cities and towns to meet local personalities and friends. My colleagues and I are deeply impressed not only with beautiful scenery but also by most amicable Irish people everywhere.
2019年是中爱建交40周年，也是中爱建立互惠战略伙伴关系的第7个年头。40年间，中爱关系一直保持平稳快速发展。当前，两国关系发展势头喜人，动力强劲，前景光明，深化、拓展互利务实合作正当其时。2018年3月，爱尔兰副总理兼外长科文尼访华期间会见王毅国务委员时表示，爱尔兰愿做中国在欧盟内真诚的好朋友，愿成为中国企业开拓欧盟市场的桥梁和门户，愿作为战略伙伴积极参与“一带一路”倡议。2018年11月，商业、企业和创新部长汉弗里斯率团访华并出席首届中国国际进口博览会，签下了总额30多亿美元的大单。
The year of 2019 is the 40th anniversary of Sino-Irish diplomatic relationship, and 7th anniversary of China-Ireland Strategic Partnership for Mutually Beneficial Cooperation. Our bilateral relations in general after this 40 years growth, especially the growth in recent 10 years, are strong and promising. As Taoiseach Varadkar put it in his congratulatory message in the special edition on the Irish Times featuring the CIIE last November, bilateral relations between our two countries continue and are growing ever stronger, we are very happy to see the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and the whole government from Irish side expressed positive attitude to the Belt and Road Initiative and ready to send high level delegation to the second Belt and Road Forum in 2019. It is also to our great delight that Mme. Heather Humphreys led an ever-large Irish business delegation to attend the first CIIE and got in total 3 billion USD deals with China.
女士们，先生们，
Ladies and gentlemen,
中爱地方交往和经贸往来将迎来更大机遇和更光明前景，我们要在现有关系基础上继续努力，“从结好走向共赢”。在此，我向各位提出以下三点：
We have wonderful opportunities for our local relations to expand our trade and business in the year to come. The good foundation has been laid and the efforts should be done to ensure our march from twinning to winning. Here I’d like to make three ideas:
一是中国将推进改革开放。中国的改革不会止步，对外开放的大门会越来越大。我们将坚持走中国特色社会主义道路，坚定奉行独立自主的和平外交政策，坚持开展互利合作，支持多边主义和联合国宪章宗旨与原则，维护世界贸易组织基本规则，促进贸易和投资自由化和便利化。中国是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者和国际秩序的维护者。同时我们也愿同世界各国一道，坚持并完善自由贸易体制，推动国际关系民主化、法治化。
First, we in China will continue to carry out Reform and Opening-up. China’s door will open wider and the reform will go deeper. We will keep on the path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era, meaning that China will continue to have a peaceful development, continue to have win-win cooperation, continue to support multilateralism, continue to be engaged with all countries for free and global trade. China is the constructor, defender, contributor to the international system and rules enshrined in the UN Charter and other global multilateral organizations participated by most of members of international society. At the same time, we’d like to discuss with all friends and partners regarding the reform of the international trade system such as WTO or the bilateral trade challenges and opportunity for a fair, justice, free and mutually beneficial trade and business cooperation.
二是中国将继续共享发展机遇。2019年是中国建国70周年和“一带一路”倡议提出六周年。中国改革开放力度不断加大，供给侧结构性改革深入推进，人民生活持续改善，正在形成强大的国内市场，为全球经济发展创造新机遇。今年中国将举办第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛和第二届中国国际进口博览会。这些都是中国进一步全方位扩大开放的实际行动，也是爱方把握中国发展机遇、开展对华务实合作的大舞台。
Second, we will continue to share our opportunities globally. 2019 is the year of opportunity. It is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the P.R. China, and the 6th anniversary of the putting forward of the Belt and Road Initiative. The Chinese government has taken significant measures to carry out our domestic forms including further tapping domestic market and demand, enhancing the supply side structural reform which means among other things to have better quality in our both productive and consumer products, food, education, social services and security. In 2019, we are going to have the second Belt and Road Forum and the second CIIE. China. All these will create more opportunities for Ireland, Europe and the whole world. Local ties between China and Ireland should seize the moment to tap those potentials.
三是中国将进一步扩大地方合作。多年来，中爱地方交往已经积累了一批成功经验与成果，令人鼓舞。中国幅员辽阔, 不同省市发展水平与特色不同，但积极开拓对外交往的意愿是一致的。同时，地方合作离不开各行各业的参与，欢迎大家积极促进双方在经贸投资、科技创新、高校合作、公共管理、人文交往等更广泛的领域合作，为新时期中爱两国地方交流合作发掘新增长点，注入新活力。（中文不全）
Thirdly, we will continue to expand and deepen local government cooperation. We are happy to see local leading personalities in Ireland have seen more clearly the importance to focus on strengthening ties with China’s local governments to cultivate long-term friendship and cooperation. Both of us have accumulated the experience, efforts and achievements from our exchanges and cooperation during the past dozens of years. China is big and vast. The whole country has been transformed greatly after the 40 years reform and opening-up, and the needs and capacities to expand our local external ties are both growing. At the same time, China’s provinces and cities are giant in size and population with different economic advantages and merits in industries. All of Chinese local governments are very happy to explore the links with foreign counterparts and make good use of it as a base for friendly exchanges and cooperation in a wider realm. In the year of 2019, I do hope that the Irish local governments with the Irish friends from all walks of life will work harder to explore opportunities with your partners in China. In general, local governments in China have larger role in economic, social and cultural development. It is always advisable and beneficial for counties and cities in Ireland to energize relations with Chinese counterparts by not only your local council’s resources but also your links with central government, business communities and neighboring counties and cities in fields of trade and investment, innovative research and development, people-to-people exchanges and education institutes exchanges. Our future is very bright and promising and a better strategy, planning and coordination are called for from both sides.
（无中文）
Ladies and gentlemen,
今年，中爱双方将举办一系列建交40周年庆祝活动。我们将充分用好这一契机，在相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢的基础上，推动两国地方往来取得新进展，为双边关系上新台阶发挥积极作用。
This year, with grand celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ireland, we are able to have more opportunities to promote new progress and advancement in both the bilateral ties in general and our local friendship and cooperation in particular and with all that lift China-Ireland relations to a new high.
“潮平两岸阔，风正一帆悬。”我和中国驻爱尔兰使馆的同事们有信心与在座各位一道，乘着中爱建交40周年的东风，进一步发展两国地方关系，造福两国人民，为中爱关系发展增添光辉的一页。
Let us seize the moment and work together for such a shining future, and write another glorious page to the new growth of China-Ireland relations and the benefits of two peoples in the new era.
谢谢大家！
Thank you.