为中英关系“黄金时代”绽放青春梦想
Live Your Dream in the China-UK “Golden Era”
刘晓明大使在“英国未来计划”5周年庆典上的讲话
Speech by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the “Generation UK”: Celebrating Five Years Reception Event
2019年6月27日
27 June 2019
尊敬的英国文化委员会首席执行官邓克然爵士，
尊敬的英国教育部总司长凯特先生，
女士们，先生们，朋友们：
Sir Ciarán Devane,
Director General Paul Kett,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends:
大家下午好！
Good afternoon!
很高兴应邀出席今天的活动。我谨向“英国未来计划”项目取得的丰硕成果表示祝贺，向关心、支持和参与这一合作项目的中英两各界人士表示感谢。
It is a real delight to join you at this event. Let me begin by extending my congratulations to the “Generation UK” for achieving such fruitful results. I would like to express my appreciation to all those who have cared for, supported and taken part in the Generation UK.
2012年中英高级别人文交流机制启动以来，两国人文交流合作精彩纷呈，广度和深度不断拓展。过去7年间，中国留英学生从12万增至19万；全英孔子学院和孔子课堂数量分别从20所和63间增至29所和161间。仅2018年一年，就有约19.1万人在全英孔子学院和孔子课堂学习汉语和中国文化，约178万余人参与孔子学院组织的各种丰富多彩的文化活动。
Since the China-UK High-Level People to People Dialogue was launched in 2012, cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between our two countries have taken diverse forms, and grown in depth and width. This is clearly demonstrated in the following figures. In the past seven years, the number of Chinese students studying in the UK has increased from 120,000 to 190,000. The number of Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in Britain has increased from 20 and 63 to 29 and 161 respectively. In 2018 alone, 191,000 students were learning the Chinese language and Chinese culture at the Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in Britain. More than 1.78 million people took part in a rich variety of cultural events hosted by the Confucius Institutes.
过去6年间，约7万名英国优秀青年通过“英国未来计划”赴华学习、实习和参与各类交流活动。“英国未来计划”项目日益成为中英人文交流中一道靓丽的风景线。到2020年，我相信该项目一定能够实现吸引8万名英国青年赴华学习的目标。上述数字充分说明，中英人文交流充满活力，潜力巨大，前景广阔。
The “Generation UK” has certainly played an important role as a highlight of China-UK cultural and people-to-people exchanges. In the past six years, about 70,000 young British people have visited China for study, internship and exchange events through the “Generation UK”. I am sure it can reach its goal of sending 80,000 British young people to study in China by 2020. These figures are proof that China-UK cultural and people-to-people exchanges are full of vitality and enjoy huge potential and a promising future.
女士们、先生们，
Ladies and Gentlemen:
今年是中华人民共和国成立70周年，也是中英建立代办级外交关系65周年。当今世界正经历百年未有之大变局，中英关系“黄金时代”面临新机遇。上周，第十次中英经济财金对话成功举行，共达成69项成果，为双方深化合作注入了强劲动力。展望未来，中英各领域合作更加深入，前景更加广阔。为此，我认为要重点做好三件事：
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It is also the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-UK diplomatic relationship at the level of chargé d’affaires. As the world undergoes profound changes unseen in a century, the China-UK “Golden Era” is faced with new opportunities. Last week, the tenth China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue was successfully held, which produced 69 outcomes. This Dialogue has provided strong impetus for our two sides to deepen cooperation. Looking forward, there will be broad prospects for our two countries to deepen cooperation across the board. To achieve this, I think we should make the following three efforts:
一要共同构筑互鉴的桥梁。中英都拥有悠久的历史和灿烂的文明，但两国社会制度和文化传统不同，发展阶段各异，增进沟通与了解就显得十分重要。每一种文明都是美的结晶，都彰显着创造之美，只有坚持美人之美，才能美美与共。两国青年要通过互访和交流学习，多了解彼此的历史与现实，多加深对自身文明和其他文明差异性的认知，推动东西方文明交流对话、和谐共生，反对“文明隔阂”、“文明冲突”、“文明优越”等谬论。
First, we should build a bridge of mutual learning. Both China and the UK have time-honoured history and splendid culture, but we differ in social system, cultural tradition and development stage. Therefore, it is important that we enhance communication and understanding. Every civilization has its unique beauty. Harmony arises from the ability to appreciate different civilizations for their unique beauty. Through mutual visits, exchanges and learning, young people of our two countries could learn more about each other’s history and reality. This will lead to better understanding of the differences between civilizations. I hope this will in turn enable the young people to work on exchanges, dialogue and harmonious coexistence between Eastern and Western civilization. I hope that you would voice your opposition against the absurd claims of “estrangement between civilization”, “clash of civilization” and “superiority of one civilization over the others”.
二要共同激发创新的活力。青年是中英两国交往中最具创造性的群体，创新合作是中英关系的重要增长点。在全球化深入发展的时代，创新是一个国家和民族发展进步的灵魂。任何国家在推进科技创新时都需全球视野。希望中英双方坚持不懈通过“英国未来计划”、“中英数学教师交流项目”、中英青年研究人员双边研讨会等项目，帮助两国青年增长见识、开拓视野，为更多青年人才脱颖而出提供机会，为中英创新合作培养生力军，为世界科技创新进步贡献正能量。
Second, we should invigorate the passion for innovation. Young people are the most innovative. Cooperation between the young people on innovation will create a new highlight in China-UK relations. Innovation is the soul behind the progress of countries and nations. In an era of ever-deepening globalization, countries need to adopt a global vision in order to encourage scientific and technological innovation. I hope that China and the UK will continue to work on the “Generation UK”, China-UK Mathematic Teacher Exchange Programme, and Grants for China-UK Researcher Links workshops. These projects could help broaden the horizon of our young people, create opportunities for them to excel, and foster a new task force for China-UK cooperation on innovation. In turn, the young people could become positive contributors to the progress of scientific and technological innovation in the world.
三要共同播撒友谊的种子。“国之交在于民相亲，民相亲在于心相通”。中英关系过去65年的发展，得益于良好的民意基础；中英关系的未来发展，有赖于更加坚实的民意基础。为此，双方应进一步拉紧人文纽带，深化文教、卫生、旅游、媒体等领域交流，促进两国民众特别是青年一代的心灵相通。我衷心希望，两国青年继承开放包容的理念，在相互交流中增进友谊，在相互学习中共同成长。
Third, we should sow the seeds of friendship. “Closer bond between the people is the key to enhancing state-to-state relations”. It was thanks to public support that China-UK relations achieved progress in the past 65 years. Going forward, our two countries will continue to rely on such support to take our bilateral relations to a higher level. Therefore, it is important that we build closer cultural and people-to-people bond by deepening exchanges in the areas of culture, education, health care, tourism and media. This will bring people of our two countries, especially the young generation, closer together. I sincerely hope that the young people of our two countries will carry on the spirit of openness and inclusiveness, enhance friendship through exchanges, and grow together through mutual learning.
女士们、先生们，
Ladies and Gentlemen:
青年最富有朝气，也最富有梦想。世界的未来属于年轻一代，中英关系的未来也属于年轻一代。正如习近平主席指出的“全球青年有理想、有担当，人类就有希望，推进人类和平与发展的崇高事业就有源源不断的强大力量。”我衷心祝愿“英国未来计划”项目越办越好，为中英青年交流贡献智慧力量，为两国民心相通添砖加瓦，为中英关系“黄金时代”增光添彩！
The young people are full of vigour and dreams. The future of the world belongs to the young generation. So does the future of China-UK relations. As President Xi Jinping said, if the young people all around the world have dreams of a better future and the courage to shoulder due responsibilities, there will be hope for mankind. These young people will be an inexhaustible source of strength behind the lofty cause of peace and development of mankind. In conclusion, I wish the “Generation UK” a great success. I look forward to your new contribution to the exchanges between the young people of our two countries, to closer bond between our people, and to the China-UK “Golden Era”!
谢谢！
Thank you!