驻加拿大大使丛培武在“纪念白求恩逝世80周年”招待会上的致辞
Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Cong Peiwu at the Reception Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Dr. Norman Bethune’s Death
2019年10月30日
October 30, 2019
各位嘉宾，各位朋友，
Distinguished guests, Dear friends,
晚上好！今天，我们在此齐聚一堂，纪念白求恩医生逝世80周年。听了刚才的讲话，看到在座的来宾，我脑海中浮现出三幅图景。
Good evening! Today we gather here to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Dr. Norman Bethune’s death. After listening to the speeches just now and seeing the distinguished guests present, I have three pictures in my mind.
一幅是历史画卷。1938年，白求恩医生不远万里奔赴中国，支持中国人民开展抗日战争。1939年，他在为伤员手术时受到感染，不幸去世。中国领导人毛泽东写下了中国人民耳熟能详的文章——《纪念白求恩》，歌颂白求恩医生的国际主义精神和人道主义精神。白求恩的事迹自此在中国家喻户晓，也让很多中国人知道了加拿大这个遥远的国度，并对加拿大人民产生了友好感情。
The first is a picture of history. In 1938, Dr. Bethune made light of travelling thousands of miles to help the Chinese people in our War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, an important part of the World Anti-Fascist war. Unfortunately, Bethune died of a blood infection while operating on wounded soldiers in 1939. The Chinese leader Mao Zedong wrote the well-known essay In Memory of Norman Bethune, in which he praised Dr. Bethune’s spirit of internationalism and humanitarianism. Norman Bethune has become a household name since then and many Chinese began to know about a distant country, Canada, and have friendly sentiments towards the Canadian people.
一幅是现实宏幅。80年过去了，白求恩精神没有随着时间的消逝而消失，而是在中加两国得到传承和发扬，激励着两国医务工作者“救死扶伤”，为两国人民提供精湛的医疗服务。近年来，白求恩医学发展协会、白求恩协会、当代白求恩行动促进委员会等纷纷在加成立，并多次组织医疗队到中国边远地区义务行医。这些医生牺牲宝贵的休息时间，不顾长途飞行的辛劳，克服时差带来的不适，一到中国就投入紧张的工作，很多人甚至是自费赴华。他们是“当代的白求恩”。
The second is a realistic grand picture. In the past 80 years, Dr. Bethune’s spirit has not disappeared with the passage of time, but has been inherited and carried forward in both China and Canada. Medical workers in both countries have been inspired to save lives and treat the injured, and provide professional medical services for the people of the two countries. In recent years, such organizations as Bethune Medical Development Association of Canada, Bethune Baiqiuen Canadian Alliance, People Inspired by Norman Bethune have been set up in Canada. They have organized many medical teams to provide medical services free of charge in remote areas of China. These medical workers sacrificed their valuable time and overcome the fatigue of long flights and jet lag. They started to work upon their arrival in China and many of them even flew to China at their own expense. They are “Norman Bethunes” in our time.
中国一直积极倡导白求恩精神。习近平主席勉励中国人民以白求恩医生为时代楷模，做脱离低级趣味的人，做高尚的人。中国广大医务工作者以白求恩为榜样，以忘我的精神献身医疗事业，也涌现出很多可歌可泣的事迹。中国政府还积极弘扬白求恩精神，向非洲、亚洲、欧洲、美洲、大洋洲70多个国家累计派遣援外医疗队员2.6万多人次，诊治患者2.8亿多人次。其中，很多医务工作者像白求恩一样，选择去了最危险和最艰苦的地区，数十人献出了自己的生命。
China has been actively advocating the spirit of Dr. Bethune. President Xi Jinping has called on the Chinese people to take him as a role model and try to be a man of moral integrity and above vulgar interests. A vast number of medical workers in China take Dr. Bethune as an example, devote themselves to the medical services with selfless spirit. And there are a lot of touching stories. Since 1963, the Chinese government has sent medical teams to over 70 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, America, and Oceania, with a total of more than 26,000 medical workers. They have treated a total of more than 280 million cases. Among these medical workers, many volunteered to serve in the areas of danger and hardship and dozens of them gave their lives.
还有一幅是未来场景。“白求恩”已不仅仅是个名字，也是国际主义、人道主义和无私奉献的象征，更是中加友好的象征。我们纪念白求恩医生，不仅是为了缅怀他的感人事迹，也是为了激励更多的人传承他的精神。我很高兴看到一些青年朋友出席今天的活动，也很高兴得知，越来越多加拿大青年朋友对中国抱有兴趣，很多人在学习汉语。希望你们发扬白求恩精神，为促进中加友好、推动人类发展作出积极贡献。我深信，白求恩精神将会薪火相传，历久弥新。
The last one is a picture of the future. Norman Bethune is not only a normal name but also a symbol of internationalism, humanitarianism, selfless dedication, and China-Canada friendly relations. We commemorate Dr. Bethune not only to remember his touching stories, but also to inspire more people to inherit his spirit. I am happy to see that many young friends are present here today. I am also glad to learn that more and more young Canadians are interested in China and many of them are learning Chinese language. I hope that you will carry forward the spirit of Dr. Bethune and make positive contributions to promoting China-Canada friendly relations and the development of mankind. I am confident that the spirit of Dr. Bethune will be passed down from generation to generation.
女士们，先生们，朋友们，
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
中国和加拿大虽然远隔重洋，但两国人民一向对彼此抱有友好感情。1970年中加建交以来，两国关系总体保持发展，这符合两国人民的共同利益。由于众所周知的原因，当前中加关系遇到困难，我们对此深感痛心，但责任不在中方。希望加方能尽早采取措施，解决问题，为两国关系重回正轨创造条件。
Although China and Canada are separated by the Pacific Ocean, our two peoples have always had friendly feelings for each other. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970, China-Canada relations have generally maintained a momentum of growth. This conforms to the common interests of the two peoples. The current China-Canada relations, however, are faced with difficulties due to reasons known to all. We are saddened by this unfortunate situation, but China shall not be the one to blame. We urge the Canadian side to take necessary measures as soon as possible to solve the problem and create conditions for bilateral relations to go back to the right track.
我到加拿大履新刚一个月，但已经感受到，很多加民众都关心中加关系，致力于促进两国友好。希望大家一如既往地支持两国关系发展！这也是我们缅怀白求恩医生的最好方式。
Although I have been in Canada for just one month, I have already found that many Canadians care a lot about China-Canada relations and commit to promoting the friendship between the two countries. I hope all of you here today will, as always, support the development of our bilateral ties. This is the best way to commemorate Dr. Norman Bethune.
谢谢大家！
Thank you!