蒙特利尔市市长丹尼斯·科德尔先生，深圳市副市长吴以环女士，

女士们，先生们：晚上好。很高兴出席第17届蒙特利尔灯光节开幕式。

光代表正义、善良、希望、光明和未来。人类对光普遍充满着敬仰和热爱，所有美好的事物都和光有关。再过几天，也就是2月22日将迎来元宵节，即中国的灯节。在基督教中，光代表温暖。印度教也庆祝灯节。

举世闻名的蒙特利尔灯光节不仅传承了蒙特利尔市辉煌的历史，也预示这个伟大城市的光明未来。在蒙特利尔市政府和科德尔市长的领导下，蒙特利尔市经济社会发展取得了巨大进展，并正走向光明的未来。

和蒙特利尔一样，深圳也是一个充满活力和希望的城市。30多年前，深圳只是中国南方广东省的一个小渔村。现在它已成为人口超过1800万的国际化大都市。深圳的快速发展是中国改革开放的一个缩影，也是13亿多中国人努力实现中华民族伟大复兴中国梦的成功范例。

我们感谢主办方邀请深圳市作为今年蒙特利尔灯光节的主题城市。我相信，这次灯光节为两市增进相互友谊、创造更多合作新机遇提供了平台。

女士们，先生们，加拿大新政府上台后，中加关系已实现良好开局，并已驶上快车道。三周前，中国大使馆与加拿大外交部在渥太华联合举办庆祝两国建交45周年招待会，特鲁多总理出席并致辞。

45年前，中加之间没有直航，现在每周有132个航班往来两国。45年前，中加人员往来一年只不过3000人，现在每天往来人员就超过3000人。

在此，我要特别感谢科德尔市长，他在几个月前率领蒙特利尔有史以来规模最大的贸易代表团访华。北京和蒙特利尔开通直航，也使中国同加拿大尤其是蒙特利尔之间的经贸合作与人文交流更加便利。

除了双方政府部门的努力外，两国关系的发展也离不开两国人民的支持和参与。我对中加关系的光明未来充满乐观。

我相信，在双方共同努力下，中加关系将迎来如蒙特利尔灯光节同样光明的未来。谢谢。

Remarks by Ambassador Luo Zhaohui At Montreal En Lumière Opening Ceremony

（From Chinese Embassy in Canada）

2016/02/23

(Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art, 18 February 2016)

His Worship Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal,

Ms. Wu Yihuan, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipality,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Bonsoir. Good evening.

It is a pleasure to join you all at the 17th edition of the Montreal en Lumière festival.

Light represents justice, kindness, hope, brightness and future.

In a few days, on 22 February, Chinese will celebrate the Yuanxiao Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival.

In Christianity, light is an embodiment of warmth. Hindus celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights.

Humankind's worship and love of light are universal. All beautiful things have something to do with light.

The world-famous Montreal en Lumière festival inherits the glorious history of Montreal and heralds a bright future for this great city. Under the leadership of the Montreal government and His Worship MayorDenis Coderre, the city has made tremendous economic and social progress and is heading towards a better future.

Like Montreal, Shenzhen is also a city full of vigour and promise. More than 30 years ago, Shenzhen was only a small fishing village in Southern China's Guangdong Province. It is now an international metropolis with a population over 18 million. Shenzhen's spectacular development is an epitome of China's reform and opening-up. It is also a good example of how the 1.3 billion and more Chinese people are endeavouring to realise the Chinese dream of great national rejuvenation.

We appreciate it that Shenzhen is featured as the City of Honour at Montreal's festival of lights this year. I think the festival offers a significant platform for the two cities to strengthen friendship and identify more and new opportunities for cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A new start has been made since the new Canadian government took office. China-Canada relations are on a fast track of development. Three weeks ago, the Chinese Embassy and Global Affairs Canada jointly hosted a reception in Ottawa to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended and addressed the event.

Forty-five years ago, there was no direct air link between our two countries. Now there are 132 direct flights every week between Chinese and Canadian cities.

Forty-five years ago, only 3,000 people travelled to and from China and Canada a year. Now the daily figure is over 3,000.

I would like to express our special thanks to Mayor Denis Coderre, who led a largest trade mission in Montreal's history to China a few months ago.

The launch of non-stop flights between Beijing and Montreal makes it more convenient for economic cooperation and for cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Canada, particularly Montreal.

While the government efforts are important, the great achievements in our relations would not have been possible without the support and engagement of our two peoples. I am very optimistic about the future of relations between our two nations.

I am sure that if both sides work together, China-Canada relations will have a future as bright as the lights of the Montreal en Lumière festival

Thank you.