郑泽光大使在第二十届“汉语桥”世界大学生中文比赛全英大区赛决赛开幕式上的致辞：《共享汉语之美 共扬合作之力》

Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang at the Opening of the 20th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition UK Regional Final: Appreciate the Beauty of the Chinese Language and Draw on the Power of Communication

（2021年6月26日星期六，伦敦）

London, 26 June 2021

尊敬的凯特•尤瓦尔—比格斯代理总干事，

尊敬的迈克尔•斯宾塞校长，

各位评委、各位选手，

老师们、同学们，

女士们、先生们、朋友们：

大家上午好！

Ms. Ewart-Biggs,

Dr. Spence,

Judges and Contestants,

Teachers and Students,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends:

Good morning!

很高兴出席第二十届“汉语桥”世界大学生中文比赛全英大区赛决赛开幕式。这是我出任中国驻英大使以来，正式出席的第一场大型教育活动。35年前，我到英国留学进修的时候，就亲身感受到英国青年人对中国的浓厚兴趣。记得当时我还教了几位同班同学几句简单的普通话，但愿他们还没忘掉。今天，看到全英大学生同台展示汉语水平和才艺技能，我感到格外高兴。

It is a real delight to join you at the Opening of the 20th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition UK Regional Final. This is the first large-scale event in the field education that I have attended since my arrival in London.

Thirty-five years ago, I was studying in the UK and had my personal experience of the intense interest in China among the young people here. I even taught a few classmates a couple of simple Chinese sentences and I hope they still remember. Today, it is an exceptional delight for me to watch British university students display their Chinese language skills and talents.

中国是一个既古老又年轻的国度。她拥有5000多年光辉灿烂的文明，也是世界上唯一一个没有中断的文明，曾为人类文明进步做出重要贡献。1949年新中国成立以来，特别是改革开放40多年来，中国发生了翻天覆地的变化，中华文明在守正创新中绽放出青春的光彩和活力。

China is ancient. It is the world's longest continuous civilization. With its 5,000-year splendid culture, the Chinese nation has made important contributions to the progress of mankind.

China is also young. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, especially since reform and opening up began over 40 years ago, China has experienced profound changes during which it has displayed a vibrant youthful vigour. China has a civilization that stays committed to its finest traditions and keeps making new innovations.

语言文字是人类文明的重要载体，也是各国各民族沟通交流的桥梁。在此，我向大家提三点希望：

Language is a vehicle of civilisation. It is also a bridge of communication between countries and nations. Here, I would like to share with you the following points.

一要共赏语言之美。汉语是世界上最优美的语言之一，是中华文明数千年积淀的结晶，拥有博大精深的内涵。希望大家在学习汉语过程中，用心去欣赏汉语的形态之美、结构之美、音律之美，细细品味汉语的深厚文化底蕴。只有了解一个国家的文化和文明，才能更好了解这个国家的过去、现在和未来。

First, I hope we could come together to appreciate the beauty of the language.

Chinese is one of the most beautiful languages in the world. It is the crystallization of a culture of several thousand years. There is much more to it than just words and expressions, for example, the artistry of its characters, the elegance of its structure and the charm of its tones and rhythm, just to name a few.

So it is my hope that when you are learning the Chinese language, you will appreciate the profound culture that it embodies. Understanding the culture of a country is very important. It is the key to understanding its past, present and future.

二要共筑友谊之桥。中英两国都拥有悠久历史和灿烂文化，在国际上均具有重要影响，在广泛的领域里进行着交流与合作。同时，中英历史文化背景、社会制度、发展阶段不同，两国存在不少差异。这就需要双方加强相互了解、避免误解误判。希望两国越来越多的年轻人学习对方的语言，成为友好使者和沟通桥梁，这是两国关系的希望所在。当前，中国有4亿人学习英语，几乎所有中小学把英语作为必修课，当然我们也学习其他国家的语言。我很高兴地看到，英国政府也十分重视汉语教学，并为此采取了鼓励措施。英国教育部实施“中文培优”计划，支持近7000名中小学学生学习汉语。全英目前建有30所孔子学院、164间孔子课堂，学习汉语的注册学生达到13万。希望大家在学习汉语过程中，多交中国朋友，多了解中国情况，为增进两国人民的相互了解和友谊搭起更宽广的桥梁。

Second, I hope we could come together to build a bridge of friendship.

China and the United Kingdom both have time-honoured history and splendid culture. Both are countries of global significance. Our exchanges and cooperation cover a wide range of areas.

There is no denying that our two countries have different history, culture and social systems. We are also at different development stages. But this only highlights the need for better mutual understanding between our peoples so that we can avoid misunderstanding and misjudgment. I hope more and more young people from both our two countries will learn the language of each other, become goodwill ambassadors and build bridges for communication. This is where the hope of China-UK relations lies.

Today in China about 400 million people are learning English. This is a compulsory course in most primary and secondary schools. Of course, lessons in other languages are also available.

I'm delighted that the UK government also attaches importance to the teaching of the Chinese language by introducing special policy incentives. The Mandarin Excellence Programme of the UK Department for Education, for example, supports close to 7,000 primary and secondary school students. There are also 30 Confucius Institutes and 164 Confucius classrooms across the United Kingdom, with 130,000 registered students.

It is my hope that as you try to master the Chinese language, you will make more Chinese friends, learn more about the country and help to build a broader bridge for mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples.

三要共创美好未来。160多年前，英国文学家狄更斯描述工业革命发生后的时代曾说，“这是最好的时代，也是最坏的时代”。当前，全球化给人类带来前所未有的发展进步，也使各国面临前所未有的挑战。突如其来的新冠肺炎疫情，让人们进一步认识到，人类同处一个星球，命运相连、休戚与共。无论是应对全球公共卫生挑战，还是应对气候变化、保护生物多样性等问题，任何一国都无法独力承担，需要各国携手合作。我时常在想，如果世界上讲汉语的人口和讲英语的人口能加强合作，共同应对全球性挑战，一定能为促进世界和平与繁荣作出更大贡献。希望大家在学习汉语过程中，秉持宽广的胸襟，胸怀远大的抱负，多思考涉及人类共同命运的重大问题，加强与中国青年及其他国家青年的交往合作，为创造一个更美好的世界、开创人类更光明的未来贡献自己一份力量。

Third, I hope we could come together to create a better future for the whole world.

Over 160 years ago, when describing the age following the Industrial Revolution, Charles Dickens wrote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

Globalisation has brought unprecedented progress as well as unforeseen challenges to mankind. The sudden outbreak of Covid-19 reminds us once again that mankind has the same planet to call home and the same future to embrace. Be it addressing the challenges of global public health, or tackling climate change and preserving bio-diversity, no country can do it alone. The world must work together.

I often think to myself, if Chinese-speakers and English-speakers around the world work together to deal with global challenges, we can certainly make greater contribution to world peace and prosperity.

It is my hope that as you work on your language skills, you will have a broader vision, a bigger heart and bigger dreams, and think about the major issues that concern the shared future of mankind. I hope you will step up exchanges and cooperation with the young people from China and other countries, and make your contribution to a better world and a brighter future for mankind.

女士们、先生们、朋友们，

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends:

今天的参赛选手年龄大多在20岁上下，青春焕发、朝气蓬勃，未来充满无限可能。希望各位青年朋友通过汉语这把“金钥匙”，插上语言的“翅膀”，开启探索中国和中华文明的大门。欢迎大家在疫情后多去中国走一走、看一看，与中国的青年人多接触、多交流。期待有机会听你们讲述中国的故事，更希望你们能成为促进中英友谊与合作的友好使者！

Most of the contestants present today are in your late teens or early twenties. I admire your youth, your vigour and vitality. When you think of the future, the sky is the limit. Master the Chinese language and you will take hold of the golden key and have wings to fly when you explore China and its civilisation. I am glad this is now within your reach.

When the pandemic is over, I hope you all will be able to visit China and meet and make friends with the young people there. I look forward to hearing your stories about China and encourage you to become envoys of friendship between our two great nations.

借此机会，我谨向在英从事汉语教学、传播中国文化的老师和志愿者们的辛勤付出表示感谢，向全英各界友好人士的大力支持表示感谢！

Before concluding my remarks, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all the teachers and volunteers who are teaching the Chinese language here and introducing the Chinese culture to the people in the UK. My thanks also go to British friends in all sectors for your strong and continuous support.

最后，预祝本次活动取得圆满成功！

Last but not least, I would like to wish the 20th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition UK Regional Final great success!