郑泽光大使在到任线上招待会上的致辞：《牢记使命 砥砺前行》

Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang at Online Welcoming Reception:Forge ahead with the Original Mission Firmly in Mind

尊敬的贝茨总司长，

尊敬的詹诚信勋爵，

尊敬的各位使节，

尊敬的各位议员，

女士们、先生们、朋友们：

大家上午好！

Director General Bates,

Lord Sassoon,

Your Excellencies,

Lords and MPs,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends:

Good morning!

感谢各位朋友光临今天这场特殊的招待会，特别是感谢贝茨总司长和詹诚信勋爵拨冗出席。

Thank you, Director General and Lord Sassoon, and thank you all for coming to this special reception.

我于6月6日抵英履新，7月7日荣幸地向伊丽莎白二世女王陛下递交了国书。作为习近平主席委派的中国驻英国大使，我深感使命光荣、责任重大。我带着促进两国人民友谊与合作的诚意而来，期待着与英国政府和各界朋友携手努力，推动中英关系健康稳定向前发展。

As you probably know, I arrived in the UK on June 6th and had the honour of presenting my Letter of Credence to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on July 7th.

It is a great honour to be appointed by President Xi Jinping Ambassador of China to the UK, and with this honour come heavy responsibilities. I am here with the sincerity for stronger friendship and cooperation between our two peoples, and I look forward to working with the British Government and friends from all sectors to promote the sound and steady development of China-UK relations.

近半个世纪前，中英双方超越意识形态和社会制度分歧，以卓越的政治魄力和战略远见，建立了大使级外交关系。从那时起，两国关系走过了不平凡的历程，取得丰硕成果。两国在经贸、金融、能源、科技、旅游、卫生等领域进行互利合作，给两国人民带来了实实在在的利益。双方在文化、教育、青年等方面开展密切交流，加深了两国人民友谊，为两国关系发展奠定了民意基础。历史和现实都证明，一个良好的中英关系符合两国人民根本利益，也有利于世界和平、稳定、繁荣。

Nearly half a century ago, China and the UK moved beyond their differences in ideology and social system to establish ambassadorial diplomatic relationship. This decision required extraordinary political courage and strategic vision. Since then, China-UK relations have traveled an extraordinary and fruitful journey.

Our cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, financial services, energy, science and technology, tourism and health care has been mutually-beneficial, delivering tangible benefits to both peoples.

We have had close exchanges in culture, education and youth, which have deepened the friendship between our peoples and consolidated the public support for the development of our overall relationship.

The past and present of the China-UK relationship show that keeping it sound and strong is not only in the fundamental interests of the people of our two countries but also conducive to world peace, stability and prosperity.

在此，我谨向长期以来关心和支持中英关系改善和发展的两国各界人士表示衷心感谢和诚挚敬意！

Here, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks and sincere tribute to people of all sectors from both countries who, over the years, have helped nurture the China-UK relationship and supported its improvement and development.

女士们、先生们、朋友们：

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

当前，百年变局与世纪疫情交织叠加，国际格局加速演变。中英两国各自也经历着深刻变革。经过百年奋斗，中国共产党领导中国人民实现了中华民族从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃，已开启全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程。英国也历经一系列发展和调整，正面临打造“全球化英国”新任务。中英关系又一次到了一个重要历史关口。面对新形势、新任务，中英双方更应坚持从两国人民和世界人民根本利益出发，弘扬半个世纪前的战略远见和政治魄力，牢牢把握合作的正确方向，排除各种干扰，推动中英关系持续向前发展。

At present, against the background of the worst pandemic in a century and profound global changes unseen in a hundred years, the international landscape is undergoing accelerated evolution.

In both China and the UK, profound transformations are taking place.

Over in China, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the nation has made great leaps from gaining independence to becoming prosperous and growing strong, China is embarking on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in a comprehensive way.

Here, the UK is undergoing a series of progress and adjustments. It is faced with the new task of building a “Global Britain”.

China-UK relations have again come to an important historical juncture. In face of the new situation and new tasks, it is all the more important that both countries bear in mind the fundamental interests of our peoples and the people of the world. It has fallen upon us to display the same strategic vision and political courage nearly half a century ago, stay the course of cooperation, remove various disruptions and strive for sustained progress in our relations.

一要秉持理性的战略认知。习近平主席在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上的重要讲话，总结中国共产党百年奋斗的光辉历程，展望中华民族伟大复兴的光明前景，为世界了解中国提供了最权威的答案。办好中国的事，让14亿多中国人民过上更加美好的生活，促进人类和平与发展的崇高事业，是我们矢志不渝的奋斗目标。我们将继续全面深化改革开放，立足新发展阶段，贯彻新发展理念，构建新发展格局，协同推进人民富裕、国家强盛、中国美丽。我们始终高举和平、发展、合作、共赢旗帜，奉行独立自主的和平外交政策，坚持走和平发展道路，同各国一道，推动构建人类命运共同体，弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值。一个和平发展的中国，对谁都不会是威胁；一个推进社会主义现代化的中国，只会为世界提供更大机遇。中国是英国的合作伙伴和发展机遇，而不是挑战、威胁或对手。在这个重大战略问题上，不能有任何误解误判。相信富有历史感和务实精神的英国朋友，能够对此作出正确的判断。

First, we should foster a sensible strategic understanding of each other.

At the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of CPC, President Xi Jinping looked back on the glorious journey and arduous struggles of over 100 years and envisioned the bright prospects for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. His speech provided the most authoritative answer to help the world understand China.

China is pursuing better life for over 1.4 billion people and advancing the lofty cause of peace and development for mankind. These are our unswerving goals.

At home, China will continue deepening reform and opening wider to the world in a comprehensive way; we will implement the new concept and build a new paradigm for development that are consistent with the new stage; and we will make coordinated efforts to build better life, a stronger nation and a more beautiful country.

In our foreign policy, we will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development and win-win cooperation, follow an independent foreign policy of peace, pursue peaceful development, and work with all the countries and peoples to build a community with a shared future for mankind and carry forward our common values, that is, peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom.

A China that pursues peaceful development will pose no threat to anybody; a China that follows a new and Chinese-style path to socialist modernization will only create greater opportunities for the world.

China is UK’s partner for cooperation and opportunity for development. China is not a challenge, threat or rival. On this major strategic issue, there should be no misunderstanding or misjudgment.

I am sure that my British friends, with your historic vision and pragmatic spirit, will come to the right conclusion.

二要遵循正确的相处之道。中英有许多共同点。两国都拥有悠久的历史和灿烂的文化，都主张维护多边主义、倡导贸易自由化便利化。同时，中英历史文化背景不同，社会制度和发展阶段各异，在一些问题上也存在分歧。双方应积极寻找和扩大利益汇合点，聚焦合作、推进合作。对于差异和分歧，双方应在尊重彼此核心利益和重大关切基础上，通过坦诚对话，扩大共识，积累互信。只要坚持相互尊重、平等相待、包容互鉴原则，中英关系就能顺利推进、持续向前。

Second, we should adopt a right approach to each other.

China and the UK have many similarities. Both countries have time-honoured history and splendid culture. We both support multilateralism and we both champion trade liberalisation and facilitation.

That being said, due to differences in history, culture, social system and development stage, we do have differences on certain issues. The right approach to our relations is to seek and expand areas where we have common interests, and focus on and advance cooperation. As for differences and disagreements, we should build up consensus and mutual trust through candid dialogues on the basis of respecting each other’s core interests and major concerns. As long as we follow the principles of mutual respect, equality, inclusiveness and mutual learning, China-UK relations will move forward steadily and keep making progress.

三要拓展互利务实合作。务实合作是中英关系的压舱石。中英合作领域宽广、潜力巨大。中国有14亿多人口，有4亿多中等收入群体，是世界第一大货物贸易国、第一制造业大国、第一大外资吸收国。英国传统上以贸易立国，是世界重要金融中心、海运中心，在科技创新、文化创意等领域有突出优势。尽管受新冠肺炎疫情冲击，去年中英双边贸易和投资仍逆势增长并创下新高，今年第一季度中国跃升为英国最大货物贸易伙伴，这反映出两国经贸合作的强大韧性和巨大潜力。我们不仅要深化现有合作，还要拓展新的合作，包括生物医药、公共卫生、环境保护、绿色金融、新能源汽车等新领域。中英将分别举办《生物多样性公约》第15次缔约方会议和《联合国气候变化框架公约》第26次缔约方会议，双方应就办好两场大会加强协调合作。两国还应在联合国、二十国集团等平台加强沟通协调，为维护世界和平、促进共同发展作出更大贡献。

Third, we should expand practical cooperation that is mutually beneficial.

Such cooperation is a stabilizer for China-UK relations.

China and the UK enjoy enormous potential for cooperation in a wide range of areas.

China has a population of over 1.4 billion, including a middle-income group of over 400 million. It is the world’s largest trader in goods, largest manufacturer and biggest recipient of foreign investment.

The UK is a traditional trading nation. It is also an important international financial centre and shipping centre. And it has considerable strength in scientific and technological innovation as well as cultural and creative industries.

Despite the impact from Covid-19, China-UK trade and investment bucked the trend to hit new record last year and China became the UK’s largest trading partner in goods in the first quarter of this year. This speaks volumes about the strong resilience and enormous potential of China-UK trade and economic cooperation.

While deepening existing cooperation, we can also work together in new areas, such as bio-medicine, public health, environmental protection, green finance and new energy vehicles.

China and the UK will host COP15 and COP26 respectively. We should step up coordination and cooperation to make both conferences successful.

Furthermore, we should enhance communication and coordination at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the G20, so as to make greater contribution to world peace and common development.

四要夯实友好民意基础。人民之间的友谊是国家关系的源头活水。中英两国人民的交往源远流长。近年来，双方人文交流日益活跃，合作领域不断拓展。疫情之前，两国年度人员往来近200万，中国成为英国重要的旅游客源地。当前，约22万中国留学生在英深造，1万英国留学生在华求学。疫情之后，双方要拓宽两国民间交往渠道，便利两国人民访问，尤其要加强两国青年的交流。前不久，我有幸参加了第二十届“汉语桥”世界大学生中文比赛全英大区赛决赛，很高兴得知英国学习汉语的注册学生达到13万，中国也有4亿人学习英语。中英都是体育、文化、艺术强国。说到体育，英国足球享有盛誉，中国的足球爱好者也越来越多。两国完全可以在这些领域交流互鉴，共同进步。中方欢迎英国冬奥团队参加北京冬奥会。

Fourth, we should consolidate the public support for China-UK relations.

Friendship between the peoples is the lifeline of state-to-state relations.

China and Britain have a long history of cultural and people-to-people exchanges which, in recent year, have become increasingly vibrant and expanded into new areas.

China has become an important source of overseas tourist for the UK, with nearly 2 million people traveling between our two countries every year before the pandemic. As we speak, there are about 220,000 Chinese students in the UK and 10,000 British students in China.

When the pandemic is over, we should expand people-to-people exchanges and facilitate mutual visits, not least between our young people of our two countries. Not long ago, I attended the UK Final of the 20th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students. I was delighted to know that 130,000 students here in this country have enrolled to learn Chinese, and 400 million people in China are learning English.

China and the UK are also connected by our shared devotion and strength in sports, culture and arts. Football, for which Britain is well known, is drawing an increasing number of players and fans in China. Our two countries have every reason and great potentials to expand exchanges, enhance mutual learning and make progress together. The Chinese side welcomes Team GB to the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

女士们、先生们、朋友们，

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

当前，新冠肺炎疫情仍在全球肆虐。我们今天只能通过视频方式举办招待会。大家可以想象到，我这次来英赴任，是戴着口罩来的，我向女王递交国书，也是通过视频方式进行的。这在中国驻英国大使赴任履新的历史上也是首次。疫情是人类的共同敌人，给各国带来灾难、扰乱了正常生活秩序。同时这场疫情也使人们进一步认识到，各国正日益成为休戚与共的命运共同体。我们必须携手合作，才能应对挑战，增进各国人民福祉。

Covid-19 is still raging and forcing us to meet this way online today. As you could probably imagine, I was wearing a face mask when I landed in Heathrow. And, unlike my predecessors, I presented my Letter of Credence to Her Majesty during a video audience. This is unprecedented.

The pandemic is our common enemy. It has caused disaster in every country and chaos to life of everyone.

The pandemic is also driving home the fact that the countries of the world increasingly belong to one and the same community, sharing glory and grief. We must all work hand in hand if we want to meet global challenges and promote the welfare of people around the world.

作为大使，我将牢记使命，砥砺前行，为促进中英两国人民友谊与合作竭尽所能。同时，我的工作离不开两国各界人士的支持和帮助。我期待和大家多接触、多沟通，听取你们的意见建议，共同为推动中英关系行稳致远而不懈努力。

As Chinese Ambassador to the UK, I will always bear in mind my mission, that is, to do my very best for friendship and cooperation between our two peoples. And I am ready to forge ahead in this direction.

But I know I wouldn’t be able to achieve that without the support from people of all sectors in our two countries. So I am ready to reach out to you to exchange views and hear your ideas and suggestions. I look forward to working with you for the steady and long-term development of China-UK relations.

谢谢大家。

Thank you all.