王毅在首届“杰出外交使者奖章”颁授仪式上的致辞

Remarks by H.E. Wang Yi at the Presentation Ceremony for the Outstanding Diplomat Medal

各位使节，各位朋友：

Excellencies,

Friends,

很高兴同大家在蓝厅相聚。今天是一个庄重的日子，我们在此举行一场友谊的盛会，表彰八位为促进中外友好作出重要贡献的驻华使节，授予他们首届“杰出外交使者奖章”。首先我谨代表中国外交部，向获奖使节致以热烈祝贺，表达崇高敬意！

It is a great pleasure to join you at Lanting. On this solemn day, we hold this celebration of friendship to honor eight ambassadors who have made important contributions to promoting friendship between China and other countries, and present them with the inaugural Outstanding Diplomat Medals. On behalf of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, I wish to extend warm congratulations and pay high tribute to all the recipients.

中国古语说，交得其道，千里同好。使节是国与国友好交往的桥梁纽带。各位杰出使者是知华友华的好朋友、老朋友。你们精心安排中外高层交往和重大外交活动，是双边关系的建设者；你们亲身踏访大江南北、城市乡村，是读懂中国的先行者；你们热心促进文化交流、人员往来，是民心相通的引领者；你们积极推动务实合作、经贸投资，是互利共赢的实践者。在增进友好合作的崇高事业中，你们洒下了辛勤汗水。在相知相亲的美好画卷上，你们刻下了鲜明印记。中国外交部专门设立“杰出外交使者奖章”，就是希望表达我们的赞赏和感谢。相信你们也会留下对中国这个第二故乡的美好回忆，带走这份中国人民的深情厚谊。

As an ancient Chinese saying goes, “A partnership forged with the right approach defies distance.” Diplomatic envoys serve as bridges for friendly exchanges between countries. All the Outstanding Diplomat Medal honorees are our good friends and old friends who have a deep knowledge of China. By making thoughtful arrangements for high-level exchanges and major diplomatic events, you make yourselves builders of bilateral relations. By traveling to different parts of China, both urban and rural, you make yourselves pioneers in understanding China. By actively promoting cultural and personnel exchanges, you make yourselves pacesetters in fostering people-to-people bonds. By facilitating practical cooperation, trade and investment, you make yourselves contributors to mutual benefit. All of you have dedicated immense efforts to the noble cause of deepening friendship and cooperation, and left a distinctive mark in our shared chapters of affinity and understanding. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has established the Outstanding Diplomat Medal specifically to show our appreciation and gratitude. I hope you will carry with you the pleasant memories of China, your second home, and bring the profound friendship of the Chinese people wherever you go.

俄罗斯联邦委员会国际事务委员会第一副主席杰尼索夫曾感慨，中国是一个“如果有幸来到这里，就会终生难忘”的国家。巴基斯坦驻华大使哈什米也说过，连接我们的山很高，但将我们联系在一起的友谊更高。我很高兴邀请各位阁下和同事，多回故地重游，多与老友重聚，中国永远欢迎你们。

First Deputy Chair of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Andrey Denisov once said with deep emotion that China is “a country you would never forget once you had the privilege of visiting.” Ambassador of Pakistan to China Khalil Hashmi said that the mountains that connect us are high, but the friendship that binds us is even higher. I invite Your Excellencies and colleagues to come back to China more often and get together with your old friends. You are always welcome in our country.

我还想说的是，各位使节在中国度过了人生中的美好岁月，相信这份记忆也会历久弥新。因为中国，是一个崇尚和平的国度，始终积极为世界和平安宁担当尽责；中国，是一个开放包容的国度，张开双臂与世界共享发展机遇；中国，是一个重情尚义的国度，在国际风云变幻中践信守诺。希望各位杰出使者继续为促进中外友好贡献力量，中国外交部也愿为各位在任使节履职提供大力支持。

Each of you has spent some wonderful years of your life in China. I hope those fond memories will remain fresh forever. China is a country that values peace, always meeting its responsibility for world peace and tranquility. China is a country that is open and inclusive, readily sharing its development opportunities with the world. China is a country that acts in good faith, consistently delivering on its commitments despite changing international dynamics. We hope the outstanding diplomats honored today will continue contributing to the friendship between China and the world. Those of you who are incumbent ambassadors can always count on the strong support of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

各位使节，各位朋友，

Excellencies,

Friends, 

沧海横流方显本色，团结合作才有未来。中国愿同一切进步力量并肩携手，守和平发展初心，行同球共济大道，开创人类美好未来。让我们弘扬友好传统，增进互信合作，超越隔阂冲突，共建人类命运共同体，推动世界走向和平、安全、繁荣、进步的光明前景！

When tested, heroes show their mettle; through cooperation, the future will get better. China is ready to join hands with all progressive forces to uphold our commitment to peace and development, pursue greater global solidarity, and create a bright future for humanity. Let us carry forward the tradition of friendship, enhance trust and cooperation, and rise above estrangement and conflict. Together, let us build a community with a shared future for humanity and a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for the world.