驻英国大使刘晓明在英国议会跨党派中国小组2017年新春招待会上的讲话

Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the APPCG Chinese New Year Reception

（2017年1月31日，伦敦议会大厦）

Palace of Westminster, 31 January 2017

尊敬的英国议会跨党派中国小组主席格雷厄姆先生，

尊敬的英国国际贸易部汉兹国务大臣，

尊敬的英中贸协主席沙逊勋爵，

尊敬的各位议员，

女士们，先生们：

Chairman Graham,

Minister Hands,

Lord Sassoon,

My Lords and MPs,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

今天是中国农历鸡年春节的正月初四，年意正浓。鸡在中国生肖中寓意是吉祥和活力，因此，我要祝大家新年称心如意、身体健康！

Today is the fourth day of the Year of the Rooster. The feeling of celebration is still in the air.

In the Chinese culture, the rooster stands for renewed vigor and good luck. So I would like to begin by wishing everyone good health and prosperity in the New Year!

这是我就任驻英国大使以来，第六次出席英国议会跨党派中国小组举办的新春招待会。去年这里举行招待会时，可能我们谁都不会想到，一年来，英国经历了这么多的变化，你们公投选择了脱离欧盟，你们更换了首相，重组了内阁。有人说，英国经历了一场“政治地震”，未来充满了“不确定性”。

This is the sixth APPCG Chinese New Year Reception that I have attended since I came to London as Chinese Ambassador. Every time is very enjoyable.

Last year when we gathered here, no one would have expected that Britain would go through so many changes within just one year. The British people voted to leave the EU and Britain got a new Prime Minister and a new Cabinet.

Some say Britain has undergone a "political earthquake" and its future is full of "uncertainties".

面对不确定性，英国再次向世界显示了它是一个具有“韧性”的国家。脱欧后，英国经济表现强劲，增长超出普遍预期。同样，我们也高兴地看到，经过中英双方的共同努力，中英关系也展现了韧性，不仅实现平稳过渡，而且呈现持续发展。习近平主席与梅首相在杭州成功会晤，共同确认中英关系“黄金时代”定位，致力于推动两国全球全面战略伙伴关系迈上更高水平；中英经济财金对话、高级别人文交流机制和战略对话等三大对话在年内先后举行，首次高级别安全对话、地方领导人论坛、政党对话成功举办，两国对话机制正常运转；中国在伦敦首次发行人民币主权债券，中法英三方签署欣克利角核电项目一揽子投资协议，金融、核能合作成果显著；双方共同纪念汤显祖和莎士比亚逝世400周年，双方互为对方国家公民颁发两年多次签证，扩大两国航空运输准入，便利促进人员往来，人文交流迈上新台阶；双方在二十国集团、亚投行等框架内密切合作，在全球治理、气候变化、自由贸易、可持续发展、维和、反恐等领域有效沟通，展现大国担当。

However, in the face of uncertainties the UK once again demonstrates to the world the strong "resilience" of the British people. After the Brexit referendum, the UK's economy maintained a solid growth momentum far better than was widely expected.

We are also pleased to see that China-UK relationship is also showing "resilience". Thanks to the concerted efforts of both countries, the relationship steadied in a time of transition and continued to grow:

• President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Theresa May had a successful meeting in Hangzhou. Both leaders reaffirmed our shared commitment to the "Golden Era" of China-UK relations and our global comprehensive strategic partnership at a new level.

• The dialogue mechanisms between our two countries ran smoothly:

o The Economic and Financial Dialogue.

o The High Level People to People Dialogue.

o And the Strategic Dialogue were held successively.

• Also, our two countries held:

o The first China-UK High Level Security Dialogue.

o The first China-UK Regional Leaders Summit.

o And the ninth China-UK Leadership Forum.

• There were notable outcomes of our financial and nuclear cooperation. China issued RMB sovereign bond in London for the first time. And China, Britain and France signed the package deal of Hinkley Point C nuclear project.

• People-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges received a further boost as our two countries commemorated the 400th anniversary of the passing of Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare. We also began to issue two-year multi-entry visas to each other's nationals and increased flight capacity to facilitate mutual visits.

• On global issues, China and the UK have showed our strong sense of responsibilities as big nations. We worked closely together within the G20 and at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. We had effective communication and cooperation on global governance, climate change, free trade, sustainable development, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.

中英两国议会交往也保持良好势头。议会跨党派中国小组去年两度组团访华，中国人大、政协、监察、政党代表团也到英议会访问交流。双方就促进增长、法制建设、司法改革、反腐败等治国理政议题沟通交流、相互借鉴。我本人去年也曾两次与中国小组成员座谈交流，回答你们关心的问题，增信释疑，促进合作。

The parliamentary exchanges between our two countries have also maintained a sound momentum:

• Last year, the APPCG sent two delegations to China.

• Delegations from China's National People's Congress, the Chinese People's Political Consultation Conference, the Ministry of Supervision and other political parties also visited the UK for exchanges with the British Parliament.

These visits enabled exchange of views and experience sharing between the two sides over issues such as the economy, rule of law, judicial reform and anti-corruption.

I myself joined the APPCG discussions twice last year to answer your questions, share views, build trust and promote cooperation.

2017年是中英建立大使级外交关系45周年，这是一个回顾与展望的时刻。回首过去，中英关系发展之路虽不平坦，但成果辉煌。展望未来，中英关系虽仍面临挑战，但我们有信心确保两国关系“黄金时代”行稳致远，创造更多惠及两国和世界的“黄金成果”。

2017 marks the 45th anniversary of the ambassadorial diplomatic relations between China and the UK. This is good moment to review the bilateral relationship in the past and outline the vision for the future:

• Over the past 45 years, China-UK relations have seen remarkable achievements despite some ups and downs.

• Looking into the future, challenges still exist. But, we are confident that we are able to ensure the steady growth of China-UK relations in the "Golden Era". This will deliver more "golden fruits" to our two countries and the rest of the world.

2017年英国将启动并推进脱欧谈判。在这样的背景下，中英如何克服挑战、抓住机遇，继续推动两国关系“黄金时代”的深入发展，是我们必须认真思考的问题。我认为，我们应当如同习近平主席在达沃斯世界经济论坛上指出的：要“在开放中分享机会和利益，实现互利共赢”；要“面对经济全球化带来的机遇和挑战，充分利用一切机遇，合作应对一切挑战，引导好经济全球化走向”。具体来说，中英应当尽早启动自贸谈判研究，携手打造经贸合作“升级版”，成为更加开放的贸易投资合作伙伴；中英应当加强科技、教育、创新等领域合作，共同提高两国的“产、学、研”水平，为两国的经济增长增添助力；中英应当坚定推进开放型世界经济，促进全球自由贸易，坚决反对保护主义，坚持多边主义，反对单边主义，推动更加包容和可持续的全球化；中英应当进一步加强战略对接，在“一带一路”合作上迈出新步伐。总之，英国选择脱欧，既给我们带来挑战，更给我们带来机遇。中英构建面向21世纪全球全面战略伙伴关系仍大有可为，中英关系“黄金时代”发展仍具有广阔空间。

In 2017, the UK will start and proceed with the Brexit negotiation. Against this background, one needs to think seriously about how China and the UK could overcome the challenges. We need to work closely together and seize the opportunities to advance this "Golden Era" of China-UK relations.

I think President Xi gave us the answers when he said this in Davos:

"We should share opportunities and interests through opening-up and achieve win-win outcomes."

He also said:

"In the face of both opportunities and challenges of economic globalization, the right thing to do is to seize every opportunity, jointly meet challenges and chart the right course for economic globalization."

If we put these words in the context of China-UK relations, there are quite a few things that we can do together:

• First, China and the UK should begin looking into the free trade negotiation as soon as possible. We need to upgrade our business cooperation. We need to forge a more open partnership for trade and investment.

• Second, China and the UK should strengthen cooperation on science and technology, education and creative industries. We need closer cooperation involving all our industries, the universities and the research institutions in order to boost our respective economic growth.

• Third, China and the UK should stay committed to an open global economy. We must support free trade and oppose protectionism. We must stand for multilateralism and oppose unilateralism. We must advance a globalization process that is more inclusive and sustainable.

• Fourth, China and the UK should continue to dovetail our respective development strategies and strive for new progress in our cooperation under the "Belt and Road" Initiative.

All in all, Brexit will mean both challenges and opportunities. However, there is much China and the UK can do to build our global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century. There is huge potential to advance the "Golden Era" of China-UK relations.

各位议员，

My Lords and MPs,

英国议会在英国内政治中发挥着重要作用。同样，英议会在中英关系中也是重要的参与方和建设方。我注意到，英议会下院外委会正就中英关系进行调查，我希望这一调查能够积极促进中英关系的发展，为双方合作建言献策，能够发挥正向引导作用。

The British Parliament plays a crucial role in British politics. Meanwhile, it is also an important player in building China-UK relations.

I have learned that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons is going to conduct an inquiry into China-UK relations. I hope this inquiry will help advance China-UK ties. I hope it will come up with good advice and suggestions for our bilateral cooperation. And I hope it will play a positive role in shaping our future relations.

我也希望在新的一年里，各位议员能更加积极地参与两国议会间的对话与交流，支持中英各领域务实合作。让我们一道，为推进中英关系“黄金时代”做出积极贡献！

It is also my hope, my Lords and MPs, that you will be all the more actively engaged in China-UK inter-parliamentary dialogues and exchanges in the new year.

I would count on your support for the cooperation between China and the UK across the board.

Let us commit ourselves to working closely to contribute to the "Golden Era" of China-UK relations!

最后，再次祝大家新春快乐！

In conclusion, let me again wish everyone a happy and prosperous Year of the Rooster!

谢谢。

Thank you.