18.5.21刘晓明大使在2018英国切尔西花展“武汉水园”开幕式上的致辞：《领略“中国韵”，感受“中国美”》
刘晓明大使在2018英国切尔西花展“武汉水园”开幕式上的致辞：《领略“中国韵”，感受“中国美”》
Remarks by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the opening of the Wuhan Water Garden at the 2018 Chelsea Flower Show: Appreciate the charm and beauty of China
（2018年5月21日，伦敦切尔西花展）
Chelsea, London, May 21st, 2018
尊敬的英国国际贸易部首席投资官迈克尔·查尔顿先生，
Mr. Michael Charlton,
尊敬的英国皇家园艺学会主席尼古拉斯•培根爵士，
Sir Nicholas Bacon,
女士们、先生们：
Ladies and gentlemen:
大家下午好！
Good afternoon!
很高兴出席2018年切尔西花展“武汉水园”开幕式，我谨代表中国驻英国大使馆致以热烈祝贺！
It is a great pleasure to join you at the opening of the "Wuhan Water Garden" at the 2018 Chelsea Flower Show
英国园林艺术享誉世界，切尔西花展更是久负盛名，堪称全球园艺盛会。一位英国朋友曾告诉我，有两件事容易引起伦敦交通堵塞: 一是英格兰足球队获胜凯旋，二是切尔西花展开幕。切尔西花展的魅力可见一斑。
Britain is known around the world for the art of horticulture, and there is no better example of this than the Chelsea Flower Show, the best gardening event in the world.
Once a British friend told me, two things could bring London traffic to a complete stop: a triumphant English football team and the opening of the Chelsea Flower Show.
Such is the spell of the Chelsea Flower Show.
中国园林文化历史悠久，立意隽永，韵味独特。宋代诗人陆游曾写道，“高高下下天成景，密密疏疏自在花”。假自然之景，创山水真趣，得园林意境，展示人们对美的理解与追求，展示人与自然和谐共生的理念。
The Chinese also have a long history of gardening and have created a unique style and profound and thought-provoking designs. The lines of poet Lu You who lived in the Song Dynasty more than 800 years ago best describe the miniature-nature landscape that pleases all the senses. He wrote:
Tall and short trees, and random blossoms,
Varied and unrestrained is the beauty of nature.
Gardens are a reflection of one's understanding and pursuit of beauty. A beautiful garden is a perfect union of man and nature.
今天，“武汉水园”亮相切尔西花展，以中国湖北及其省会武汉市为主题，展示了中国中部地区的优美自然风光和深厚的文化积淀。我相信，“武汉水园”不仅是切尔西花展上一道独特的东方风景，而且讲述了新时代的“中国故事”：
Today, the Wuhan Water Garden opens at the Chelsea Flower Show with a magnificent display of the beautiful plants and rich culture of central China's Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan.
With the unique stylised design, the Wuhan Water Garden is telling the story of China in the new era.
一是全面发展的中国故事。 40年前，中国改革开放从东部沿海地区起步。40年后的今天，改革开放成果遍及全国各地。特别是近年来，中西部地区发展逐步走上快车道，经济总量占全国比重提高到21.69%，在全国经济社会发展格局中占有重要地位。作为中部核心省份，湖北省经济社会发展成就显著，综合实力和竞争力不断攀升。
This is a story about all-round development.
Forty years ago, China began reform and opening up on the east coast. Today, the policy of reform and opening up is bearing fruits in every corner of the country.
In central and western China, development has been particularly rapid in recent years. With over 21% of the total national economy, central and western China occupies an important place in the overall layout of China's economic and social development.
Hubei, as a key province in central China, has achieved notable progress and displayed growing economic strength and competitiveness.
今年初，我有幸陪同梅首相访问了湖北省会武汉，亲身感受了武汉的魅力和活力，亲眼目睹了新时代的中国正积极推动打造新开放增长极，努力形成陆海内外联动、东西双向互济的全面开放格局。
Early this year, I had the honour of accompanying Prime Minister May on her trip to Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province. It was a wonderful opportunity to personally experience the charm and energy of this city at close range. It was also an eye-opener, drawing my attention to the on-going, massive and all-round opening up in China in the new era. This is characterised by efforts to generate new growth points through an opening up pattern that fosters connectivity and matches the strengths between inland provinces in the west and coastal regions in the east.
二是绿色发展的中国故事。近年来，中国秉持绿色发展理念，大力推进污染防治，积极建设天蓝、地绿、水清的美丽中国。比如，我们在推动长江经济带发展时，要按照习近平主席的要求，"共抓大环保，不搞大开发"。把生态环境保护摆上优先地位。武汉是长江经济带核心城市，“武汉水园”的设计理念正是来源于长江这条中华民族的生命河，也体现了人类与自然的和谐共生。
The Water Garden tells a story about green development, which has been a key concept that China has adopted in a campaign against pollution to bring back the blue sky, green mountains and clear water -- to build a beautiful China.
Wuhan is at the centre of the Yantze River Economic Belt, which is a strategy to foster a new engine to reduce the economic gap between provinces along this massive river. While focusing on development, this strategy also prioritises environmental protection. In the words of President Xi Jinping, protection is the way forward, not massive construction.
It is from the mother river of the Chinese nation that the Water Garden takes its inspiration. It highlights the ideal of harmony between man and nature.
三是灿烂文化的中国故事。湖北地处华中腹地，是中华文明的重要发祥地之一。自古以来，楚文化就是中国传统文化的重要组成部分，也为世界文明交流互鉴做出了重要贡献。梅首相访问武汉的主题就是人文交流，包含教育、创新和环保等丰富内容。作为中国长江流域楚文化的代表，“武汉水园”不仅为英国观众带来了中华文明瑰宝，也成为今年中英人文交流合作又一亮点。
The Water Garden also tells a story about continuation of cultural heritage.
Central China, where historical Chu and present day Hubei is located, is one of birthplaces of the Chinese civilisation. The culture of Chu has always been an important part of the Chinese culture and a major contribution to the world civilisation.
During her visit in Wuhan, Prime Minister May focused on cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Education, innovation and environmental protection were some of the items on her agenda.
The Water Garden, which has its origin in the culture of Chu, will proudly showcase not only the best of Chinese civilisation but also the highlight of China-UK cultural cooperation.
女士们、先生们，
Ladies and gentlemen:
“各美其美，美人之美，美美与共，天下大同”。这种“天人合一”的理念不仅阐述了中国对美的理解，描绘了中国园林艺术的灵魂，也展现了中国传统哲学的智慧。我衷心希望，英国各界人士通过“武汉水园”，不仅能领略中国传统园艺的韵味，还能深刻体会“天下一家”的理念，与我们携手努力，促进东西方文明交流互鉴，推动构建人类命运共同体！
Harmony arises from the ability to appreciate different cultures for their unique beauty.
Unity of man and nature is the basic principle behind the Chinese people's understanding of beauty, the soul of the Chinese garden and the wisdom of the Chinese philosophy.
I encourage everyone to visit the Wuhan Water Garden to experience the charm of the Chinese garden and to appreciate the idea of "harmony of all under the sun".
I hope you will join us in the lofty cause of promoting mutual learning between the East and West and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
最后，预祝“武汉水园”取得圆满成功！
In conclusion, I wish the Wuhan Water Garden project success.
谢谢！
Thank you.
