刘晓明大使在中国人民解放军海军第二十六批护航编队访英新闻发布会上的讲话：《把握时刻，开启新程》

2017/10/03

Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Press Conference of the 26th Chinese Navy Escort Taskforce: A Brilliant Milestone and A New Beginning

(2017年10月3日，伦敦西印度码头)

West India Quay,London  3 October 2017

尊敬的英国皇家海军海上部队司令阿莱克斯•伯顿少将，

Rear Admiral Alex Burton,

尊敬的中国海军第26批护航编队指挥员王仲才少将，

Rear Admiral Wang Zhongcai,

各位记者朋友，

Friends from the Press,

女士们、先生们，

Ladies and Gentlemen:

上午好！

Good morning.

欢迎大家出席今天的新闻发布会。

It is a pleasure to have you all with us today for the press conference.

   从今天起到10月7日，中国人民解放军海军第26批护航编队将对英国进行友好访问。期间，舰队将举行开放日、甲板招待会、中英两军业务交流等一系列丰富多彩的活动。这些活动不仅将展示中国海军的风采，增进英国各界对中国海军的了解，而且将促进中英两国和两军关系的发展。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

The 26th Chinese Navy Escort Taskforce is calling at London from today to 7 October. In the coming days, there will be a series of events, including an open day, a deck reception and professional meetings between Chinese and British navies.

•      These events will showcase the best of the Chinese Navy.

•      They will be an opportunity for British people to get to know the Chinese Navy better.

•      And they will strengthen China-UK bilateral ties and military-to-military relations.

这是我时隔近三年，第二次迎接中国海军舰队来访。我为中国海军的快速发展感到骄傲，也为中英两军关系的深入推进感到高兴，同时对中国海军护航编队访英的重要意义也有了更深刻的体会。

This is my second time greeting Chinese Navy fleet in Britain. The last time was nearly three years ago.

•      I feel proud of the rapid development of the Chinese Navy.

•      I feel happy about the ever deeper links between the Chinese and British militaries.

•      And I feel excited about what this visit truly means to our military ties, to our bilateral relations and to our global partnership.

   首先，从两军关系层面看，这是书写历史的时刻。这次访问创造了多项“第一”：这是中国海军舰队历史上第一次访问英国首都伦敦，第一次在不到三年的时间里再次访英，第一次有这么多英军将领出席中国海军舰队举行的活动，两军在此访期间还将第一次举办人道主义救援交流会。所有这些都充分表明中英两军关系日益密切，更显示出中英两国战略互信不断深化。在这次编队访问期间，两国海军将就反海盗、人道主义救援等广泛议题进行交流。这些交流将进一步加深两军之间的互信与合作。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

First, this visit is making history for China-UK military-to-military ties.

This visit has set many records.

•      It is the first time ever for Chinese navy ships to call at Britain's capital city, London.

•      It is also the first time for the Chinese navy fleet to be back in the UK three short years.

•      It is the first time that so many British admirals and generals will come to the events to be held by the Chinese Navy fleet.

•      And during this visit, our two navies will hold the first humanitarian rescue symposium.

•      All these are reflection of the ever closer military ties and strategic mutual trust between our two countries.

During this visit, our two navies will exchange views on a broad range of issues from anti-piracy to humanitarian rescues. I believe such extensive engagement will help deepen the mutual trust and cooperation between our two militaries.

   第二，从双边关系层面看，这是谱写新篇的时刻。2015年，习近平主席对英国进行了成功的国事访问，开启了中英关系“黄金时代”。今年是中英建立大使级外交关系45周年，也是中国人民解放军建军90周年。值此承前启后、继往开来的重要年份，中国海军舰队到访英国，必将在中英两国和两军交往史上留下浓墨重彩的一笔。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Second, this visit is writing a new chapter for the overall China-UK relations.

President Xi Jinping paid a successful visit to the UK in 2015. That visit heralded the China-UK "Golden Era".

This year marks 45 years Ambassadorial diplomatic ties between China and Britain. It is also the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army. It is a year of great significance that calls on both countries to strive for further progress based on past achievement.

This visit by the Chinese Navy fleet will leave its mark in the history of our military-to-military exchanges and state-to-state relations.

第三，从在全球层面看，这是彰显和平的时刻。当今世界并不太平，地区冲突、恐怖主义、海盗活动、跨国犯罪、难民危机此起彼伏。为了让和平薪火代代相传，中国倡导国际社会共同构建人类命运共同体，建立以合作共赢为核心的新型国际关系。中国军队积极参与联合国维和行动，与包括英军在内的各国军队一道应对全球性安全挑战，为维护世界安全与稳定做出了重要贡献。实践证明，中国军队是维护世界和平的中坚力量。

Third, this visit is reaffirming the commitment of China and Britain to world peace.

Today's world is far from being peaceful. Regional conflicts, terrorism, piracy, cross border crimes and refugee crisis are on the rise.

To meet the challenges and uphold peace, China proposes to build a community of shared future for mankind and calls for a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation.

The Chinese military have been an active contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.

•      Chinese peacekeepers have worked together with the British military and armed forces of other countries to deal with global security challenges.

•      They have made significant contribution to world peace and stability.

•      They have proven to the world with concrete actions that the Chinese military is a staunch force for world peace.

女士们、先生们，

Ladies and Gentlemen,

中国2000多年前的古代思想家荀子曾说：“锲而舍之，朽木不折；锲而不舍，金石可镂。”英国首相丘吉尔也说：“发挥潜能的关键是不懈努力，而不是力量或者智力。”我相信，中国海军第26批护航编队此次访英，必将为中英两军友好交往与合作开启新航程，为中英关系“黄金时代”行稳致远注入新动力，为建设一个持久和平、共同繁荣的世界做出新贡献！微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

The great Chinese thinker Xun Zi said this 2,000 years ago:

   "Giving up halfway, one cannot even cut into rotten wood; But with unremitting efforts, one can shape metals and stones."

Winston Churchill had this to say with similar sentiments:

   "Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential."

I believe the visit to Britain by the 26th Chinese Navy Escort Taskforce will mark a new beginning of closer, friendly exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and British militaries.

It will create new impetus to sustain China-UK "Golden Era".

And it will contribute to a world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

谢谢！

Thank you!