Speech at the Meeting of the Delegation for Relations with China of the European Parliament by H.E. Ambassador Song Zhe, Head of the Mission of the P.R.China to the EU
2010年2月23日，中国驻欧盟使团团长宋哲大使在欧洲议会对华关系代表团会议上发表主旨讲话，全文如下：
尊敬的利凡里尼团长，
各位议员朋友，
Dear Chairman Rivellini of the Delegation for Relations with China,
Members of Parliaments and friends,
今天是中国农历虎年正月初十，先给大家拜个晚年。
Today is the tenth day in the Chinese lunar New Year. I would like to wish you all the best in the year of Tiger.
我觉得我同欧洲议会越来越有缘了。今天上午我刚来欧洲议会参加人民党党团为我举行的早餐会，下午我又应邀来到这里与你们会面交流。坦白地讲，我最想来的还是对华关系代表团，因为你们直接肩负着在欧洲议会内推动中欧关系发展的使命和责任，我们经常会面交流，对于增进双方相互理解与信任至关重要。
I think I am more and more tied up with the European Parliament. This morning I was invited to a breakfast discussion with the People's Party group, and now we are meeting here again. To be frank, I wanted mostly to come to the Delegation for Relations with China, because you have a direct mission and responsibility at the European Parliament to promote China-EU relations, therefore our frequent meetings are crucial to enhance mutual understanding and trust between the two sides.
我很高兴，我们已经有了一个好的开始。利凡里尼团长上任后不久即对中国进行了成功的访问。最近我们一起成功举办了“中国春节走进欧洲议会”活动，很快对华关系代表团核心小组还要再次访华。布泽克议长也将于5月访华。我感到，随着《里斯本条约》的实施，一个新的欧洲议会正在出现。希望这个新的欧洲议会能有助于推动中欧关系站在一个更新、更高的起跑线上。
I am happy that we have already made a good start. Chairman Rivellini, shortly after assuming office, paid a successful visit to China last year. Recently we worked in close cooperation to bring the Chinese New Year into the European Parliament, and very soon the core group of the Delegation will pay another visit to China. President Buzek will also go to China in May. In my view, with the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, a new European Parliament is now emerging. I hope this new European Parliament will contribute to bringing China-EU relations to a new and higher level.
尽管目前对于中欧关系有各种各样的说法和评论，甚至有些人不知出于何种原因，似乎不愿看到中欧关系越走越近。但我始终相信，中欧关系发展的历史潮流不可阻挡，它的发展动力不会减弱，它的发展前景将会更加光明。这是因为：
At present, there are some different voices on China-EU relations. Some even seem to be very reluctant to see a closer China-EU relationship. However, I always have this strong belief, that the historic trend of China-EU relations is irresistible, its driving force will be strengthened and its prospect will be even brighter. My belief is based on the following reasons:
中国将继续致力于走和平发展道路。这是中国将继续加强同包括欧盟在内的各方平等交流与合作的重要基础。虽然这是史前无例的创举，前进的路上难免荆棘密布，但这是13亿中国人民的选择，也是历史发展的必然。过去60年来，特别是改革开放30多年来，中国的和平发展不仅给中国带来了翻天覆地的变化，也为世界的和平与发展做出了重要贡献。今后，我们将继续矢志不渝地坚持和平的发展、开放的发展、合作的发展，大力拓展与各国的互利合作，既实现自身发展，同时又以自身的发展更好地维护世界和平，促进人类进步。
China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development. This is an important foundation for China to continue its equal exchanges and cooperation with others including the EU. What China is doing is unprecedented, and the way forward will not be smooth. But it is the choice of 1.3 billion Chinese people, and the choice of history. Over the past 60 years, in particular during more than 30 years of reform and opening up, China's peaceful development has not only brought tremendous change to itself, but also made important contribution to world peace and development. In the future, we will continue to firmly adhere to peaceful development, open development and cooperative development. We'll vigorously expand mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, achieve our own development, and through such development, better safeguard world peace and promote human progress.
欧盟将继续致力于推进一体化建设。这是中欧关系发展的重要动力。半个多世纪以来，欧盟开风气之先，在曲折中不断朝着理想的目标迈进，成为世界上举足轻重的重要力量。我知道，《里约》不可能在一夜之间彻底改变欧盟，但我相信，欧洲一体化是5亿欧盟公民的选择。和中国人民一样，你们也将克服重重障碍和困难，继续坚定地致力于推进一体化建设。长期以来，中国坚定支持欧盟一体化建设，这一政策不会发生任何改变。我们相信，一个强大、团结的欧盟有利于世界的和平与发展事业，也有利于中欧关系的不断发展。
The EU will stay committed to its integration process. This will be an important driving force for the development of China-EU relation. Over half a century, the European Union has been making history by moving towards its ideal despite twists and turns, and has become a major power in the world. The Treaty of Lisbon will not change the EU overnight, but I regard the EU integration as the choice of 500 million EU citizens. Just like the Chinese people, you will overcome obstacles and difficulties, and remain firmly committed to promoting the integration process. China has always been rendering its support to the EU integration and this policy will remain unchanged. We believe, a strong and united Europe is conducive to world peace and development and will contribute to the continuous growth of China-EU relations.
中欧将继续致力于发展全面战略伙伴关系。这是中欧关系发展的重要前提。事实已经证明，中欧关系是互利共赢的。几十年来，我们相互学习，相互借鉴，不仅促进了各自的经济社会发展，也为双方人民带来了实实在在的好处。面对复杂多变的国际形势和全球化、多极化的深入发展，中欧作为世界上两支重要的积极、和平力量，日益成为解决所有全球性挑战不可或缺的重要伙伴。中欧合则两利，分则两伤。
China and the EU will stay committed to developing their comprehensive strategic partnership. This is an important precondition for China-EU relations. Facts have proven that China-EU relations are mutually beneficial and win-win. For decades, we have learned from each other, drawn upon each other's experiences, which has not only promoted our own economic and social development, but also brought tangible benefits to the people of both sides. In the face of the complex and changing international situation, and the deepening of globalization and multi-polarization, China and the EU, as two major positive forces for peace, have increasingly become indispensable and important partners to resolve global challenges. Cooperation benefits both, while division hurts both.
诚然，中欧之间也存在差异和分歧。而这些往往被人为地放大或者炒作，从而给人造成中欧关系问题很多的消极印象。但只要我们客观、辩证地分析就会发现，中欧之间没有根本利害冲突，绝大多数问题主要是由于缺少深入了解，以及不同的历史文化背景、政治制度和意识形态引发的。其实，解决这些问题并不困难。
It is true that there are differences and disagreements between China and the EU. These differences are often artificially amplified and highlighted. As a result people tend to have the negative impression that there are huge piles of problems in China-EU relations. But if we make an objective and balanced assessment, we will find that there is no conflict of fundamental interests between China and the EU, and that most problems are primarily caused by lack of deep understanding, different historical and cultural backgrounds, political systems or ideologies. In fact, to solve these problems is not that difficult.
当今世界正在经历大变革大调整大发展。我们处在一个政治多样、文化多元发展的时代，各国都在探索符合自身国情的发展道路。不同的发展模式不应成为彼此关系发展的障碍，更不应成为导致彼此对立、非赢即输的“零和”竞争，而应成为推动共同繁荣、和谐共存的动力源泉。我很赞赏欧盟在推进一体化过程中对“多元一体”理念的追求，这也符合中国传统哲学中“和而不同”的思想精髓。
Today's world is undergoing major adjustments and developments. We are living in the period when different political systems and diverse cultures are developing at the same time. Countries are exploring development path which can meet their own national conditions. The different choice of development models should not become a disturbance or even obstacle in the relations among countries, still less should they become cutting-throat competitors or rivals. Instead, they should become the driving force and source of energy to achieve common prosperity and harmonious co-existence. I highly appreciate the EU's pursuit of the ideal, "integration with respect for diversity" in pushing the integration process. This is also consistent with the thinking of "harmony without uniformity" of traditional Chinese philosophy.
我相信，真心可以融化坚冰，真诚可以打破藩篱。只要我们将心比心，推已及人，相互尊重，平等相待，相互借鉴，取长补短，摒弃“非我族类，其心必异”、甚至以强加于人式改造对方的想法，用对话与合作去扩大理解共识，用宽容和信任去消除误解分歧，中欧就一定能够实现共同进步，中欧关系就一定能够保持长期健康稳定发展。我相信这是我们共同的理想和目标。我愿为此和你们继续共同努力。
I am confident that with sincerity, we will be able to overcome any barriers. As long as we think more from each other's position, and treat each other with equality and mutual respect, as long as we learn from and draw upon experiences of each other, reject the thinking of "not my breed, their hearts must be different" or impose one's views on the other or remake each other, we can build more understanding through dialog and cooperation, narrow misunderstanding and differences with accommodation and trust. And China-EU relations will certainly be able to maintain long-term, healthy and stable development. I believe these are our common ideals and goals, and I'm ready to work with you to achieve them.
今年中欧关系发展面临着不少新机遇，除密切的高层交往外，我在这里想特别提一下上海世博会。
This year, China-EU relations are facing a lot of new opportunities for further development. Besides close exchange of high level visits, the Shanghai World Expo is worth of particular mentioning.
将于今年5月1日至10月31日在上海举办的世博会，以“城市、让生活更美好”为主题。这是世博会有史以来规模最大、投入最多的一次盛会，200多个国家和国际组织将参展，参观人数将超过9000万。在国际金融危机背景下，这是一届“在危机中看到希望，凝聚信心”的世博会，是一届促进世界经济复苏的世博会。有欧洲媒体将这次上海世博会称为“经济奥运会”。
The Shanghai World Expo will be held this year from May 1 to October 31, with the theme "Better City, Better Life." This will be the largest ever World Expo in the history. More than 200 countries and international organizations will participate in the Expo and the number of visitors expects to exceed 90 million. In the context of the international financial crisis, the Shanghai World Expo will be one to "see hope in times of crisis, and to build confidence", and it will be instrumental to promote world economic recovery. Some European media described the Shanghai World Expo as the "economic Olympics."
作为中国最大的贸易伙伴，欧盟及其所有27个成员国均将参展上海世博会。这将是欧盟打破“老规矩”，首次在欧盟以外参展世博会，因此具有特殊意义，也从一个侧面体现了欧盟对发展中欧关系的重视。
As China's largest trading partner, the EU and all its 27 member states will participate in the Shanghai World Expo. For the first time, the EU will break from the past and give exhibition at the World Expo outside the EU. This has a special significance, and reflects the importance that EU attaches to the development of China-EU relations.
据我了解，比利时-欧盟馆总面积5250平方米，其中欧盟展厅1000平方米。欧盟展区的主题是“智能欧洲”，将集中展示欧盟城市的共同特征、欧盟在环境保护和节约资源等方面创造的新模式，通过尖端科技创造可持续的城市生活等内容。届时，在这个展馆还将举行150多场活动，涉及绿色经济、环境保护、城市生活等多种主题和各类经贸交流。上海世博会“欧盟日”定在5月9日。届时欧盟将举办一次欧盟狂欢节，庆祝“舒曼计划”提出60周年。
The Belgium-European Union Hall covers a total area of 5, 250 square meters, with 1,000 square meters for the EU exhibition. The EU Pavilion's theme is "smart Europe", which will focus on contents such as display of the common features of European cities, new models the EU has created in environmental protection and conservation of resources, sustainable urban living through cutting-edge technology. By that time, the exhibition hall will hold more than 150 activities ranging from green economy, environmental protection, urban life and many other topics and a variety of economic and trade interaction. The "EU Day" for Shanghai World Expo is scheduled on 9th of May, when the EU will hold an EU carnival to celebrate 60 years of the "Schumann Plan".
海世博会将是一个很好的平台和机遇。通过它，中国人民将进一步全面了解包括欧盟在内的世界新经济和新城市的发展理念，欧盟和世界人民也将进一步深入了解中国经济、社会、科技、文化等方面的发展进步。我相信，上海世博会一定能够成为加深中欧相互了解和友谊、促进中欧互利合作的另一座新桥梁！
The Shanghai World Expo will be a good platform and opportunity, through which the Chinese people will know and understand more about concepts of the new economy and new urban development in the world, including the EU. Likewise, the EU and the people of the world will have a deeper understanding of China's progress and development in the economic, social, technological and cultural fields. I believe that the Shanghai World Expo will establish another new bridge to deepen mutual understanding and friendship and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the EU!
3月2日中国驻欧盟使团将与欧委会对外关系总司合作，在欧委会总部大楼举办上海世博会展览，欢迎各位朋友届时光临！我也借此机会代表中国，热烈欢迎你们有机会亲临上海世博会，亲身体验它的精彩和成功！
On the 2nd of March, the Chinese mission and the Directorate General for External Relations of the European Commission will jointly hold in the Berlaymont an exhibition to inaugurate Shanghai World Expo. I hope you could have time to join us there! On behalf of China, I would also like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome you to the Shanghai World Expo and experience its excitement and success!
谢谢！
Thank you.