2010年2月2日，中国驻欧盟使团团长宋哲大使在“中国新年走进欧洲议会”活动周开幕式上发表致辞，全文如下：
中国驻欧盟使团团长宋哲大使在“中国新年走进欧洲议会”活动开幕式上的致辞
Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Song Zhe, Head of the Mission of the P. R. China to the European Union at the Opening Ceremony of the "Chinese New Year in the European Parliament"
尊敬的安杰莉莉副议长、尊敬的伊万诺娃副团长，
女士们、先生们、朋友们：
Vice-President Angelilli, Vice-Chairman Ivanova,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,
欢迎各位出席“中国新年走进欧洲议会”活动！
Good evening. Welcome to the "Chinese New Year in the European Parliament".
此时此刻，相信不少欧洲朋友还沉浸在一个月前圣诞新年假期同亲友团聚的幸福中。在遥远的东方，中国的民众正热切期待着中国新年—春节的到来。古代欧洲人精算时计，以太阳运动的轨迹确定一年起始之日；而中国人的祖先仰观天象，以月亮盈亏为周期设定新年到来之时。中欧两个古老文明的先贤对自然万物的观照各具视角，双方不同的历法上代代相传，沿袭至今。今天，中欧人民迎接新年的方式各具特色。我的同事曾说，布鲁塞尔的圣诞夜好安静啊，子夜时分只有教堂的钟声和唱诗，而北京的大年夜全城居民燃放几千吨的鞭炮，听上去那火爆劲儿不亚于战场。
For most of our European friends, memory is still fresh about the happy reunion with families and friends during the Christmas and New Year holidays. In China however, people are anxiously anticipating their New Year, the Spring Festival. While the ancient Europeans set the beginning of a year by measuring solar movement, my ancestors did so by observing the lunar wax and wane. Our wise men in the old days took different methods to reflect nature and universe, so we inherited different calendar systems that have been passed on for generations. We also inherited different traditions to greet a new year. My colleague once told me that in Brussels, Christmas Eve was so quiet, and the only sounds at mid night were the chimes and carols from the Saint-Michel Cathedral. He missed the battlefield-like thunders and trembles of Beijing's New Year's Eve, when millions of residents there would set out thousands tons of firecrackers.
然而在这些不同背后，我看到的是更多的相同。圣诞也好，春节也好，都是人们家庭欢聚、安享亲情、抚慰辛劳、憧憬未来的时刻。不论世界如何商业化、现代化、全球化、数字化，中欧人民总是一如既往地尊重和坚守那些亘古不变的、全人类共有的传统和基本价值：对生命的珍视，对同类和自然的关爱，对和平、安宁和美好生活的向往。
Above all these differences however, I find more similarities between China and Europe. Christmas or Spring Festival, they are both moments when people get together with their families and relatives, enjoy love and kinship, relax from hard work and look forward to a promising year. The world may become more commercialized, modernized, globalized or even digitized, but people in China and Europe always carry on their traditions and stand by their values, such as respect of life, compassion for humanity, love of nature, cherishment of peace, and hope for a wonderful and meaningful life. These values never fade in the light of history, and they are widely shared among all cultures and nations.
女士们、先生们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
世界上不同文明诞生于各自独特的历史和自然环境，却造就了今天这个多元且多姿多彩的世界。数千年文明之间的交流与交融使我们彼此相知相惜，因为我们发觉我们都秉持和追求人类社会共同的核心价值。我们成长的道路千姿百态，我们迈进的目标不一而终。
Each civilization is born out of its unique historical and natural environment. It is such uniqueness that makes the world as diversified and colorful as it is today. Through exchanges and interaction over centuries and milleniums, people from different culture know more about each other, and appreciate each other more. And they find what they uphold and pursue as the core basic values, are in most part common for all. We may come from different directions, but we are heading towards the same destination.
这些年来，随着中国与包括欧洲在内的世界互动交流不断加深，我们各自的文化符号也在对方的社会打下烙印。西方传统中情人节的玫瑰、复活节的彩蛋、万圣节的南瓜、平安夜的圣诞歌，都已成为开放的中国社会和中国人生活中的自然组成部分。中国春节的饺子、端午的粽子、中秋的月饼等也开始被越来越多的欧洲朋友所熟悉。我认为，这种平等尊重对方、渴望了解对方、尝试接受对方的心态是促进人类社会不断进步的动力，也是让我们的世界多一份和谐与合作、少一点误解和冲突的基础。作为人类文明的两大发源地，中欧增进相互认知、理解和交融将为世界的和平、和谐与进步发挥积极的促进作用。
In recent years, China has increasingly more contacts and exchanges with the rest of the world, no less intensively with Europe. It is not surprising to find in China or Europe symbols of each other's culture. Many Chinese identify Valentine rose, Easter egg, Halloween pumpkin and Christmas song as a natural part of their life. Meanwhile, more Europeans hang up red lanterns upon Chinese New Year and enjoy dumplings and mooncakes on other Chinese festivals. I highly commend such attitude, that is to respect, understand and accept each other as equals, which I believe will contribute tremendously to building harmony and cooperation between nations, preventing misconception and confrontation, and therefore promoting common progress of the entire humanity. As two major sources of human civilization, stronger understanding, interaction and integration between China and Europe mean a lot to world peace, development and harmony.
正因为此，中国使团与欧洲议会对华关系代表团将中国新年带入欧洲议会，希望为作为欧洲民意代表的欧洲议会议员们和议会工作人员开启一扇了解中国、接触中国传统文化的窗口。我们欢迎更多的议员和欧洲朋友到中国去访问、旅行、学习、工作，用开放的心态去观察中国、认识中国、拥抱中国，相信你们一定会被古老而年轻、开放且充满活力的中国所吸引，也一定能体会到中国正沿着文明、开放、民主、进步的历史轨道奋勇前行。
It is because of this, that the Chinese Mission, together with the Delegation for Relations with China, bring the Chinese New Year into the European Parliament. I hope this event will open a China window to the distinguished MEPs and all the staff members, provoking more interest and insight about China, not limited only to its traditions and culture. I also welcome more MEPs and friends from Europe to visit China, so as to observe China at close range and understand China with an open heart. I'm sure that once you set foot there, you will be amazed by a country both old and young, full of openness and vitality. And you will witness a nation blazing its way unremittingly towards prosperity, liberty, democracy and progress.
现在，我很高兴地邀请各位观看中国传统艺术的演出，祝愿大家今晚过得愉快。谢谢！
Now, I'm pleased to introduce to you a few traditional Chinese art performances, and I wish you a pleasant evening. Thank you.
