刘晓明大使在“行走的年夜饭”活动上的讲话：《尝中西合璧盛筵，品美美与共情怀》
Speech by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the "A Bite of China: A Private Banquet to Celebrate Chinese New Year": East Meets West in the Beauty of Harmony
（2019年2月22日，伦敦海德公园文华东方饭店）
Hotel Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, 22 February 2019
尊敬的英国数文媒体部常务次官欧文女爵士，
Dame Sue Owen,
尊敬的英国社会科学院院士阿尔布劳教授，
Dr. Martin Albrow,
尊敬的伦敦设计双年展主席索雷尔爵士，
Sir John Sorrell,
尊敬的英国科学博物馆馆长布莱奇福德爵士，
Sir Ian Blatchford,
尊敬的英国国家美术馆馆长菲纳迪博士，
Dr. Gabriele Finaldi,
尊敬的皇家格林尼治博物馆馆长菲斯特博士，
Dr. Kevin Fewster,
尊敬的伦敦交响乐团首席执行官麦克道尔女士，
Ms. Kathryn McDowell,
尊敬的文华东方海德饭店代表德维勒斯先生，
Mr. André Devillers,
女士们、先生们、朋友们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends:
大家晚上好！
Good evening!
欢迎大家出席“行走的年夜饭”活动。“年夜饭”是中国人一年当中最重要的一顿饭，是阖家团聚、共庆新春的时刻。我们今天这顿“年夜饭”稍迟了几天，但中国有句老话，“不出正月都算年”，只要是亲朋好友相聚、共同展望来年的饭，都算是“年夜饭”。
Welcome to the dinner in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Traditionally, the Chinese New Year Eve is reserved for family reunion dinner. This is the most important dinner for the Chinese.
Tonight, we may be a few days late for our own “New Year Eve dinner”, but as the Chinese people often say, “The festival is not over until the end of the first month of the new year.” Therefore, we are not late yet for our most important dinner of the year.
今天到场的都是中国的老朋友，都是中英文化交流的中流砥柱，都为增进两国人民之间的相互了解和友谊做出了重要贡献。在此，我要向大家表示衷心感谢！我还要特别感谢文华东方海德饭店为晚宴提供的大力支持，让我们在历史悠久的罗吉亚宴会厅度过一个美妙的夜晚。
And, may I say it is a real delight to have you all with us. All of you are old friends and strong supporters of China-UK cultural exchanges. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to you for your contribution to better understanding and closer friendship between the people of our two countries.
My thanks also go to Hotel Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park for allowing us to spend a beautiful night at the time-honoured Loggia.
今天的“年夜饭”由中国驻英国大使馆和文华东方海德饭店的厨师共同为大家精心烹制，我们还邀请了两位音乐家为大家演奏，可以说是一场中西合璧、味蕾与心灵交融的盛筵。
Our New Year Eve dinner is a joint masterpiece of the chefs from the Chinese Embassy and Hotel Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. We are also privileged to have the company of two musicians, who will be bringing a feast for the ears.
I hate to stand between my honorable friends and what promises to be an exceptional enjoyment for the taste buds and ears created by the fusion of Eastern and Western food and music.
饮食在人类文化中占有重要地位，是走进人们心灵的捷径，因此，它在双边人文交流中也承载着独特作用、展现出独特魅力：
But, there are still a few more words that I want to say.
Food is an important part of culture. It can connect people’s hearts. It has the special charm to play a unique role in cultural and people-to-people exchanges between states.
首先，这是一份热爱生活之美。在中国，饮食蕴含着中国人对自然、时节以及人与人之间关系的深刻理解。孔子在《论语》中说，“食不厌精，脍不厌细”，即便是安贫乐道的圣人，也提倡遵循食材的特点，烹饪出至高美味。经过千年的发展，食物、烹饪方法、饮食仪轨与中国的哲学、礼仪融合为一体，形成了独特的中国饮食文化。
First, food captures the beauty of life.
In China, food reflects people’s appreciation of nature, seasons and relationship. The Analects of Confucius has these words,
“He was never tired of having his rice finely cleaned, or his minced meat cut quite small.”
Even a sage who is contented with a simple life would suggest that one should prepare the ingredients most elaborately in order to cook the best meal.
After thousands of years, food, cuisine and table manners have integrated with Chinese philosophy and etiquette to form the unique Chinese food culture.
第二，这是一份精神共鸣之美。我的一个英国朋友曾经幽默地说，“英国美食”是世界上最短的笑话。在我看来，其实不然。我们在伦敦能享受到世界各国的顶级美食，这已成为英国多元文化的组成部分，也体现了“美美与共”的精神。中国先贤管仲曾说，“王者以民为天，民以食为天，能知天之天者，斯可矣。” 今年是新中国成立70周年。70年来，我们最骄傲的成绩之一，就是解决了全世界1/6人口的吃饭问题，让百姓衣食无忧、各享其美。
Second, food reflects the beauty of harmony.
One of my British friends quipped about “British food” being the shortest joke in the world. But this is not necessarily so. In fact, here in London, one can enjoy best food from across the world. This is part of the cultural diversity in Britain, and harmony arises from this diversity and ability to appreciate different cultures for their unique beauty.
Here I want to quote another ancient philosopher and politician, Guan Zhong. He once said, “What matters to a king is people, what matters to the people is food. He who understands what matters most will take the crown.”
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Our greatest achievement in the past 70 years is that we have ensured that one sixth of the world’s populations have adequate food and clothing, and enjoy the beauty of life.
第三，这是一份情感连结之美。美食满足的不仅是口腹之欲，更重要的是情感的连结。“年夜饭”之所以特别，就是因为一起吃饭的是对我们来说最重要的人。中国最伟大的诗人李白在描述宴饮时有诗句说，“烹羊宰牛且为乐，会须一饮三百杯”，讲的是与好朋友吃饭，就是要畅快淋漓。中国美食也是全世界热爱中华文化的人们之间情感的连结。在世界的每个角落，有中国人的地方，就会有中国餐馆；有中国餐馆的地方，就会有各方朋友聚会。中国餐饮文化已成为世界各国人民感知中国文化的窗口、结交中国朋友的渠道。
Third, food embodies the beauty of compassion and friendship.
Delicious food not only meets the basic need, but also builds bond between people. What is special about the “New Year Eve dinner” is that we dine with people whom we hold dear.
Li Bai, the Tang Dynasty poet and the best-known in Chinese history, wrote these lines describing a joyous dinner with close friends:
Kill a cow, cook a sheep and let us merry be,
And drink three hundred cups of wine in ecstasy.
Chinese food has always been a link between people all over the world who love Chinese culture. Wherever in the world, wherever there are Chinese people, there are always Chinese restaurants. Wherever there are Chinese restaurants, fans of Chinese culture would gather. Chinese food helps open a window for them to learn about Chinese culture. Enjoying Chinese food together helps them make friends with the Chinese people.
女士们、先生们、朋友们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends:
春节的主题是辞旧迎新，继往开来。我们也想借这顿“年夜饭”，欢送祝勤公使和项晓炜公参，欢迎陈雯公使和于芃公参。过去几年来，祝公使和项公参为促进中英关系、增进中英人文交流做出了积极贡献，也和诸位结下了深厚的友谊。中国有句古语：“天下没有不散的筵席”，如今他们即将结束任期，奔赴新的工作岗位，我们祝他们工作顺利、事业有成。陈公使和于公参都是资深的外交官，对英国也都非常熟悉，相信他们一定能胜任新的任务，也希望大家给予他们热情而有力的支持。
As we ring out the old year and ring in the new, let’s take this opportunity to bid farewell to Minister Zhu Qin and Minister Counsellor Xiang Xiaowei, and welcome Minister Chen Wen and Minister Counsellor Yu Peng.
Over the past few years, Minister Zhu and Minister Counsellor Xiang have worked hard and contributed to advancing China-UK relations, including cultural and people-to-people exchanges. They have made many friends and built strong friendship with you. But, as people say, “All good things come to an end.” As they end their term in Britain and take up new responsibilities, let’s wish them every success in the days to come.
Minister Chen and Minister Counsellor Yu are both senior diplomats who know the UK very well. I have no doubt that they will live up to their new responsibilities. And I am sure they will have your warm and strong support in their work.
最后，祝大家猪年吉祥、万事如意、阖家幸福！
In conclusion, I wish you and your family a happy and prosperous Year of the Pig!
谢谢！
Thank you!
来源：网络 日期：2019年3月8日
心译翻译工作室
英语翻译
