尊敬的伦敦董事协会主席拉马尔先生，

各位评委，

各位选手，

老师们，同学们，

女士们，先生们，朋友们：

 

Chairman David Stringer-Lamarre,

Judges and Contestants,

Teachers and Students,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends:

Good evening!

很高兴再次出席“汉语桥”活动。每次来“汉语桥”致辞，我都为一件事感到纠结，那就是不知道该讲中文还是讲英文。王永利公参建议我讲中文，因为这是一场中文演讲比赛，选手们都说中文。去年我用中文致辞，但发现除参赛选手外，现场多数英国听众不懂中文，我们未能充分沟通。
It is a real delight to join you again at the "Chinese Bridge" competition.

 

Every time I speak at the "Chinese Bridge", I struggle over whether I should speak Chinese or English. Last year Minister Counsellor Wang Yongli suggested I speak Chinese, because this is a Chinese proficiency competition. I accepted his suggestion and spoke Chinese, but I found that most British friends in the audience could not understand, and it was not a communication success.

 

看来，学习语言并非一日之功，不能急于求成，所以今天我还是讲英文。为了保险起见，我们做个现场调查，请不懂中文的英国听众朋友举手。果真不少。看来我今天讲英文的决定还是正确的。希望在不久的将来，我用中文在“汉语桥”致辞。

 

Language is not learned in a day. So I have decided to speak English tonight.

 

Before doing it I would like to double-check if my decision is right. Let's do a survey. Those who don't understand Chinese, please raise your hand.

 

It seems I am right in choosing to speak English. Nevertheless I hope that in the near future, I could speak Chinese at the "Chinese Bridge".

 

女士们，先生们，朋友们，

 

今天的“汉语桥”活动有特殊意义。这是第十八届“汉语桥”世界大学生中文比赛全英大区赛决赛。在中英两国，18岁都是法定成年的年纪，是人从青涩到成熟的里程碑。

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Tonight's "Chinese Bridge" is special. It is the 18th"Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition UK Regional Final.

 

In China as well as the UK, the age of 18 is a milestone in life. It marks the end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood.

 

18年来，“汉语桥”从最初的鲜为人知，到如今已成长为中外人文交流的知名品牌。它的成长，离不开在座各位的热情支持与积极参与。

 

In the past 18 years, the "Chinese Bridge" has grown from obscurity to international fame. It is now a brand name for cultural exchange between China and the world. This could not have been possible without the ardent support and active participation of all of you present today.

 

在此，我谨为所有致力学习中文的同学们点赞，向长期在英从事汉语教学、传播中华文化的老师们表示敬意，向所有关心和支持“汉语桥”的中英各界人士表示感谢！

 

I would like to give the thumbs up to all the students who have been devoted to learning Chinese!

 

I would also like to pay tribute to all the teachers. Thank you for your hard work over the years to impart knowledge about the Chinese language and culture to the British people!

 

My thanks also go to those from both our two countries who have given their care and support for the "Chinese Bridge"!

 

今年是中英建立代办级外交关系65周年。65年来，教育始终是推动中英关系发展的重要动力，始终是滋养中英友谊的厚沃土壤，也是中英合作最具活力、最有潜力的领域之一。中国古代典籍《庄子》谈到“其作始也简，其将毕也必巨”。

 

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-UK diplomatic relationship at the level of chargé d'affaires.

 

In the past 65 years,

 

Education has been an important driving force for China-UK relations.

It has provided nourishment for China-UK friendship.

 

And it has been one of the most dynamic and promising areas of China-UK cooperation.

Ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi said, "A simple endeavour could have significant influence."

 

“汉语桥”不仅是汉语教学的“质检中心”和“成品展示会”,更是中英教育合作的瑰宝。它起步于语言，而超越语言；它发源于中国，而走向世界；它产生于课堂，而走进心灵。

 

The "Chinese Bridge" is such a simple endeavour of great significance. For Chinese language proficiency, "Chinese Bridge" is a "centre of quality inspection" and a "display of excellent results". It is also a crown jewel of China-UK cooperation.

 

It begins with language learning but is more than language learning.

It originates in China and gains popularity all over the world.

It starts in the classrooms and ends in people's heart.

 

不忘初心，方得始终，在“汉语桥”的“成年礼”上，有必要再问一个问题，为什么要学习汉语？对于这个问题，我愿与大家分享三点体会：

 

To know where we are going next, we should never forget why we started in the first place.

At this coming-of-age moment for the "Chinese Bridge", it is necessary to ask yourself this question: Why do you want to learn Chinese?

 

This is what I think:

 

首先，语言是探索中华文化深厚魅力之桥。语言是一个国家和民族文化的基本要素。

 

First, the Chinese language is a bridge leading to the world of profound Chinese cultural charm.

 

Language is the basic element of the culture of a country and a nation.

 

学好汉语，才能真正走进五千年未曾间断的中华文明；才能读懂“不独亲其亲，不独子其子，使老有所终，壮有所用，幼有所长，矜寡孤独废疾者皆有所养”的和睦观念为何深植中国人民的心底；才能读懂“各美其美，美人之美，美美与共，天下大同”的和谐理念为何已深入中国人民的基因；才能读懂中华民族5000多年文明史，中国人民近代以来170多年斗争史，中国共产党90多年奋斗史，中华人民共和国70年发展史，改革开放40多年探索史，事实上是一脉相承、不可割裂的历史，才能真正掌握了解中国的过去、中国的今天和中国的未来的钥匙。

 

The Chinese language holds the key to the five-thousand-year uninterrupted Chinese civilisation.

 

A good command of the Chinese language would enable a thorough understanding of ancient Chinese literature which constitutes the foundation of the Chinese value, such as this one:

 

"Treat other's kin and children as your own; Let all the elderly be supported, the young be employed and the children be educated; Ensure all the widowers, the widows, the orphans, the childless elders, the disabled and the sick are properly taken care of."

 

Or this one:

 

"Harmony arises from the ability to appreciate different cultures for their unique beauty."

 

These adages are the very root of the ideals of good-neighbourliness and harmony, which the Chinese people hold dear.

 

With a good command of the Chinese language, one would find it easier to see how

 

the more than 170 years struggle of the Chinese people in modern history,

the more than 90 years of strenuous efforts of the Communist Party of China,

the 70 years of progress of the People's Republic of China,

and the more than 40 years of the exploration of reform and opening up,

are all parts of a continuous, uninterrupted 5,000 year history of the Chinese nation.

 

This is the key to understanding China's past, present and future.

 

其次，语言是促进中英两国合作共赢之桥。近年来，英国的“汉语热”持续升温。2017年，英格兰在中小学启动“中文培优项目”，截至目前已有64所学校的1300多名学生参与其中。

 

Second, language is a bridge for win-win cooperation between China and the UK.

 

Over the past years, learning the Chinese language has become increasingly popular in Britain.

 

In 2017, the "Mandarin Excellence Programme" was introduced to primary and secondary schools in England. As of today, the programme has covered more than 1,300 students from 64 schools.

 

2018年，汉语首次超越德语，成为英国A-Level考试中最受学生欢迎的第三大流行语言。中英教育机构迄今共建29所孔子学院和161个孔子课堂，成为英国朋友学习汉语、了解中国文化的热门平台。

 

In 2018, the Chinese language overtook German for the first time and became the third most popular foreign language in A-level exams.

Chinese and British education institutions have jointly built 29 Confucius Institutes and 161 Confucius Classrooms, which have become popular platforms to learn the Chinese language and culture.

 

同时，中国的“留英热”也不断升温。2010年我刚出使英国时，约有13万中国学生在英求学。9年过去了，这一数字增长到19万。“汉语热”和“留英热”反映出中英两国人民对彼此的友好情谊，也折射出中英人文交流的蓬勃生机。

 

At the same time, more and more Chinese students choose to study in Britain. In 2010, my first year as Chinese Ambassador to the UK, there were about 130,000 Chinese students here. Today, after nine years, this figure has increased to 190,000.

 

All these figures reflect the close bond between the Chinese and British people. They also demonstrate the vigour of China-UK cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

 

第三，语言是推动东西方文明交流互鉴之桥。在世界多极化、经济全球化、文化多样化深入发展的今天，人与人之间的沟通尤为重要，文明与文明之间的交流互鉴愈显必要。

 

Third, language is a bridge for exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilisations.

 

In an age of deepening multi-polarisation, economic globalisation and cultural diversity, the communication between people and the exchanges and mutual learning between civilisations are becoming increasingly important.

 

语言就是我们沟通交流的工具，就是帮助我们理解差异性、坚守共同性，相互尊重、平等相待的基石。中英两国社会制度、历史文化、发展阶段不同，但都拥有深厚的历史文化积淀，两国代表的东西方文明实际也有许多共通之处。

 

Learning a foreign language gives us a tool for such communication and exchanges. This helps us understand differences and seek common grounds. This also builds the foundation for equality and mutual respect.

 

China and the UK differ in social system, history, culture and development stage. But both have created profound civilisations, and many of our values are similar.

 

比如英国人注重“优雅、诚实、独立”等品质，中国人则坚守“仁、义、礼、智、信”等道德准则。只要我们不断跨越语言的障碍，就能达到增进了解、凝聚共识的新境界。

 

For example, the British people prize the qualities of elegance, honesty and independence, while the Chinese people value benevolence, integrity, courtesy, wisdom and good faith.

 

As long as we overcome the barrier of language, we could reach a new stage of better understanding and stronger consensus.

 

各位来宾，朋友们，

 

英籍著名哲学家维特根斯坦曾说，“我的语言之局限就是我的世界之局限”（The limits of my language are the limits of my world.）。希望“汉语桥”比赛能够帮助我们不断突破能力和认知的局限，不断激发和培养大批会汉语、懂中国的人才，为推进中英关系“黄金时代”、为构建人类命运共同体贡献力量！

 

Distinguished Guests,

Dear Friends:

Ludwig Wittgenstein said, "The limits of my language are the limits of my world."

 

I hope the "Chinese Bridge" competition will help us break the limits of ability and knowledge, and encourage more people to learn the Chinese language and understand China. This will be an important contribution to advancing the China-UK "Golden Era" and building a community with a shared future for mankind!

 

我祝愿今天的各位选手取得优异成绩，期待你们成为“汉语桥”上耀眼的明珠！

现在，我宣布：第十八届“汉语桥”世界大学生中文演讲比赛全英大区赛决赛正式开始！

谢谢大家！

 

In conclusion, I wish all the contestants success in this competition. I hope you will become super stars of the "Chinese Bridge"!

 

Now I have the honour to announce:

 

The 18th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition UK Regional Final now begins!

 

Thank you!

 

来源：http://uk.chineseembassy.org/eng/

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