中英關係：把握今天，開創未來
中英關係：把握今天，開創未來
China-UK Relations: The Future Is Purchased by the Present
2016年9月2日，英國《政要》雜誌刊登駐英國大使劉曉明題爲《中英關係：把握今天，開創未來》的署名文章。全文如下：
On 2 September, the Politics First Magazine published a signed article by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming entitled “China-UK Relations: The Future is Purchased by the Present”. The full text is as follows:
英國文學巨匠塞繆爾·約翰遜曾經說過：“未來是用現在換來的（The future is purchased by the present）。”中英關係發展到今天的水平是雙方長期共同努力換來的，而中英關係的未來將取決於雙方今天的選擇，要通過我們今天的努力去創造。
Samuel Johnson once said, “The future is purchased by the present.” Today’s China-UK relations are the result of decades long and concerted efforts of both countries, while the future of our bilateral relations depends on how we choose today – we need to work hard together today to purchase a better future.
明年我們將迎來中英建立大使級外交關係45週年。45年的不懈努力，換來了兩國關係跨越式的發展。
The year 2017 will mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations between China and the UK. Thanks to our unremitting efforts over the past 45 years, China-UK relations have witnessed leapfrog development.
中英政治關係邁上更高水平。我們解決了重大歷史遺留問題，香港迴歸祖國成爲中國的特別行政區。我們確立了全面戰略伙伴關係，建立了兩國總理年度會晤、經濟財金對話、戰略對話和高級別人文交流機制等高層對話機制。去年習近平主席對英國事訪問，極大推動了雙方各領域合作與交流，開啓了中英關係“黃金時代”。我們致力於國際經濟金融體系改革，在維護世界和平、倡導自由貿易、應對氣候變化、促進發展減貧等方面開展了有效合作。
Firstly, China-UK political ties have moved to a higher level. With the handover of Hong Kong, we resolved an important historical issue. Hong Kong became a special administrative region of China. We established a comprehensive strategic China-UK partnership and a number of high-level dialogue mechanisms, including the annual Prime Ministers’ Meeting, the Economic and Financial Dialogue, the Strategic dialogue and the High Level People-to-people year, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the UK, which greatly promoted bilateral cooperation and exchanges across the board and unveiled the “Golden Era” of China-UK two countries also share the commitment to reforms of the international economic and financial system. We have had effective cooperation in global issues, such as maintaining world peace, supporting free trade, addressing climate change, advancing development and eliminating poverty.
中英經貿合作實現更快增長。中國是英國在歐洲外第二大貿易伙伴，雙邊貿易從1972年的3億多美元增長到2015年的785億美元。英國還是吸引中國投資最多的歐洲國家，截至2015年底，中國對英非金融類直接投資額132億美元。中英金融合作穩步推進，倫敦已成爲中國之外全球最大人民幣離岸業務中心。
Secondly, China-UK business ties have grown closer at a faster speed. China is the UK’s second largest non-European trading partner. Our bilateral trade grew from ＄300 million in 1972 to ＄78.5 billion last year. Britain is the largest investment destination for Chinese businesses in Europe. As of the end of 2015, China’s investment in the UK, in non-financial sectors, totalled ＄13.2 billion. Meanwhile, steady progress has been made in our financial cooperation. Today, London is the world’s largest RMB offshore market outside China.
中英人文交往呈現強勁勢頭。兩國人員往來已超過每年百萬人次,英國也是中國赴歐留學人數最多的國家。40年前，新中國首批留英學子只有16人，赴華留學的英國學生也只有11人，而今中國赴英各類留學人員15萬人，英國在華留學生6000餘人。此外，兩國還締結了55對友好省市關係。
Thirdly, the cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges between China and the UK are growing with a strong momentum. Every year, more than one million Chinese and British people travel back and forth between our two countries. The UK is the number one destination for Chinese students in Europe. In comparison to 40 years ago, when only 16 Chinese and 11 British students studied in each other’s country, today there are more than 150,000 Chinese students in Britain and 6,000 British students in China. Our two countries have also established 55 sister-city relationships.
當前，英國正處於公投脫歐後的調整期，存在許多不確定性。中英關係也面臨新的挑戰和機遇。在這樣一個充滿變化的重要歷史時刻，我們仍對中英關係充滿信心，因爲維繫中英關係的基礎依然牢固，中英關係的基本面沒有改變。
Today, the UK is in the post-Brexit period which is still full of uncertainties. For China-UK relations, now is a time of new challenges and opportunities. At this critical historical moment of changes, our strong confidence in China-UK relations remain unchanged. The vital interests that bond the two countries together, and the fundamentals of our bilateral relations, have remained unchanged.
首先是中英關係的戰略性和全球性沒有改變。中英都是世界主要經濟體，也都是聯合國安理會常任理事國，兩國在聯合國安理會、二十國集團等重要國際組織，以及氣候變化、自由貿易等國際事務中都有很好的合作。中英發展健康穩定、互利共贏的夥伴關係，超越雙邊範疇，具有全球意義；不僅造福兩國人民，而且有利於世界的和平、穩定與繁榮。
First of all, the strategic and global nature of China-UK relations remains unchanged. Both China and Britain are the world’s major economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council. We have had good cooperation at global forums, such as the Security Council and G20, and on many international issues from climate change to free trade. The global significance of a sound, stable and win-win partnership between China and the UK goes beyond the bilateral scope. Such a partnership serves not only the people of our two countries but also world peace, stability and prosperity.
其次是兩國推進務實合作和互利雙贏的共同需要沒有改變。英國在高新技術、金融、品牌、創意產業等方面有領先優勢，中國勞動力充沛，實體經濟強大，資本雄厚，市場廣闊。中、英作爲全球第二和第五大經濟體，經濟互補性強，合作潛力巨大，完全可以成爲合作共進、互利共贏的好夥伴。
Second, our common desire for continued cooperation and win-win results remains unchanged. The UK has strong high-tech and financial sectors and has an edge in brand promotion and creative industry. China has a big labour force and market, and the size of its economy comes with a strong financing capability. As the second and fifth largest economies respectively, China and the UK have much to offer to each other and huge potential for further cooperation. There is every reason for our two countries to engage in closer cooperation and become win-win partners.
第三是中英雙方加強理解和互信的共同意願沒有改變。這一點在我與英國朋友的接觸中深有感觸。英國民衆對了解中國有着巨大的熱情。去年習近平主席國事訪問期間，英國各界表現出極大關注，中英文化年中國文化季的各項活動也吸引了成千上萬的英國觀衆，孔子學院、孔子課堂在英掀起中文學習的熱潮。今年是中英文學巨匠湯顯祖和莎士比亞逝世400週年，兩國共同舉行了一系列紀念活動。所有這些活動進一步促進了兩國人民的相互瞭解，增進了兩國人民之間的友誼。
Third, our shared desire for deeper mutual understanding and trust remains unchanged. From my direct experience, I see how the British public has great enthusiasm to learn more about China. During President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK last year, the British public showed great interest in China. Events during the Chinese culture season of the China-UK Year of Culture Exchange attracted tens of thousands of British people. The Confucius institutes and classrooms in Britain are direct outcomes of great enthusiasm in Chinese language learning. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the passing of Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare, two literary giants of China and Britain. There have been a series of co-hosted commemorations that helped enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and British people.
第四是我們致力於發展中英關係的決心沒有改變。在英國公投脫歐前後出現的諸多不確定性面前，中國政府和企業堅定地對英投下“信任票”。6月8日，英國公投投票前兩個星期，中國財政部在倫敦發行30億元、3年期人民幣債券，這是中國首次在境外發行人民幣主權債券。英國公投脫歐後，中國領導人多次表示希望英國保持穩定、繁榮，強調中方願同英方一道努力，讓中英關係的發展更加全面深入，更好造福兩國人民。就在英公投脫歐第二天，6月25日中國海南航空公司旗下天津航空正式開通了天津－重慶－倫敦往返航班。6月28日，華爲公司承諾在英投資13億英鎊的計劃將繼續進行。
Fourth, China’s commitment to stronger China-UK relations remains unchanged. Despite uncertainties after the Brexit referendum, the Chinese government and business sector have cast the “vote of confidence” 8 June, two weeks before the referendum, China’s Ministry of Finance issued a three billion three-year RMB bond in London. That was the first RMB sovereign bond issued outside of China. After Britain voted to leave the EU, Chinese leaders, on many occasions, reiterated the position that China wants to see a stable and prosperous Britain and will work with the British side for closer bilateral ties and greater benefits for our two 25th June, just two days after the referendum, a Chinese company made a new move. Tianjin Airlines, a subsidiary of China’s Hainan Airlines Group, opened a direct flight route connecting Tianjin, Chongqing and London. On 28th June, Huawei UK went ahead with its ￡1.3 billion investment as planned.
我們希望英方與中方相向而行，無論英內政如何變化，始終保持積極發展中英關係的共識；無論英對外關係如何調整，始終把推動中英關係作爲外交政策的優先方向。今年9月，中國將在杭州舉辦二十國集團（G20）峯會。我希望中英兩國抓住這一重要契機，與其他成員國一道爲促進全球經濟強勁、可持續、平衡增長，以創新和改革引領世界經濟發展方向，推進國際經濟治理，爲構建公平公正、包容有序的國際金融體系而共同努力。特雷莎·梅首相將赴華出席G20峯會。峯會期間，習近平主席將與梅首相舉行雙邊會見，這將是英國新政府組成以來，中英兩國領導人首次會見，對兩國關係發展具有重大意義。我相信，這次會見將爲今後中英關係發展確立新目標，繪製新藍圖，提供新動力。
We hope that the changes within British politics will not compromise the UK government’s consensus and commitment to working with China for a sound China-UK relationship. We hope that, regardless of any foreign policy adjustments in the UK, advancing ties with China will always be a priority in Britain’s external year’s G20 Summit will be held in China’s Hangzhou, this September. I hope that China and the UK will seize that important opportunity to work together with other member states for the strong, sustainable and balanced growth of the world economy, to advance an innovation and reform-led world economy, to improve global economic governance and to establish a fair, just, inclusive and orderly international financial system. Prime Minister Theresa May will go to China to attend the summit. President Xi Jinping will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister May during the Summit. That will be the first meeting between the leaders of our two countries since the new British government was formed. It is of great importance for the development of our bilateral relations. I’m convinced that the meeting will set new goals, map out a new blueprint and introduce new dynamism to the future of China-UK relations.
中英關係40多年來的實踐告訴我們，相互尊重、平等相待，重視彼此核心利益和重大關切，始終是兩國關係歷久彌新、不斷髮展的重要原則。我們需要牢記這一重要原則，珍惜兩國關係來之不易的大好局面，總結過去，把握現在，面向未來，爲中英關係持久、穩定、健康發展做出不懈努力！
Looking back at the past, over four decades of China-UK relations, we have learnt this: for China-UK ties to grow and sustain, it is important that we respect each other, treat each other as equals and take into account each other’s core interests and major concerns. Looking to the future, we need to stick to this important principle, cherish what has been achieved through hard efforts, and seize today’s opportunity and work for a future of lasting, stable and sound China-UK relations.
