驻英国大使刘晓明英中贸易协会欢迎午宴讲话

尊敬的白乐威爵士，各位企业家朋友，女士们，先生们：

Sir David Brewer, Members of the business community, Ladies and Gentlemen,

首先感谢英中贸协为我举行盛大的欢迎宴会，我深感荣幸。我认为这不仅仅是对我个人的热烈欢迎，而是对我代表的国家—中国的热烈欢迎。

May I start by thanking China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) for hosting today's lunch. This is not only a gesture of welcome for me personally but also a reflection of CBBC's long-standing commitment to China-UK relations.

我是于三周前抵英履新的。临来前，听说一些英国朋友曾好奇地问，中国为什么派一位驻朝鲜大使转任驻英国大使？显然他们想知道英国和朝鲜有什么相同点？从表面看，英国和朝鲜可能截然不同：朝鲜在亚洲，英国属欧洲；朝鲜四季分明，英国的天气有点“独特”。但我抵达伦敦后，确实发现英国和朝鲜之间“鲜明”的相似，这就是对红色的喜爱。朝鲜就不必说了。红色在英国也随处可见。红色的公共汽车、电话亭和邮筒，这是伦敦的标志物；阿森纳、曼联、利物浦足球队是红色的；汇丰银行、特易购（TESCO）、沃达丰（VODAFONE）等企业标志是红色的；我刚去拜会了上院议长，发现英国上院也是红色的。当然我们不该忘了今天活动的主办者—英中贸协的徽标也是红色的。看来，红色使英国和朝鲜找到了共同点。不仅于此，我们中国人也非常喜爱红色，因为红色象征幸运、幸福和繁荣。

Before I came here, I heard that some British friends asked why China should send someone from Pyongyang to serve in London? Apparently, they were keen to know if there were any similarities between Pyongyang and London. On the face of it, there might not seem to be that many similarities. For a start one country is in Asia and the other in Europe. The DPRK has distinct seasons, while I am told in the UK the weather is, well, unique. But only after my arrival, did I discover that both countries like the colour red. In the DPRK needless to say, one sees red wherever one goes. And then I come to London, and red is everywhere! One can see red double-deckers, red telephone booths and red post boxes, which are distinctive symbols of London. Well-known football teams like Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have red logos, so have leading companies such as HSBC, TESCO, and Vodafone. In fact I just came from a meeting with the Lord Speaker only to discover the House of Lords is red, too. Naturally our host today the CBBC also has red in its logo. So you see, red is what unites both countries. And where do I fit in to all this? Well, I needn't tell you how much we prize the colour red back home. For us it means luck and happiness and prosperity.

让我们回到中国的主题！

Well, let me come back to China.

不久前，温家宝总理在两会的记者招待会上表示，“2009年是进入新世纪以来中国经济最为困难的一年，2010年将是中国经济最为复杂的一年”。我注意到许多英国媒体都引用了这句话。

Premier Wen Jiabao recently made a much publicized comment about the Chinese economy, saying that 2009 has been the most difficult year so far in the new century, and 2010 would be the year when China faces the most complicated economic landscape.

温总理为什么这么说？2009年初，由于国际金融危机蔓延，中国经济深受影响，出口大幅下滑，一些行业产能过剩，部分企业经营困难，就业形势十分严峻。但针对困难形势，中国政府出手快、出拳重，通过采取一揽子措施，中国的经济率先企稳回升。2009年，中国GDP增长了8.7%，超过了8%的预期目标。

Why should the Premier say so? The Chinese economy was hit hard in the beginning of 2009, with export sliding, serious difficulty for many companies and rising employment pressure. The Chinese government responded with a decisive stimulus package, which brought about 8.7% growth, exceeding the 8% target.

2010年，虽然世界经济出现整体复苏的形势，但复苏仍很脆弱，形势还可能出现反复，甚至二次探底。中国经济虽然出现了企稳回升，但是许多企业的经营状况还没有根本好转，它们主要靠政策的支撑。为此，中国政府坚持把转变发展方式、调整结构放在重要位置，改变中国经济发展的不平衡、不协调和不可持续的问题。温家宝总理强调，中国今年必须着重处理好保持经济平稳较快发展、调整经济结构和管理好通胀预期三者的关系，从中走出一条光明的道路。

In 2010, the global economic recovery has so far remained fragile. And in China many companies are still reliant on policy support. The focus this year in China is to strike a proper balance between fast growth, adjusting economic structure and managing inflation. And this is by no means easy.

随着中国的发展，中国与世界的关系已经发生了历史性变化，中国经济已经成为世界经济的重要组成部分，中国已经成为国际体系的重要成员，因此外界也在密切地关注着中国。我们欢迎外界对中国善意、建设性的意见和批评。但也必须实事求是地看待和分析。最近我就听到了一些关于中国的说法，归纳起来有三条：

As the financial crisis has shown, the Chinese economy is now very much a part of the global economy. There is understandably greater interest among the outside world in China, and how it relates to other countries in fostering global recovery. Here I would like to briefly address three recent perceptions of China in Western countries.

第一个说法是中国对外“强硬”了（Assertive）。根据牛津字典的解释，Assertive是指“表现坚强和自信的性格”；（Showing a strong and confident personality）。那么，这到底是在批评中国，还是在表扬中国呢？如果是批评，难道中国在涉及自己主权和领土完整等核心利益的问题上坚强和自信不对吗？为什么有人总是期望中国对外软弱？“软弱”难道符合中国的利益？且不论强硬到底什么意思，我愿强调的是，中国外交政策没有变化，中国外交的基本思想仍是坚持和平发展、谋求合作与和谐，实现互利共赢。

First, the perception that China has become more assertive. I can assure you that there has been no change in China's foreign policy. Promoting peace and development, cultivating cooperation and harmony remains the guiding principle in China's foreign policy. Yet like other countries, China needs to stand up for its principles and core interests.

第二个说法是中国投资环境差了。他们指的大概是谷歌和力拓事件，但事实胜于雄辩。最近有一项调查显示，90%受访的外资企业表示，中国仍是全球首选的投资地。去年，中国吸引的外资额继续在发展中国家中居首位，超过900亿美元。

Second, the perception that the investment climate in China is deteriorating. Some may have in mind cases like Google and Rio Tinto. Facts speak louder than words. A recent survey shows that 90% of foreign companies interviewed consider China a top place for their investment. China remained the biggest recipient of FDI among developing countries last year, attracting US$ 90 billion in investment.

中国实施对外开放的方针没有变，也不会变。改革开放是中国的基本国策，是人心所向。正是因为中国32年的改革开放政策，中国才会发生翻天覆地的变化，经济飞速发展，综合国力增强，人民生活水平大大提高。胡锦涛总书记曾明确指出，中国将坚持改革开放政策，停顿和倒退没有出路。中国没有也不会“开历史的倒车”。

Opening up remains China's basic state policy and enjoys the support of the Chinese people. China's change and progress in the past 32 years would be unthinkable without opening up. As President Hu Jintao pointed out, suspension or backtracking of reform is not an option.

我特别注意到，最近英国驻华大使馆网站在做一个“英国人在中国”的专栏，很多英国人介绍了自己在中国的成功故事。其中有一个叫邓肯．克拉克（Duncan Clark）的企业家，他1994年来到北京，从事中国互联网和电子商务开发，曾与阿里巴巴的马云一起共同创业，如今他是北京英国商会的副主席。克拉克说，“居住在当今的中国，就像是在观看一部引人入胜的影片，很难让人在中途起身离开”。看来，并不是所有人都在抱怨中国市场环境，更不是所有人都准备“中途离开”。

I can also site the example of a British businessman Mr Duncan Clark, who came to Beijing in 1994 to develop e-commerce in China. He is now the Vice President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Beijing. "Living in China today," he said, "is like watching a gripping film-it's just too hard to get up and leave half-way." The key is to make the most out of the opportunities that clearly exist in China.