王小龙大使在2024年新西兰中文周开幕式上的讲话

王小龙大使在2024年新西兰中文周开幕式上的讲话

2024年9月23日 惠灵顿

Remarks by HE Ambassador Wang Xiaolong at the Opening Ceremony of 2024 New Zealand Chinese Language Week

23 September 2024, Wellington

尊敬的拉克森总理,

考夫兰主席，

布朗大使，

李志妍部长，

各位国会议员，

外交使团的同事们，

尊敬的各位嘉宾，

女士们，先生们，

    大家晚上好！

The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand,

Jo Coughlan, Chair of NZCLW Trust Board,

Ambassadors Browne,

Minister Melissa Lee,

Members of Parliament,

My colleagues from the Diplomatic Corps,

Distinguished Guests,

ladies and gentlemen,

    Good evening! Kia ora!

    很荣幸同拉克森总理一同出席2024年新西兰中文周开幕式，共同庆祝中文周设立十周年。首先，热烈祝贺中文周发展走过的辉煌旅程，尤其是在新西兰推广中文和中国文化方面取得的骄人成绩！同时，感谢新西兰政府和所有支持新西兰中文周发展的各界朋友，并衷心祝贺考夫兰主席及其团队长期以来的辛勤付出和杰出工作。

    It’s such a pleasure to join Prime Minister Luxon and all of you here this evening to open the 2024 New Zealand Chinese Language Week and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its inauguration. Let me start with my warmest congratulations on the remarkable journey made by the Chinese Language Week and above all, the progress that has been made in promoting the Chinese language among not only people of Chinese Heritage, but more importantly, the broader Kiwis. I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand government and all the friends who have supported the New Zealand Chinese Language Week. Particularly, I wish to express my heartfelt admiration for Jo and her team for their hard and excellent work.  

    语言是人类最宝贵的财富之一，它塑造了人类和不同的民族，也帮助我们跨越国界，增进相互了解，促进不同文明之间的交流与互鉴。作为两国人文交流的标志性品牌，中文周在新西兰搭建了一座中新两国人民交流的桥梁。我很高兴地了解到，越来越多的新西兰朋友已经开始学习中文，感受中文之美。数据显示，在新西兰中学阶段，学习中文的人数从2014年的4218人，增长到2020年的6368人，增长近51%。受疫情影响，数量虽有减少，但2023年已强劲恢复，增长之势明显。

Language is a precious asset to humanity. It makes us who we are as humans and peoples. It also empowers us to cross geographical boundaries, deepen mutual understanding, and promote dialogue and reciprocal learning among diverse cultures. As a flagship initiative for the people to people exchanges between China and New Zealand, the Chinese Language Week has helped to build bridges between communities here in New Zealand and between the two peoples. I am glad that an increasing number of Kiwis have learned to speak Chinese and to appreciate its beauty. Statistics show that the number of students learning Chinese at the secondary school level in New Zealand increased from 4,218 in 2014 to 6,368 in 2020, a growth of nearly 51%. Although the numbers declined due to the pandemic, they have made a strong recovery and  shown a clear upward trend for the future.

语言不仅仅是沟通的工具，更能帮助人们了解它所承载的文化，正如中文背后所蕴含的五千年灿烂中华文明。每年九月，从奥克兰到陶朗加、黑斯廷斯、惠灵顿、马尔堡、克莱斯特彻奇、达尼丁、因弗卡吉尔，新西兰全国各地的学校、图书馆、民间社区组织都会举办中国书法工坊、中国民乐欣赏、汉服秀、美食节、图书会等丰富多彩的活动。本周四9月26日还是中文周发起设立的新西兰全国饺子节，受到各界朋友的普遍欢迎和鼎力支持。

Language is more than a tool of communication. It also helps people to get to know the culture it encodes and enshrines, which is, in this case the splendid, 5,000-year Chinese civilization. Every September, from Auckland to Tauranga, Hastings, Wellington, Marlborough, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill, schools, libraries, and community organizations across New Zealand would host a wide range of activities, including Chinese calligraphy workshops, Chinese traditional music performance, Hanfu shows, food festivals, and book clubs. This coming Thursday, September the 26th, also marks New Zealand’s National Dumpling Day, an event initiated by the Chinese Language Week, and widely welcomed and strongly supported by friends from all walks of life.

    中文周还以各种方式帮助两国人民，特别是年轻一代，加强交流和增进相互理解。十年来，有许多新西兰大中小学生赴华参加“汉语桥”系列中文比赛全球总决赛，并获得全球总冠军1次，大洋洲冠军11次。他们不仅取得了优异的中文学习成绩，还结识了许多中国朋友，其中不少人成为了中文周的“青年大使”，持续为增进中新友谊贡献着力量。

In various ways, the Chinese Language Week has helped people from both nations, especially the younger generation, to strengthen exchanges and enhance mutual understanding. Over the past ten years, a number of students from New Zealand, ranging from primary to university levels, have traveled to China to participate in the global finals of the “Chinese Bridge” competitions. New Zealand has won the global championship once, and the Oceania championship eleven times. These students have not only achieved outstanding results in their Chinese studies, but have also made many Chinese friends. Most of them have become the “Youth Ambassadors” for New Zealand Chinese Language Week, continuing to contribute to the friendship between China and New Zealand.

今年是习近平主席访问新西兰和中新建立全面战略伙伴关系10周年。6月，李强总理访新期间，两国总理一致肯定人文交流对于双边关系的重要作用，就进一步促进两国民心相通，巩固两国友好关系，达成共识。访问期间，中国还宣布对新西兰实施单方面免签政策。

This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's state visit to New Zealand and the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and New Zealand. In June, during Premier Li Qiang's visit to New Zealand, the two prime ministers affirmed the importance of people to people exchanges in bilateral relations and renewed consensus on further promoting mutual understanding and strengthening the friendship between the two nations. During the visit, China also announced a unilateral visa exemption policy for New Zealand citizens.

不久前召开的中国共产党二十届三中全会强调，开放是中国式现代化的鲜明标识。中国将继续扩大国际人文交流合作，欢迎包括新西兰在内的各国朋友到中国旅游，学习中文，结交中国朋友，体验中国文化，游历山川大河，了解“第一手中国”。

At the recently concluded Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, it was emphasized that continued high-level opening-up is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. China will continue to expand global people to people exchanges, and warmly welcomes friends from all over the world, including New Zealand, to visit China, learn the Chinese language, meet Chinese friends, experience Chinese culture, tour scenic mountains and rivers, and get a firsthand look at China on the ground.

中国驻新西兰大使馆愿同各界一道，继续支持中文周开展两国语言和文化交流合作，为增进两国人民相互了解、促进两国关系健康稳定发展不懈努力。

The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand is willing to join hands with all partners to continue supporting the Chinese Language Week in promoting language and cultural exchanges between the two nations. We will remain committed to enhancing mutual understanding between the peoples of China and New Zealand and contribute to the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

与此同时，我们要特别提及新西兰华侨华人作为中文周的攸关方、参与者和贡献者所扮演的角色，他们为新西兰经济社会发展做出了积极贡献，为促进两国人文交流所发挥了重要作用。

  Before concluding, I would like to acknowledge the Chinese community here in NZ, as both stakeholders and participants of the Chinese Language Week, for their contribution to local economic and social development and the essential role they have played in promoting the people to people links between China and NZ, and the bilateral relationship more broadly.

    最后，预祝2024年新西兰中文周圆满成功，希望中文周再接再厉，迎接更加辉煌的下一个十年！

    谢谢大家！

    Finally, I wish the 2024 New Zealand Chinese Language Week a great success, ushering in even greater development in its second decade and beyond!

    Thank you!