Wen Jiabao
温家宝
Vice Chancellor Alison Richard, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It gives me great pleasure to come to Cambridge, a worldrenowned university that I have long wanted to visit. Cambridge has produced many great scientists and thinkers Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Francis Bacon, to name but a few, and made important contribution to the progress of human civilization. This year marks the 800th anniversary of the university. Please accept my warm congratulations.
This is my fourth visit to your country. Despite the great distance between China and Britain, the friendly exchanges between our peoples have been on the rise. The successful resolution of the question of Hong Kong and fruitful cooperation between our two countries in areas such as economy, trade, culture, education, science and technology have cemented the foundation of our comprehensive strategic partnership. Here, I wish to pay high tribute to all those who have been working tirelessly to promote friendly ties between our two countries.
The title of my speech today is “See China in the Light of Her Development”.
My beloved motherland is a country both old and young.
She is old, because she is a big Oriental country with a civilization stretching back several thousand years. With diligence and wisdom, the Chinese nation created a splendid civilization and made significant contributions to the progress of humanity.
She is young, because the People's Republic is just 60 years old, and the country began reform and opening-up only 30 years ago. The Chinese people established the New China after unremitting struggles and ultimately found a development path suited to China's national conditions through painstaking efforts. This is the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Following this path, our ancient civilization has been rejuvenated.
The key element of China's reform and opening-up is to free people's minds and the most fundamental and significant component is institutional innovation. Through economic reform, we have built a socialist market economy, where the market plays a primary role in allocating resources under government macro-regulation. We have carried out political reform, promoted democracy and improved the legal system. People are the masters of the country. We run the country according to law and endeavor to build a socialist country under the rule of law.
The essence of China's reform and opening-up is to put people first and meet their ever growing material and cultural needs through releasing and developing productive forces. It aims to give everyone equal opportunities for all-round development. It aims to protect the democratic rights of the people and promote stability, harmony and prosperity across the land. And it aims to safeguard the dignity and freedom of everyone so that he or she may pursue happiness with ingenuity and hard work.
Over the past three decades, more than 200 million Chinese have been lifted out of poverty, the average life expectancy has increased by 5 years, and the 83 million people with disabilities in China have received special care from the government and society. All this points to the tremendous efforts China has made to protect human rights. We have introduced free nine-year compulsory education throughout the country, established the cooperative medical system in the rural areas and improved the social safety net. The age-old dream of the Chinese nation is being turned into reality a dream to see the young educated, the sick treated and the old cared for.
I want to quote from a Tang Dynasty poem to describe what is happening in China, “From shore to shore it is wide at high tide, and before fair wind a sail is lifting.” The Chinese people are working hard to modernize their country. This is a great practice in a large developing country both ancient and new. The Chinese people, with destiny in their own hands, are full of confidence in their future.
My beloved motherland is a country that stood numerous vicissitudes but never gave up.
Earlier in my career, I worked in northwest China for many years. There, in the boundless desert, grows a rare variety of tree called euphrates poplar. Rooted over 50 meters down into the ground, they thrive in hostile environments, defying droughts, sandstorms and salinization. They are known as the “hero tree”, because a euphrates poplar can live for a thousand years. Even after it dies, it stands upright for a thousand years, and even after it falls, it stays intact for another thousand years. I like the euphrates poplar because they symbolize the resilience of the Chinese nation.
Over the millennia, the Chinese nation has weathered numerous disasters, both natural and man-made, surmounted all kinds of difficulties and challenges, and made her way to where she proudly stands today. The longsufferings have only made her a nation of fortitude and perseverance. The experience of the Chinese nation attests to a truth: what a nation loses in times of disaster will be made up for by her progress.
I am reminded of the experience that I had in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province after the devastating earthquake there last May. That earthquake shocked the whole world. It flattened Beichuan Middle School and claimed many young lives. But only 10 days after the earthquake, when I went there for the second time, I had before my eyes new classrooms built on debris by local villagers with planks. Once again, the campus echoed with the sound of students reading aloud. I wrote down 4 Chinese characters on the blackboard, meaning “A country will emerge stronger from adversities.” I have been to Wenchuan seven times since the earthquake and witnessed countless touching scenes like this. I am deeply moved by the unyielding spirit of my people. This great national spirit is the source of strength which has enabled the Chinese nation to emerge from all the hardships stronger than before.
With hard work over the past half century and more, China has achieved great progress. Its total economic output is now one of the largest in the world. However, we remain a developing country and we are keenly aware of the big gap that we have with the developed countries. There has been no fundamental change in our basic national condition: a big population, weak economic foundation and uneven development. China's per capita GDP ranks behind 100 countries in the world and is only about 1/18 that of Britain.Those of you who have been to China as tourists must have seen the modern cities, but our rural areas are still quite backward.
To basically achieve modernization by the middle of this century, we must accomplish three major tasks: first, achieve industrialization, which Europe has long completed, while keeping abreast of the latest trends of the scientific and technological revolution; second, promote economic growth while ensuring social equity and justice; and third, pursue sustainable development at home while accepting our share of international responsibilities. The journey ahead will be long and arduous, but no amount of difficulty will stop the Chinese people from marching forward.Through persistent efforts, we will reach our goal.
My beloved motherland is a country that values her traditions while opening her arms to the outside world.
The traditional Chinese culture is rich, extensive and profound.Harmony, the supreme value cherished in ancient China, lies at the heart of the Chinese culture. The Book of History , an ancient classic in China for example, advocates amity among people and friendly exchanges among nations.
The Chinese cultural tradition values peace as the most precious. This has nurture d the broad mind of the Chinese nation. The Chinese nation is generous and tolerant, just as Mother Earth cares for all living things.She is in constant pursuit of justice, just as the eternal movement of the Universe.
In the 15th century, the famous Chinese navigator Zheng He led seven maritime expeditions to the Western Seas and reached over 30 countries. He took with him Chinese tea, silk and porcelain and helped local people fight pirates as he sailed along. He was truly a messenger of love and friendship.
The argument that a big power is bound to seek hegemony does not apply to China . Seeking hegemony goes against China's cultural tradition as well as the will of the Chinese people. China's development harms no one and threatens no one. We shall be a peace-loving country, a country that is eager to learn from and cooperate with others. We are committed to building a harmonious world.
Different countries and nations need to respect, tolerate and learn from each other's culture. Today, 300 million Chinese are learning English and over one million of our young people are studying abroad. The cultures and arts of various parts of the world are featured daily on China's television, radio and print media. Had we not learned from others through exchanges and enriched ourselves by drawing on others' experience, we would not have enjoyed today's prosperity and progress.
In the 21st century, economic globalization and the information network have linked us all together. Different cultures live together and influence each other. No culture can flourish in isolation. How much a country or a nation contributes to the culture of humanity is increasingly determined by her ability to absorb foreign cultures and renew herself.That is why China will remain open and receptive, value her own traditions while drawing on others' successful experience, and achieve economic prosperity and social progress in a civilized and harmonious way.
…
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Britain is the last leg of my European trip. I have gained a deeper understanding of Europe through this visit. China-EU cooperation is now standing at a new historical starting point and I am all the more confident about the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. There are no outstanding issues left over from history or conflict of fundamental interests between the two sides. What we have is a solid foundation and a bright future for cooperation. As the first industrialized country, Britain has accumulated rich experience in economic development and environmental protection. We hope to learn from your experience and strengthen exchanges and cooperation with you.
The future belongs to the younger generation. It is incumbent upon you to build an even more splendid future of China-Britain relations. Here and now, I cannot but mention Dr. Joseph Needham, a Cambridge alumnus who made important contributions to cultural exchanges between China and Britain.With his monumental masterpiece, Science and Civilization in China, he built a bridge between the two great civilizations of East and West. To honor tradition and innovation is the outstanding character of Cambridge.I hope more of you will turn your eyes to China, see my country in the light of her development, and act as ambassadors of China-Britain friendship. I believe that as long as you, the young people of China and Britain learn from each other and strive for progress hand in hand, you will add a brilliant new chapter to the annals of our relations.
Thank you!
尊敬的理查德校长,女士们,先生们:
来到向往已久的剑桥大学,非常高兴。剑桥举世闻名,培养出牛顿、达尔文、培根等许多杰出的科学家、思想家,为人类文明进步做出了重要贡献。今年是剑桥建校800周年,我谨致以热烈祝贺!
这是我第四次访问英国。中英相距遥远,但两国人民的友好交往不断增多。香港问题的圆满解决,经贸、文教、科技等领域的有效合作,为发展中英全面战略伙伴关系奠定了坚实基础。在此,我向长期致力于中英友好的朋友们表示崇高的敬意!
今天,我演讲的题目是:用发展的眼光看中国。
我深深爱着的祖国——古老而又年轻。
说她古老,她是一个有着数千年文明史的东方大国。中华民族以自己的勤劳和智慧,创造了灿烂的古代文明,对人类发展做出过重大贡献。
说她年轻,新中国成立才60年,改革开放才30年。中国人民经过长期不懈的斗争建立了新中国,又经过艰苦的探索,终于找到了适合国情的发展道路——中国特色社会主义道路,文明古国焕发了青春活力。
中国改革开放,最重要的是解放思想,最根本、最具有长远意义的是体制创新。我们推行经济体制改革,建立了社会主义市场经济体制。在政府的宏观调控下,充分发挥市场对资源配置的基础性作用。我们深化政治体制改革,把发展民主和完善法制结合起来,实行人民当家做主,依法治国,建设社会主义法治国家。
改革开放的实质,就是坚持以人为本,通过解放和发展生产力满足人们日益增长的物质文化需求,在公正的条件下让每个人享有平等机会的全面发展;就是保障人民的民主权利,让国家政通人和、兴旺发达;就是维护人的尊严和自由,让每个人的智慧和力量得以迸发,成功地追求自己的幸福生活。
30年来,中国贫困人口减少了2亿多,人均寿命提高了5岁,8,300万残疾人得到了政府和社会的特殊关爱,这是中国保障人权的光辉业绩。九年免费义务教育的推行,农村合作医疗制度的建立,社会保障体系的完善,使学有所教、病有所医、老有所养的理想正在变为现实。
我愿借用两句唐诗形容中国的现状:“潮平两岸阔,风正一帆悬。”中国人正在努力实现现代化,这是一个古而又新的发展中大国进行的一场伟大实践。掌握了自己命运的中国人民,对未来充满信心!
我深深爱着的祖国——历尽磨难而又自强不息。
我年轻时曾长期工作在中国的西北地区。在那浩瀚的沙漠中,生长着一种稀有的树种,叫胡杨。它扎根地下50多米,抗干旱、斗风沙、耐盐碱,生命力极其顽强。它“生而一千年不死,死而一千年不倒,倒而一千年不朽”,世人称为英雄树。我非常喜欢胡杨,它是中华民族坚韧不拔精神的象征。
千百年来,中华民族一次次战胜了天灾人祸,渡过了急流险滩,昂首挺胸地走到今天。深重的灾难,铸就了她百折不挠、自强不息的品格。中华民族的历史证明了一个真理:一个民族在灾难中失去的,必将从民族的进步中得到补偿。
此时此刻,我不禁想起在汶川地震灾区的亲身经历。去年5月,四川汶川发生了震惊世界的特大地震,北川中学被夷为平地,孩子们伤亡惨重。可是,时隔10天,当我第二次来到这里时,乡亲们已在废墟上搭起了板房教室,校园里又回荡着孩子们琅琅的读书声。当时我在黑板上,给同学们写下了“多难兴邦”几个字。地震发生以来,我七次到汶川灾区,碰到这样感人的事迹不胜枚举。我为我们中华民族这种愈挫愈奋的精神深深感动。这种伟大的精神,正是我们的民族饱经忧患而愈益坚强、生生不息的力量源泉。
经过半个多世纪的艰苦奋斗,中国有了比较大的发展,经济总量跃居世界前列,但我们仍然是一个发展中国家,同发达国家相比还有很大的差距。人口多,底子薄,发展不平衡,这种基本国情还没有从根本上得到改变。中国的人均GDP水平,排在世界100位之后,仅为英国的1/16左右。到过中国旅游的朋友,你们所看到的城市是现代化的,而我们的农村还比较落后。
到本世纪中叶,中国要基本实现现代化,面临三大历史任务:既要努力实现欧洲早已完成的工业化,又要追赶新科技革命的浪潮;既要不断提高经济发展水平,又要实现社会公平正义;既要实现国内的可持续发展,又要承担相应的国际责任。中国要赶上发达国家水平,还有很长很长的路要走,还会遇到许多艰难险阻。但是,任何困难都阻挡不住中国人民前进的步伐,只要我们坚持不懈地努力奋斗,中国现代化的目标就一定能够实现。
我深深爱着的祖国——珍视传统而又开放兼容。
中华传统文化底蕴深厚、博大精深。“和”在中国古代历史上被奉为最高价值,是中华文化的精髓。中国古老的经典——《尚书》就提出“百姓昭明,协和万邦”的理想,主张人民和睦相处,国家友好往来。
“和为贵”的文化传统,哺育了中华民族宽广博大的胸怀。我们的民族,既能像大地承载万物一样,宽厚包容;又能像苍天刚健运行一样,彰显正义。
15世纪,中国著名航海家郑和七下西洋,到过三十几个国家。他带去了中国的茶叶、丝绸、瓷器,还帮助沿途一些国家剿灭海盗,真正做到了播仁爱于友邦。
国强必霸,不适合中国。称霸,既有悖于我们的文化传统,也违背中国人民的意志。中国的发展不损害任何人,也不威胁任何人。中国要做和平的大国、学习的大国、合作的大国,致力于建设一个和谐的世界。
不同国家、不同民族的文化,需要相互尊重、相互包容和相互学习。今天的中国,有3亿人在学英语,有100多万青年在国外留学。我们的电视、广播、出版等新闻传媒,天天都在介绍世界各地的文化艺术。正因为我们善于在交流中学习,在借鉴中收获,才有今天中国的繁荣和进步。
进入21世纪,经济全球化、信息网络化,已经把世界连成一体,文化的发展将不再是各自封闭的,而是在相互影响中多元共存。一个国家、一个民族对人类文化贡献的大小,越来越取决于她吸收外来文化的能力和自我更新的能力。中国将永远坚持开放兼容的方针,既珍视传统,又博采众长,用文明的方式、和谐的方式实现经济繁荣和社会进步。
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女士们,先生们!
英国是我这次欧洲之行的最后一站。这次访问,加深了我对欧洲的了解。中欧合作已经站在一个新的历史起点上。我对中欧发展全面战略伙伴关系更加充满信心。我们之间不存在历史遗留问题,也不存在根本利害冲突。中欧合作基础坚实,前景光明。英国是最早进入现代化的国家,你们在发展经济、保护环境等方面,都有许多成功的经验。我们愿意向你们学习,加强交流与合作。
未来属于青年一代。中英关系的美好前景要靠青年去开拓。抚今追昔,我想起对中英文化交流做出重要贡献的剑桥校友李约瑟博士。他的鸿篇巨著《中国科学技术史》,在东西方两大文明之间架起了一座桥梁。继承传统、勇于创新,是剑桥大学的优秀品格。希望更多的剑桥人关注中国,用发展的眼光看中国,做中英交流的友好使者。我相信,只要中英两国青年相互学习,携手共进,一定会谱写出中英关系的崭新篇章。
谢谢大家!
2009年1月27日,时任中国国务院总理温家宝赴瑞士、德国、西班牙、英国和欧盟总部进行正式访问,并出席在瑞士达沃斯举行的世界经济论坛2009年年会。2月2日下午,即将结束访英和访欧行程的中国总理温家宝踏雪到访剑桥大学,并发表了深情演讲,在向学生简要介绍中国改革开放的同时,敦促大家“用发展的眼光看中国”。
fruitful ['fru:tfəl] adj. 富有成效的;收益好的
diligence ['dilidʒəns] n. 勤勉,勤奋
quote [kwəut] v. 引用;引述
claim [kleim] n. 主张,断言,声称
nurture ['nə:tʃə] n. 养育,教养,培育
absorb [əb'sɔ:b] v. 汲取,理解
With diligence and wisdom, the Chinese nation created a splendid civilization and made significant contributions to the progress of humanity.
The argument that a big power is bound to seek hegemony does not apply to China.
In the 21st century, economic globalization and the information network have linked us all together. Different cultures live together and influence each other.