二是“中国奇迹”的魅力。中国改革开放40年来，中国经济总量跃升至世界第二，7亿多人脱贫，为世界发展做出巨大贡献。学会中文就可以更好了解“中国奇迹”背后的故事，更好抓住“中国机遇”。

　　三是“黄金时代”的魅力。2015年习近平主席成功对英国事访问，开启中英关系“黄金时代”。两国各领域交流合作不断提质增效，中文日益成为增进中英人民友谊的“黄金纽带”。

China's development "miracle" should also take credit. In the four decades since the beginning of reform and opening-up, China has grown to be the second largest economy in the world, lifted 700 million people out of poverty and has made a major contribution to global development. The Chinese language enables better understanding of the stories behind the "miracle" and greater benefit from the opportunities China has to offer. 

The third factor is the China-UK "Golden Era", launched during President Xi Jinping's successful state visit to the UK in 2015. The exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK in various fields have grown in quality and led to fruitful results. The Chinese language has been the "golden bond" of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

　　孔子学院不仅在英国“火”了，在世界各地也持续升温。目前在全球 147个国家和地区共有 525 所孔子学院和 1113 个孔子课堂，累计开设汉语班次 41 万个，各类学员达 916 万人。

　　与此同时，我也听到一些对孔子学院的“非议”，什么“孔子学院干涉学术自由”，什么“孔子学院传播共产主义思想”，什么“孔子学院是间谍机构”等等。对于这些奇谈怪论，我想强调三点：

　　首先，孔子学院在办学原则上奉行开放性，强调“开放共享”。设立孔子学院由外国学校自愿申请，由中国学校与外国学校合作开办，中方充分尊重外方办学的自主权，从不干涉学术自由。 

The enthusiasm for the Confucius Institute is not only a British phenomenon. There are 525 Confucius Institute and 1,113 Confucius Classrooms in 147 countries and regions, offering 410,000 language courses to over nine million people. The warm reception is obvious in many parts of the world. 

However, I have heard false accusations. Some accuse the Institute of "interfering with academic freedom", "spreading communism" and "spying". This is preposterous because, first of all, the Confucius Institute follows the principle of open operation and joint benefit. It is a joint venture between a Chinese university and a foreign host university upon the latter's application. The Chinese side respects the host's right to make their decision in running the Institute and never interferes in academic freedom.