Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai at the CGCC Chinese Lunar New Year of Pig Gala

Thank you Chairman Xu Chen, thank you for your very kind introduction.

女士们，先生们，

　　过去一年来，在徐辰会长领导下，美国中国总商会及全体会员面对不确定的形势，辛勤努力，取得了积极成就，我对此表示赞赏。你们为维护和促进中美两国经贸关系、拉紧人文纽带发挥了不可或缺的作用。从某种意义上说，你们都是杰出的“大使”。

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Let me start by paying tribute to the China General Chamber of Commerce USA for another year of hard work and achievement in an uncertain environment. The chamber, its members, Chairman Xu Chen, and others in the leadership have played an indispensable role in maintaining and facilitating economic and trade relations and people to people ties between our two great countries. In a sense, you are all distinguished ambassadors.

　　我还想借此机会向莫里斯·格林伯格先生表示祝贺，祝贺您获颁“中美交流亲善大使”奖。这个奖项代表了我们对您的感谢，也表达了我们将以您为榜样的决心。更有意义的是，不久前，在中国庆祝改革开放40周年之际，格林伯格先生还获得了中国政府颁发的改革友谊奖章，成为十位获奖国际友人之一。这正体现了中国人民和中国政府对您长期致力于增进两国友好合作和两国人民友谊的高度认可及衷心感谢。格林伯格先生，让我们再次向您致敬。祝贺您！

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Maurice Greenburg for being honored the Goodwill Ambassador for China-US Exchanges. This is a good expression of gratitude from all of us to you, Sir. And this is also an expression of commitment by all of us to follow your good example.

But what is even more significant is the fact that Mr. Greenburg was awarded the China Reform Friendship Medal not long ago on the occasion of celebrating the fortieth anniversary of China's reform and opening up. And he was one of the ten international personalities that were awarded. It was the most proper occasion to express the recognition and appreciation by the Chinese people and the Chinese government for your longstanding commitment to cooperation between our two countries and friendship between the two peoples. Let us all salute you again, Sir. Congratulations!

　　40年前，中国开启改革开放进程，几乎与此同时，中美两国建立了外交关系，这两个历史事件同时发生并非巧合。格林伯格先生等支持中国改革开放的人士也为中美关系正常化和稳定发展做出了重要贡献，这也绝非巧合。我们感谢这些中美关系的先驱者。

　　40年写就了中国改革开放的成功故事，这一进程还在继续。40年也写就了中美关系发展的成功故事，这一进程也在继续。

Forty years ago when China first launched reform and opening up, another important event took place almost at the same time, the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. It was no coincidence that these two historic events took place at the same time. And it was no coincidence either that those who have supported China's reform and opening up, people like Mr. Greenberg, have also contributed a great deal to the normalization and development of China-US relations. We all owe so much to these pioneers.

Now forty years have passed, China's reform and opening up has been a great success story and the journey continues. China-US relationship has also been a great success story and the journey also continues.