Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the "My People, My Country" Gala: Singing of National Rejuvenation and China-UK Friendship

尊敬的伯明翰副市长莫斯奎特女士，

尊敬的英国筷子俱乐部主席童海珍女士，

英国中部地区中国学生学者联谊会的同学们，

女士们，先生们，朋友们：

Deputy Lord Mayor Yvonne Mosquito,

Ms. H-J Colston,

Dear Students and Friends,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　很高兴参加“我和我的祖国”晚会，和大家一起庆祝中华人民共和国成立70周年。首先，我谨代表中国驻英国大使馆，向你们并通过你们，向所有英国中部地区留学人员、专家学者、旅英侨胞、中资机构人员致以诚挚的节日问候和良好祝愿！

　　今天的晚会由英国中部地区中国学生学者联谊会筹办，并得到伯明翰市政府、英国筷子俱乐部的大力支持。这不仅是彰显友谊、促进合作的盛会，更唱响了“三首赞歌”：

It is a real delight to join you at the "My People, My Country" Gala in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, let me begin by extending my warm greetings and best wishes to you and, through you, to all the students, scholars, overseas Chinese and Chinese business community in the Midlands!

I would like to thank the Chinese Students and Scholars Association in the Midlands for hosting this Gala. My thanks also go to the Birmingham City Council and the Chopsticks Club for your support.

Tonight, we are gathered to celebrate friendship and cooperation. On top of that, we are gathered to sing "three odes".

　　一是青春赞歌。青年兴则国家兴，青年强则国家强。今晚，中英两国青年将同台献技，特别是英国筷子俱乐部的“汉语青春之声”合唱团将以《黄河大合唱》闪亮登场。这是该团成立后的首次公演，我对他们及其他精彩节目充满期待。各位青年朋友，今天你们是晚会舞台的主角，明天你们将是世界舞台的主角。希望你们激扬青春，放飞梦想，勇做时代的奋进者、开拓者、奉献者，携手开创中英两国乃至世界更加美好的未来。

First, we will sing an ode to youth.

A nation's strength is in its youth. Tonight, young people from both China and Britain are going to share this stage. In particular, the Mandarin Youth Voices will bring us the "Yellow River Cantata". I look forward to their wonderful inaugural performance.

My young friends, tonight, you are protagonists on the stage of the gala; tomorrow, you will be protagonists on the stage of the world. I hope your youthful vigor will drive you on as you strive hard to live your dream, blaze new trails, dedicate yourselves to this extraordinary era, and join hands to create a better future for both our two countries and the whole world.

　　二是相知赞歌。中文里有个词叫“知音”，指懂音律的人，也指彼此心灵相通的人。只有深入交流、彼此相知,才能演绎出知音的佳话，谱写出互利合作的乐章。当前，中英人文交流空前活跃，在英中国留学生已近20万，赴华英国留学生超过1万。我相信，这种交流必将不断增进相互了解，拉近彼此心灵的距离，培育出相知相亲的沃土。

Second, we will sing an ode to mutual understanding.

A Chinese legend tells of a musician travelling far and wide in search of a "zhiyin" -- someone who understands his music. So, "zhiyin" is a bosom friend. Today, we need more "zhiyin" between Chinese and Britons, and we need win-win cooperation between our countries. The only way to achieve that is through deeper exchanges and mutual learning.

I am pleased to see China-UK cultural and people-to-people exchanges flourishing. There are about 200,000 Chinese students here in Britain and more than 10,000 British students in China. I am sure that at such intensity, our exchanges will help ensure better understanding, foster a stronger bond and draw our peoples closer.