Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan at the "Ray of Hope" Musical Extravaganza

尊敬的拉尼尔·维克拉马辛哈总理， 

尊敬的卡鲁·贾亚苏里亚议长， 

尊敬的总检察长达普拉·里维拉， 

女士们、先生们：

　　晚上好，阿育波万！

　　今天活动的主题是“希望之光”，我想有三个层面的涵义：

Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe,

Hon. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya,

Hon. Attorney General Dappula De Livera,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Ayubowan and good evening.

The theme of tonight is "Ray of Hope",I would like to share with you my understanding from 3 different angles:

　　一、司法与法治是国家的“希望之光”。

　　今年是斯里兰卡总检察长办公室成立135周年，我谨代表中方向你们致以最热烈的祝贺。

Firstly, for a country, judiciary and "rule of law" is the "Ray of Hope".

On the occasion of the 135th anniversary of the establishment of the Attorney General's Department of Sri Lanka, I extend our warmest congratulations to you on behalf of the Chinese government.

　　过去一百多年来，总检察长办公室在维护司法独立权威、保障公民合法权利方面发挥了关键作用，为斯国家发展奠定了法治基石，得到斯各界广泛认可与尊重。当前，斯里兰卡政治、经济、社会加速发展，面临新的机遇和挑战，我相信并祝愿总检察长办公室能在其中发挥更大的积极作用。

In the past 135 years, AG's Department has been playing a key role in safeguarding the independence of the judiciary and the rights of citizens,which lays a foundation to the rule of law for the development of Sri Lanka, and wins appreciation and respect of the whole nation. Sri Lanka now are facing new opportunities and challenge, with fast development of politics, economics and society. I sincerely wish the AG's Department will play a greater role in the new era.

　　我想强调，总检察长办公室在中国与斯里兰卡不同法律文化间架起沟通的桥梁，帮助两国克服不同法系之间的差异，为“一带一路”合作营造更加良好的法治环境，我们对此表示高度赞赏。

　　二、友好与合作是中斯关系的“希望之光”。

I would like to emphasize that, AG's Department has become a bridge connecting different legal cultures of our two countries, enabled us overcome the gap between different legal systems and created a better legal environment for the Belt and Road Initiative cooperation. We highly appreciate the efforts.

Secondly, for China-Sri Lanka relations, the friendship and cooperation is the "Ray of Hope".

　　中国和斯里兰卡是好邻居、好朋友、好伙伴。我们有着上溯千年的传统友谊，有着伟大的《米胶协定》以及周恩来总理和班达拉奈克夫人等老一代领导人的深厚友情。

China and Sri Lanka are good neighbors, good friends, and good partners. In the history, we have friendly exchanges over one thousand years, the remarkable Rice-Rubber Pact, and excellent friendship between great leaders of our two countries such as Premier Zhou Enlai and Madame Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

　　近年来，中斯“一带一路”建设更是大大提升了中斯关系水平，深刻改变了斯里兰卡经济社会面貌，中国已经成为斯里兰卡最大的外资来源国、最大的工程承包国、最大的域外游客来源国和最重要的援助国。从普特拉姆燃煤电站、南部铁路到科伦坡机场高速公路，从科伦坡国际集装箱码头、科伦坡港口城到汉班托塔港，每一个项目都凝聚着中斯双方的共同努力，都为两国和两国人民带来实实在在的利益。

Nowadays, China-Sri Lanka BRI cooperation has lifted our bilateral relations to a new level, and upgraded the economic and social features of Sri Lanka. China has become the largest source of foreign investments, tourists out of the region, engineering contractors and foreign aid. From Norochchorlai Power Station, Katunayake Airport Expressway, to the Southern Railway; from Colombo International Container Terminal, Colombo Port City, to the Hambantota Port, all the mega-projects represent our joint efforts and a common goal of bringing more benefits to our two countries and the two peoples.