拉丁美洲这片伟大的土地有着悠久的历史、灿烂的文化、勤劳的人民、丰富的资源，发展前景十分广阔。

The great land of Latin America and the Caribbean, with its time-honored history, celebrated cultures, hardworking people and rich resources, enjoys a broad vista for development.

从玻利瓦尔到圣马丁、何塞·马蒂，在拉丁美洲大陆上传颂着许多不可磨灭的英雄人物，有一种精神在绵延不绝地传承：那就是自强不息的拉美精神。

Stories of heroic figures, like Simon Bolivar, Jose de San Martin and Jose Marti, are still being told on the Latin American continent even today. The spirit of Latin America, a spirit of perseverance, has been passed from generation to generation.

中国人民同样有自强不息的传统，因为我们同拉美人民有着相似的历史遭遇和共同的发展任务。

Like you, the Chinese people have a tradition of seeking constant progress. That is because we and the people in Latin American and Carribean countries share similar historical experiences and common development agenda.

中国与拉美有着宝贵的传统友谊。无论走到拉美哪个国家，都能感受到当地人民对中国发自内心的友好感情。中国和拉美人民完全可以进一步加强相互了解，加强相互信任，加强相互合作。

Our countries have a valuable friendship that goes back a long way. Wherever we go in Latin America and the Carribean, we feel true friendship towards China. People from the two sides should continue to strengthen mutual understanding, trust and cooperation.

我们现在所在的这个大厅叫牡丹厅。牡丹在中国传统文化中寓意着繁荣昌盛、兴旺发达——这恰恰寄托了我们对中拉合作的热切期盼。我愿同拉共体的各位同事一道，以这次会议为起点，建设好中拉论坛，不断取得积极成果，共同开创中拉全面合作伙伴关系的美好未来！

This hall we are at is named after peony, a flower that symbolizes prosperity in Chinese culture. And prosperity is exactly what we expect from the cooperation between us. I look forward to working with my CELAC colleagues to take this ministerial meeting as a new starting point, for making the Forum a successful and productive mechanism and for opening up a brighter future for our partnership of comprehensive cooperation!