驻南非大使田学军在“庆祝中南建交十五周年”学术研讨会上的讲话

Keynote Speech by H.E. Ambassador Tian Xuejun at the Ambassadorial Forum on China-South Africa Diplomatic Relations at 15 Years

2013年9月19日，比勒陀利亚，南非

Pretoria, South Africa, 19 September 2013

很高兴出席“庆祝中南建交十五周年”学术研讨会。今天是中国的中秋节，是一个象征着团圆和美满的日子。来自中南两国的官员、学者和各界人士汇聚于此，共同回顾中南关系过去15年的历程，展望中南关系美好的明天，极具象征意义。首先，我谨代表中国驻南非大使馆，对各位来宾表示热烈欢迎，对你们长期以来为促进中南友好合作关系所作出的不懈努力和重要贡献致以最诚挚的谢意！作为“庆祝中南建交十五周年”系列活动之一，我期待本次研讨会能为中南关系今后的发展提供更多的真知灼见。

It’s a great pleasure for me to attend this Ambassadorial Forum marking 15 years of China-South Africa diplomatic relations. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, which is also known as the Moon-cake Festival. This is a day for happiness and family reunion. It’s very symbolic that we gather here today with so many friends from both China and South Africa, to review what we have achieved in the past 15 years and to look ahead into the future.

To begin with, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, our warmest greetings to all the guests present today. Thank you for your long-time commitment and contribution to China-South Africa friendship and cooperation. This forum is one of a series of events marking the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa, and I look forward to learning from your thoughts and insights for the future development of our relationship.

女士们、先生们，

Ladies and Gentlemen,

中国和南非虽远隔千山万水，但两国友好交往和传统友谊源远流长。15年前的1998年1月1日，两国正式建立外交关系，这是中南关系史上的一件大事，开启了中南关系的新纪元。15年来，我们生活的世界发生了深刻的变化，中南关系也发生了巨大的变化。我愿意围绕三个问题，与大家分享我对中南关系发展的看法。

Though China and South Africa are far apart, the friendship and exchanges between our two peoples date back to ancient times. Fifteen years ago, on January 1st 1998, China and South Africa formally established diplomatic relationship. This was a milestone in our bilateral relations, and opened up a new era. The past one-and-a-half decades have witnessed profound changes in international landscape, as well as major developments in China-South Africa ties. Today I wish to share with you my observations on China-South Africa relationship by raising three questions and offering my answers.