Keynote Speech by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Annual Commonwealth Diplomats Induction Programme: China Stays Committed to Peaceful Development

尊敬的英联邦秘书长斯科特兰女男爵，

尊敬的巴基斯坦前总理阿齐兹先生，

尊敬的澳大利亚前外长唐纳先生，

尊敬的各位使节，

女士们、先生们：

　　很高兴出席2018年英联邦外交官年度培训会。

　　斯科特兰秘书长告诉我，今天在座不少是刚刚履新的英联邦国家使节和外交官。在此，我谨对各位同事表示热烈欢迎。英国文学巨匠塞缪尔·约翰逊曾说，“如果你厌倦了伦敦，你就厌倦了生活。”我在伦敦8年多的工作和生活充分证明了这一点。我祝愿大家在伦敦工作顺利、生活愉快、诸事顺遂。

Baroness Scotland,

Mr. Shaukat Aziz,

Mr. Alexander Downer,

Your Excellencies,

Diplomatic Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a real delight to join you at the annual Commonwealth Diplomats Induction Programme.

Baroness Scotland told me that many of you present today have just arrived in London. I would like to extend my warmest welcome to you. Samuel Johnson said, "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." Having spent more than eight years in London, I know Johnson was right. I wish you a fantastic tour in London.

　　当前，我们生活在一个快速变化的时代。国际格局深刻演变，和平与发展仍是时代的主题，但逆全球化趋向愈演愈烈，保护主义、单边主义、民粹主义甚嚣尘上。人类社会正站在历史的十字路口，是开放还是封闭？是前进还是后退？是坚持多边主义还是搞单边主义？是坚持合作共赢还是搞“零和游戏”？

　　这些问题，不仅考验世界各国领导人的胸襟、格局和气魄，也考验我们每位外交官的眼界、胆识和智慧。作为这个变化时代的外交官，我们面临前所未有的挑战，也面临前所未有的机遇。关键在于如何认清世界大势、把握历史潮流，抓住机遇、化解挑战。我认为，这是每一位外交官的职责。

We are living in a time of rapid changes. Amid evolving international landscape, peace and development remain the theme of our times. At the same time, anti-globalisation is rising, and protectionism, unilateralism and populism are surging. The International community is standing at a historical crossroads. Should we stay open and move forward, or shut ourselves in and turn back? Should we uphold multilateralism and win-win cooperation, or choose unilateralism and "zero-sum game"?

These questions are not reserved for the leaders of our countries only. They are also tests for us, the diplomats. They test our vision, courage and wisdom. The fast changing time brings unprecedented challenges as well as opportunities. As diplomats, it is our duty to follow the overarching trend of the times, seize the opportunities and address the challenges.

　　美国前国务卿基辛格曾说，当今国际体系正在经历四百年来未有之大变局，中国是国际新秩序的最大变量。也有人说，中国的崛起是21世纪最伟大的奇迹。面对中国的崛起，有人认为是机遇，有人认为是挑战，甚至有人认为是威胁。那么，中国的发展对世界到底意味着什么？对于这个问题，中共十九大报告给出明确的回答，即中国坚持和平发展道路，推动构建新型国际关系、构建人类命运共同体；中国共产党始终把为人类作出新的更大的贡献作为自己的使命。这就意味着，中国的发展将使世界更加和平、更加美好。今天，我愿从五个方面阐释中国发展对世界的意义：

Henry Kissinger once said, the current international system is experiencing "the biggest change in 400 years", and China is the largest variable in the new international order. Others have referred to the rise of China as the greatest miracle in the 21st century. So what would you say? Is the rise of China an opportunity, a challenge, or a threat? What does China's development mean to the world?

The 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China gave a clear answer to this question: 

China will stay committed to peaceful development. It will work with other countries to build a new type of international relations, and a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Communist Party of China regards as its mission to make new and greater contribution to mankind.

This means that China's development will make the world a more peaceful and better place. Let me elaborate on this from the following five aspects: