Remarks by H E. Ambassador SONG Yumin, at the Reception Celebrating the 45th Anniversary of China-Trinidad and Tobago Diplomatic Relations

(June 17, 2019)

　　　欢迎各位来宾出席今晚的招待会，共同庆祝中国与特立尼达和多巴哥建交45周年。两国政府高度重视中特建交45周年，双方各自或共同举办一系列贯穿全年的庆祝活动。尊敬的摩西外长，感谢您及外交和加勒比共同体事务部与中方共同举办今天的招待会，掀起系列庆祝活动的高潮。明晚，双方还将在国家表演艺术中心联袂打造中国弦乐和特多钢鼓齐奏和鸣的“文化之夜”。今晚，来自中国河北的“燕赵弦韵”乐团将提前演出部分曲目，让来宾们先睹为快。我愿借此机会，向所有长期以来关心支持中特关系发展的新老朋友们表示由衷感谢。

Thank you for joining us tonight to celebrate the 45th anniversary of China-Trinidad and Tobago diplomatic relations. Both Governments of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago attach great importance to the anniversary commemoration producing a full range of activities throughout the year in both our countries. Minister the Honourable Moses, I thank you and your Ministry for co-hosting tonight's celebration, which highlights the series of pertinent activities jointly organized including the culture night tomorrow in NAPA--a blend of Chinese strings and Trinidad and Tobago steel pan music. The Chamber ensemble of China's Hebei Province kindly offers us a preview of some of their programs following the speeches tonight. I would also like to avail myself this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all our friends, old and new, who have long been committed to and supported the growth of our bilateral relations.

　　中特建交45年来的双边关系发展历程是中特友好关系的一段缩影。早在1806年，首批华人抵达美丽的特立尼达岛，两国人民友好交往由此发端。此后，两国人员往来蓬勃发展。1971年中国恢复在联合国合法席位时，特多为我国投下宝贵一票，是支持中国重返联合国的兄弟国家之一。

　　1974年6月20日，中特两国领导人以非凡的远见卓识，共同做出了双方正式建立外交关系的历史性决定。中特两国迎来双边关系全面发展的新时代。

The 45 years epitomized the new chapter of our amicable bilateral relations, but the interactions between our peoples dated back to the first group of Chinese arrived on the beautiful island of Trinidad in 1806. Since then, the people-to-people exchanges have become more and more constant. Trinidad and Tobago was among our brothers who have carried us into the United Nations when it voted in favor for the restoration of all China's lawful rights in 1971.

On June 20, 1974, with extraordinary strategic vision, the leaders of both countries made the historic decision to establish diplomatic relations and ushered in a new era of robust and all-round development of China-Trinidad and Tobago relations.

　　45年来，双方始终相互理解和尊重彼此核心利益和重大关切，政治互信持续提升。2013年，中国国家主席习近平成功对特多进行国事访问，开启了两国关系发展的新篇章。访问期间，中国与包括特多在内的加勒比国家建立相互尊重、平等互利、共同发展的全面合作伙伴关系。2018年5月，特多总理罗利正式访华，为两国深化各领域友好合作注入新的强劲动力。特多成为首个与中国政府签署“一带一路”合作文件的英语加勒比国家，两国在“一带一路”框架下携手共赢的美丽画卷正徐徐展开。

Over the past 45 years, both sides have always been understanding and accommodating each others core interests and major concerns. The political mutual trust has been deepened. Chinese President Xi Jinping's successful state visit to Trinidad and Tobago in 2013 hailed as a milestone to the new era of the bilateral relations. During this visit, the comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development between China and Caribbean states including Trinidad and Tobago was established. In May 2018, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley paid an official visit to China and brought about a new momentum to closer friendship and bilateral cooperation in various fields. Trinidad and Tobago leads the way in the Caribbean region in jointly building the Belt and Road to share the win-win outcomes from the Initiative.