Speech by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Generation UK: Celebrating Five Years Reception Event: Live Your Dream in the China-UK "Golden Era"

尊敬的英国文化委员会首席执行官邓克然爵士，

尊敬的英国教育部总司长凯特先生，

女士们，先生们，朋友们：

　　大家下午好！

　　很高兴应邀出席今天的活动。我谨向“英国未来计划”项目取得的丰硕成果表示祝贺，向关心、支持和参与这一合作项目的中英两各界人士表示感谢。

Sir Ciarán Devane,

Director General Paul Kett,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends:

Good afternoon!

It is a real delight to join you at this event.

Let me begin by extending my congratulations to the Generation UK for achieving such fruitful results. I would like to express my appreciation to all those who have cared for, supported and taken part in the Generation UK.

　　2012年中英高级别人文交流机制启动以来，两国人文交流合作精彩纷呈，广度和深度不断拓展。过去7年间，中国留英学生从12万增至19万；全英孔子学院和孔子课堂数量分别从20所和63间增至29所和161间。仅2018年一年，就有约19.1万人在全英孔子学院和孔子课堂学习汉语和中国文化，约178万余人参与孔子学院组织的各种丰富多彩的文化活动。

Since the China-UK High-Level People to People Dialogue was launched in 2012, cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between our two countries have taken diverse forms, and grown in depth and width.

This is clearly demonstrated in the following figures.

In the past seven years, the number of Chinese students studying in the UK has increased from 120,000 to 190,000. 

The number of Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in Britain has increased from 20 and 63 to 29 and 161 respectively. 

In 2018 alone, 191,000 students were learning the Chinese language and Chinese culture at the Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in Britain.

More than 1.78 million people took part in a rich variety of cultural events hosted by the Confucius Institutes.

　　过去6年间，约7万名英国优秀青年通过“英国未来计划”赴华学习、实习和参与各类交流活动。“英国未来计划”项目日益成为中英人文交流中一道靓丽的风景线。到2020年，我相信该项目一定能够实现吸引8万名英国青年赴华学习的目标。上述数字充分说明，中英人文交流充满活力，潜力巨大，前景广阔。

　　女士们、先生们，

The Generation UK has certainly played an important role as a highlight of China-UK cultural and people-to-people exchanges. In the past six years, about 70,000 young British people have visited China for study, internship and exchange events through the Generation UK. I am sure it can reach its goal of sending 80,000 British young people to study in China by 2020.

These figures are proof that China-UK cultural and people-to-people exchanges are full of vitality and enjoy huge potential and a promising future.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

　　今年是中华人民共和国成立70周年，也是中英建立代办级外交关系65周年。当今世界正经历百年未有之大变局，中英关系“黄金时代”面临新机遇。上周，第十次中英经济财金对话成功举行，共达成69项成果，为双方深化合作注入了强劲动力。展望未来，中英各领域合作更加深入，前景更加广阔。为此，我认为要重点做好三件事：

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is also the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-UK diplomatic relationship at the level of chargé d'affaires.

As the world undergoes profound changes unseen in a century, the China-UK "Golden Era" is faced with new opportunities.

Last week, the tenth China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue was successfully held, which produced 69 outcomes. This Dialogue has provided strong impetus for our two sides to deepen cooperation.

Looking forward, there will be broad prospects for our two countries to deepen cooperation across the board. To achieve this, I think we should make the following three efforts: