Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Cong Peiwu at the Reception Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Dr. Norman Bethune's Death

各位嘉宾，各位朋友，

　　晚上好！今天，我们在此齐聚一堂，纪念白求恩医生逝世80周年。听了刚才的讲话，看到在座的来宾，我脑海中浮现出三幅图景。

Distinguished guests, Dear friends,

Good evening! Today we gather here to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Dr. Norman Bethune's death. After listening to the speeches just now and seeing the distinguished guests present, I have three pictures in my mind.

　　一幅是历史画卷。1938年，白求恩医生不远万里奔赴中国，支持中国人民开展抗日战争。1939年，他在为伤员手术时受到感染，不幸去世。中国领导人毛泽东写下了中国人民耳熟能详的文章—《纪念白求恩》，歌颂白求恩医生的国际主义精神和人道主义精神。白求恩的事迹自此在中国家喻户晓，也让很多中国人知道了加拿大这个遥远的国度，并对加拿大人民产生了友好感情。

The first is a picture of history. In 1938, Dr. Bethune made light of travelling thousands of miles to help the Chinese people in our War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, an important part of the World Anti-Fascist war. Unfortunately, Bethune died of a blood infection while operating on wounded soldiers in 1939. The Chinese leader Mao Zedong wrote the well-known essay In Memory of Norman Bethune, in which he praised Dr. Bethune's spirit of internationalism and humanitarianism. Norman Bethune has become a household name since then and many Chinese began to know about a distant country, Canada, and have friendly sentiments towards the Canadian people.

　　一幅是现实宏幅。80年过去了，白求恩精神没有随着时间的消逝而消失，而是在中加两国得到传承和发扬，激励着两国医务工作者“救死扶伤”，为两国人民提供精湛的医疗服务。近年来，白求恩医学发展协会、白求恩协会、当代白求恩行动促进委员会等纷纷在加成立，并多次组织医疗队到中国边远地区义务行医。这些医生牺牲宝贵的休息时间，不顾长途飞行的辛劳，克服时差带来的不适，一到中国就投入紧张的工作，很多人甚至是自费赴华。他们是“当代的白求恩”。

The second is a realistic grand picture. In the past 80 years, Dr. Bethune's spirit has not disappeared with the passage of time, but has been inherited and carried forward in both China and Canada. Medical workers in both countries have been inspired to save lives and treat the injured, and provide professional medical services for the people of the two countries. In recent years, such organizations as Bethune Medical Development Association of Canada, Bethune Baiqiuen Canadian Alliance, People Inspired by Norman Bethune have been set up in Canada. They have organized many medical teams to provide medical services free of charge in remote areas of China. These medical workers sacrificed their valuable time and overcome the fatigue of long flights and jet lag. They started to work upon their arrival in China and many of them even flew to China at their own expense. They are "Norman Bethunes" in our time.

　　中国一直积极倡导白求恩精神。习近平主席勉励中国人民以白求恩医生为时代楷模，做脱离低级趣味的人，做高尚的人。中国广大医务工作者以白求恩为榜样，以忘我的精神献身医疗事业，也涌现出很多可歌可泣的事迹。中国政府还积极弘扬白求恩精神，向非洲、亚洲、欧洲、美洲、大洋洲70多个国家累计派遣援外医疗队员2.6万多人次，诊治患者2.8亿多人次。其中，很多医务工作者像白求恩一样，选择去了最危险和最艰苦的地区，数十人献出了自己的生命。

China has been actively advocating the spirit of Dr. Bethune. President Xi Jinping has called on the Chinese people to take him as a role model and try to be a man of moral integrity and above vulgar interests. A vast number of medical workers in China take Dr. Bethune as an example, devote themselves to the medical services with selfless spirit. And there are a lot of touching stories. Since 1963, the Chinese government has sent medical teams to over 70 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, America, and Oceania, with a total of more than 26,000 medical workers. They have treated a total of more than 280 million cases. Among these medical workers, many volunteered to serve in the areas of danger and hardship and dozens of them gave their lives.