首先，语言是探索中华文化深厚魅力之桥。语言是一个国家和民族文化的基本要素。学好汉语，才能真正走进五千年未曾间断的中华文明；才能读懂“不独亲其亲，不独子其子，使老有所终，壮有所用，幼有所长，矜寡孤独废疾者皆有所养”的和睦观念为何深植中国人民的心底；才能读懂“各美其美，美人之美，美美与共，天下大同”的和谐理念为何已深入中国人民的基因；才能读懂中华民族5000多年文明史，中国人民近代以来170多年斗争史，中国共产党90多年奋斗史，中华人民共和国70年发展史，改革开放40多年探索史，事实上是一脉相承、不可割裂的历史，才能真正掌握了解中国的过去、中国的今天和中国的未来的钥匙。
First, the Chinese language is a bridge leading to the world of profound Chinese cultural charm. Language is the basic element of the culture of a country and a nation. The Chinese language holds the key to the five-thousand-year uninterrupted Chinese civilisation. A good command of the Chinese language would enable a thorough understanding of ancient Chinese literature which constitutes the foundation of the Chinese value, such as this one: "Treat other's kin and children as your own; Let all the elderly be supported, the young be employed and the children be educated; Ensure all the widowers, the widows, the orphans, the childless elders, the disabled and the sick are properly taken care of." Or this one: "Harmony arises from the ability to appreciate different cultures for their unique beauty." These adages are the very root of the ideals of good-neighbourliness and harmony, which the Chinese people hold dear. With a good command of the Chinese language, one would find it easier to see how the more than 170 years struggle of the Chinese people in modern history, the more than 90 years of strenuous efforts of the Communist Party of China, the 70 years of progress of the People's Republic of China, and the more than 40 years of the exploration of reform and opening up, are all parts of a continuous, uninterrupted 5,000 year history of the Chinese nation. This is the key to understanding China's past, present and future.
其次，语言是促进中英两国合作共赢之桥。近年来，英国的“汉语热”持续升温。2017年，英格兰在中小学启动“中文培优项目”，截至目前已有64所学校的1300多名学生参与其中。2018年，汉语首次超越德语，成为英国A-Level考试中最受学生欢迎的第三大流行语言。中英教育机构迄今共建29所孔子学院和161个孔子课堂，成为英国朋友学习汉语、了解中国文化的热门平台。同时，中国的“留英热”也不断升温。2010年我刚出使英国时，约有13万中国学生在英求学。9年过去了，这一数字增长到19万。“汉语热”和“留英热”反映出中英两国人民对彼此的友好情谊，也折射出中英人文交流的蓬勃生机。
Second, language is a bridge for win-win cooperation between China and the UK.
Over the past years, learning the Chinese language has become increasingly popular in Britain. In 2017, the "Mandarin Excellence Programme" was introduced to primary and secondary schools in England. As of today, the programme has covered more than 1,300 students from 64 schools. In 2018, the Chinese language overtook German for the first time and became the third most popular foreign language in A-level exams. Chinese and British education institutions have jointly built 29 Confucius Institutes and 161 Confucius Classrooms, which have become popular platforms to learn the Chinese language and culture. At the same time, more and more Chinese students choose to study in Britain. In 2010, my first year as Chinese Ambassador to the UK, there were about 130,000 Chinese students here. Today, after nine years, this figure has increased to 190,000. All these figures reflect the close bond between the Chinese and British people. They also demonstrate the vigour of China-UK cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
第三，语言是推动东西方文明交流互鉴之桥。在世界多极化、经济全球化、文化多样化深入发展的今天，人与人之间的沟通尤为重要，文明与文明之间的交流互鉴愈显必要。语言就是我们沟通交流的工具，就是帮助我们理解差异性、坚守共同性，相互尊重、平等相待的基石。中英两国社会制度、历史文化、发展阶段不同，但都拥有深厚的历史文化积淀，两国代表的东西方文明实际也有许多共通之处。比如英国人注重“优雅、诚实、独立”等品质，中国人则坚守“仁、义、礼、智、信”等道德准则。只要我们不断跨越语言的障碍，就能达到增进了解、凝聚共识的新境界。
Third, language is a bridge for exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilisations. In an age of deepening multi-polarisation, economic globalisation and cultural diversity, the communication between people and the exchanges and mutual learning between civilisations are becoming increasingly important. Learning a foreign language gives us a tool for such communication and exchanges. This helps us understand differences and seek common grounds. This also builds the foundation for equality and mutual respect. China and the UK differ in social system, history, culture and development stage. But both have created profound civilisations, and many of our values are similar. For example, the British people prize the qualities of elegance, honesty and independence, while the Chinese people value benevolence, integrity, courtesy, wisdom and good faith. As long as we overcome the barrier of language, we could reach a new stage of better understanding and stronger consensus.
上一篇：2019年4月9日外交部发言人陆慷主持例行记者会（中英对照）
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