Work Together for World Peace in China-UK “Golden Era”
共同維護世界和平 攜手推進“黃金時代”
– Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Reception Marking the 90th Anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army
——駐英國大使劉曉明在建軍90周年招待會上的講話
Chinese Embassy, 27 July 2017
2017年7月27日，中國駐英國大使館
General Richard Felton,
Major General Giles Hill,
Air Vice Marshal Warren James,
Generals, Admirals and Military Attachés,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Friends:
尊敬的英國國防部國防安全總局局長理查德·菲爾頓中將，
尊敬的英軍助理國防參謀長吉爾斯·希爾少將，
尊敬的英國皇家空軍詹姆斯少將，
各位將軍，
各位使節(jié)，
各位武官，
女士們、先生們、朋友們：
A very warm welcome to the Chinese Embassy!
It is a great delight to have you with us tonight to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
熱烈歡迎各位出席中國駐英國大使館的招待會，與我們共同慶祝中國人民解放軍建軍90周年。
Ninety years ago, the Chinese nation was at a life-or-death moment. The Nanchang Uprising in 1927 marked the beginning of the independent armed struggle led by the Communist Party of China. It also marked the founding of the armed forces which later became the PLA.
90年前，在中華民族處于危難之際，南昌起義拉開了中國共產黨獨立領導武裝斗爭和創(chuàng)建革命軍隊的序幕�；厥�90年滄桑巨變，中國人民解放軍走過了極不平凡的歷史征程。
Ninety years on, tremendous changes have taken place. It has been an extraordinary historic journey for the PLA.
The ninety years have seen a long, arduous and heroic struggle.
Led by the Communist Party of China, the PLA has made indelible historic contribution to the liberation of the Chinese nation, to safeguarding China’s development and reforms and to upholding China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
From the Long March to the Three Great Battles, and from disaster rescue to patrolling the South China Sea, the PLA has withstood all kinds of tests.
The PLA soldiers have dedicated themselves to the country and people.
The PLA is an army of victory and iron discipline, and an army of peace.
這是艱苦卓絕、浴血奮戰(zhàn)的90年。90年來，中國軍隊在中國共產黨領導下，為中國人民的解放事業(yè)，為中國社會主義建設和改革事業(yè)，為維護中國國家主權、安全、發(fā)展利益，建立了不可磨滅的歷史功勛。從萬里長征到三大戰(zhàn)役，從搶險救災到南海巡航，中國軍隊經受住了各種嚴峻考驗，用熱血和生命書寫下對祖國和人民的無限忠誠，無愧為威武之師、文明之師、和平之師。
The ninety years have seen the PLA grow from strength to strength.
The PLA today consists of five different services, namely, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Rocket Force, and the Strategic Support Force.
It is now a modern military force with advanced weaponry and professional administration and operation.
It aims to become a top-notch military force with extensive IT application.
It has built up a strong capability to cope with different security threats and to carry out various kinds of military tasks.
這是不斷發(fā)展壯大的90年。90年來，中國軍隊從小到大、由弱變強，已發(fā)展成為陸、海、空、火箭軍和戰(zhàn)略支援部隊等諸軍兵種合成，擁有先進武器裝備和科學管理體系的現(xiàn)代化軍隊，正在向世界一流的信息化軍隊闊步前進。中國軍隊正不斷提高應對多種安全威脅、完成多樣化軍事任務的能力。
Looking ahead, China aims:
To build a defense force that matches China’s international standing,
To ensure that the defense force meets the need of protecting China’s security and development interests,
To further advance reform of China’s defense system and military force,
And to provide a strong safeguard as China strives to realize the Chinese dream of national renewal and achieve the “two centenary goals”.
面向未來，中國將努力建設同中國國際地位相稱、同國家安全和發(fā)展利益相適應的國防力量，全面深化國防和軍隊改革，為實現(xiàn)中華民族偉大復興的中國夢和“兩個一百年”奮斗目標提供堅強保障。
Ladies and Gentlemen,
女士們、先生們，
President Xi Jinping recently said this:
“China will do well only when the world does well, and vice versa.”
Today, China remains committed as ever to world peace and common development. China’s military force, the PLA, remains a steadfast force to ensure world peace and stability.
習近平主席說：“世界好，中國才能好；中國好，世界才更好�！毙滦蝿菹�，中國維護世界和平、促進共同發(fā)展的決心不會改變，中國軍隊始終是維護世界和平與穩(wěn)定的堅定力量。
First, China stays committed to the independent foreign policy of peace. China’s defense policy remains defensive in nature.
In recent decade, China’s military expenditure accounted for only 1.32% of GDP. That was far below the 2.4% world average. China’s per capita military spending was only one eighteenth of the US and one ninth of the UK.
China’s defense and military development is not targeted at any other country. It poses no threat to others. It will never go beyond the scope of ensuring China’s own national security.
首先，我們始終奉行獨立自主的和平外交政策和防御性國防政策。近10年來，中國軍費占GDP比重平均為1.32%，遠低于2.4%的世界平均水平，中國人均軍費僅為美國的1/18、英國的1/9。中國的國防和軍隊建設不針對、不威脅任何國家，更不會超出保衛(wèi)國家安全的需要。
Second, China pursues a new security concept that focuses on common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.
China believes that no country can base its security on the instability of other countries.
China will continue to advocate peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefits.
China will promote the idea of building an international community of shared future.
China will work for international relations that regard win-win cooperation as the cornerstone.
The PLA is now engaged in international military and security dialogues more closely than ever before.
But the military-to-military ties we seek to strengthen are not based on alliance. They are not confrontational. They are not targeting any third country.
We are working for a fair and effective system of collective security and mutual trust.
Towards this end, we are building mechanisms of emergence notification, risk prevention and conflict control.
We are actively expanding military and security cooperation.
All these endeavors will help put in place a, security environ, ment that serves peace and development for all.
第二，我們將堅定踐行共同、綜合、合作、可持續(xù)的新型安全觀。一國的安全不能建立在別國的動蕩之上。中國將高舉和平、發(fā)展、合作、共贏的旗幟，推動國際社會樹立人類命運共同體意識，構建以合作共贏為核心的新型國際關系。中國軍隊正大力加強國際軍事安全交流對話，發(fā)展不結盟、不對抗、不針對第三方的軍事關系，推動建立公平有效的集體安全機制和軍事互信機制，打造突發(fā)情況通報、軍事危險預防、危機沖突管控等機制，積極拓展軍事安全合作空間，營造有利于和平發(fā)展的安全環(huán)境。
Third, China will make great efforts to advance international cooperation on military and security.
The PLA is already working with other military forces in response to different security challenges. These include both traditional and non-traditional challenges.
Since 2008, Chinese navy has been carrying out escort missions in the Gulf of Aden. This marks a major increase of exchanges and cooperation between the PLA and other countries in safeguarding the international sea lanes. So far, 26 Chinese fleets, including 83 naval vessels, have been sent to the Gulf of Aden and ensured the safe passage of nearly 6,400 ships from around the world. More than half of these ships are non-Chinese-owned or under the World Food Programme.
We are also strengthening defense and security cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and ASEAN Regional Forum.
We hosted multilateral security events such as the Xiangshan Forum.
All these endeavors have helped facilitate a security and cooperation framework in the interest of peace, stability and prosperity in Asia-Pacific.
China is also playing a constructive role on issues such as DPRK’s nuclear programme, Afghanistan, Iran nuclear deal, Syria, etc, by facilitating dialogue to maintain regional peace and stability.
第三，我們將大力推進國際軍事安全領域合作。中國軍隊與各國軍隊開展務實合作，共同應對各類傳統(tǒng)和非傳統(tǒng)安全挑戰(zhàn)。自2008年起，中國軍隊赴亞丁灣等海域開展護航行動，加強與多國護航力量交流合作，共同維護國際海上通道安全。迄今已累計向亞丁灣派出海軍護航編隊26批83艘次，安全護送6400余艘中外船舶，其中半數(shù)以上為外國船舶或世界糧食計劃署船舶。我們通過深化上海合作組織、東盟地區(qū)論壇等防務安全合作，舉辦香山論壇等多邊活動，推動建立有利于亞太地區(qū)和平穩(wěn)定繁榮的安全和合作新架構。我們還在朝核、阿富汗、伊朗核、敘利亞等熱點問題上發(fā)揮建設性作用，積極勸和促談，努力維護地區(qū)和平穩(wěn)定。
Fourth, China will play an active and leading role in international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.
In terms of peacekeeping, China is at present the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the P5 of the UN Security Council. China is also the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget.
Since 1990, China has sent a total of 33,000 peacekeepers. Thirteen Chinese soldiers sacrificed their lives for peacekeeping missions. Right now, there are 2,800 Chinese soldiers serving in nine missions including those in Mali and South Sudan.
In terms of humanitarian operations, over the past ten years, the PLA has taken part in nearly 30 international rescue missions. Chinese soldiers were in Africa fighting the Ebola virus. They were in the Indian Ocean searching for the missing Malaysian Airline plane. They were in the capital of Maldives tackling fresh water shortage. They were in Nepal helping with the rescue operations after the devastating earthquake.
The efforts of the PLA in peacekeeping and disaster mitigation are widely recognized and acclaimed. These missions are examples of China fulfilling its responsibility as a big country.
第四，我們將積極引領國際維和、人道主義救援等行動。目前，中國是聯(lián)合國安理會常任理事國中派出維和人員最多的國家，也是聯(lián)合國維和行動預算第二大出資國。1990年以來，中國累計派出維和官兵3.3萬余人次，共有13名維和官兵為維護世界和平獻出了寶貴生命�，F(xiàn)在共有2800余名官兵在馬里、南蘇丹等9個任務區(qū)執(zhí)行維和任務，為相關國家安全穩(wěn)定及經濟社會發(fā)展做出積極貢獻。過去10年來，中國軍隊先后參與非洲抗擊埃博拉疫情、馬航飛機失事搜尋、馬爾代夫首都斷水援助、尼泊爾抗震救災等近30次國際人道主義緊急救援行動，充分展現(xiàn)了中國負責任大國形象，得到國際社會廣泛贊譽。
Ladies and Gentlemen,
女士們、先生們，
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Ambassadorial diplomatic relations between China and Britain. It is also a year for consolidating the China-UK “Golden Era”. In building stronger bilateral ties, we are facing new opportunities.
Not long ago, President Xi and Prime Minister May held a successful meeting during the G20 Hamburg Summit. The two leaders reaffirmed the shared commitment to building the China-UK “Golden Era”. They agreed to further strengthen strategic mutual trust, and advance exchanges and cooperation in business, culture and security between our two countries.
今年是中英建立大使級外交關系45周年，也是中英關系“黃金時代”深入發(fā)展之年。兩國關系發(fā)展正面臨新的重要機遇。前不久，習近平主席與梅首相在二十國集團漢堡峰會期間舉行成功會晤，兩國領導人再次確認中英關系“黃金時代”大方向，并就進一步加強兩國戰(zhàn)略互信，推進經貿、人文、安全等各領域交流合作達成重要共識。
Military ties are an important part of the China-UK “Golden Era”. In recent years, bilateral military relationship has entered a fast track.
This is true in the following aspects.
Military-to-military exchanges at all levels have been frequent, cooperation expanded and mutual trust enhanced.
Exchanges and cooperation have expanded steadily to more areas across different services.
Our cooperation on counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, and search and rescue has been effective and fruitful.
In the coming autumn, we will be welcoming another port call by a Chinese naval escort fleet at Portsmouth. I believe this visit will further increase mutual understanding and friendship between our armed forces and strengthen military-to-military ties.
兩軍關系是中英關系“黃金時代”的重要組成部分。近年來，中英兩軍關系步入快速發(fā)展軌道。一是交往多。兩軍各層級交往頻繁，合作不斷擴大，互信不斷增進。二是領域寬。兩軍多軍種、多領域務實交流合作穩(wěn)步推進。三是成效好。兩軍在反恐、反海盜、救災等領域均開展良好合作。今秋，正在亞丁灣護航的中國海軍艦艇編隊將再次赴英國樸茨茅斯港進行友好訪問。相信此訪將增進中英兩軍了解和友誼，有力促進兩軍關系進一步向前發(fā)展。
Ladies and Gentlemen,
女士們、先生們，
Peace is a lofty cause and a shared aspiration of all humanity. The world today is still not free from sufferings of wars and conflicts. Global problems such as terrorism, cyber security and public health remain severe. Security threats and challenges are growing and uncertainty and instability increasing.
To ensure lasting peace and overall security, the international community, including China and Britain, must work together. Likewise, to make the China-UK “Golden Era” strong and enduring, all sectors, political, military, business, both in China and Britain must work together.
I believe that by working together, we will ensure greater progress in the relations between our two countries and between our two armed forces.
By working together, China and Britain will make more and greater contribution to world peace and prosperity.
和平是人類共同愿望和崇高目標。當今世界，仍有一些國家和地區(qū)民眾依然飽受戰(zhàn)亂之苦，恐怖主義威脅、網絡安全、公共衛(wèi)生安全等全球性問題突出，安全領域威脅和挑戰(zhàn)層出不窮，不確定不穩(wěn)定因素日益增多。我們要建設一個持久和平、普遍安全的世界，需要包括中英兩國在內的國際社會共同努力。我們要推進中英關系“黃金時代”行穩(wěn)致遠，需要包括政治、軍事、經貿等在內的中英各界人士共同努力。我相信，在中英雙方共同努力下，中英兩國、兩軍關系一定會取得更大發(fā)展，一定會為維護世界和平、促進世界繁榮做出新的更大貢獻。
Now, may I invite you to join me in a toast:
現(xiàn)在，我提議：
To the 90th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
為慶祝中國人民解放軍建軍90周年，
To the China-UK “Golden Era”.
為中英關系的“黃金時代”，
To world peace and prosperity.
Cheers!
