常驻联合国日内瓦办事处和瑞士其他国际组织代表团俞建华大使在“联合国中文日”开幕式上的致辞
Remarks by Ambassador Yu Jianhua at the Opening Ceremony of the UN Chinese Language Day
2018年4月16日
16 April 2018
尊敬的穆勒总干事，
女士们，先生们，
Your Excellency Mr. Michael Møller,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
欢迎大家出席2018年“联合国中文日”活动。汉字是中华文明的载体，也是世界文化的瑰宝。“中文日”活动每年在万国宫举办，不仅体现了联合国对汉字和中华文化的重视，也是联合国致力于加强世界文明交流互鉴的生动写照。
Welcome to this exhibition marking the 2018 UN Chinese Language Day. The Chinese language, or Chinese characters, to be more specific, is vehicles of the great Chinese civilization and a shining gem in the world’s treasure trove of cultures. Celebrating the Chinese Language Day every year here in the Palais, the UN dedicates itself to promoting the Chinese language and culture, and more importantly, to encouraging cultural exchange.
在漫漫历史长河中，汉字经历了甲骨文、金文、篆书、隶书、楷书等多种形态变化，凝聚了上下五千年来中国人民的智慧与创造。在成千上万的汉字中，有一个字最能体现中华文化的本质和精髓，这就是背景板上的“民”字。它蕴含着中国文化“以民为本”的核心思想，同联合国系列文化活动“以人为中心”的主题相得益彰。
Through the ages, Chinese characters have gone through changes in structure and in style, from the crude symbols on oracle bones and engravings on bronze ware to the calligraphic diamond shape that we see today, every step of the way enabled by the intelligence and creativity of the Chinese people over an arc of history stretching 5,000 years. Among the tens of thousands of characters in use today, one holds the key to understanding the Chinese philosophy. And that character is Min, or people in English, as shown on the background panel. It is central to the idea of putting people first, a founding principle of the Chinese society and a value echoed by the UN’s theme for cultural events this year-people at the center.
回顾中国历史，各个时代都有着对爱民、重民、安民、利民思想的重要阐述。中国上古时期的典籍《尚书》中即有“民为邦本，本固邦宁”的记载；2500年前，孔子说，“节用而爱人，使民以时”；1400多年前，唐朝皇帝李世民讲过，“君者，舟也，庶人者，水也。水能载舟，亦能覆舟”；400多年前，著名思想家黄宗羲提出“天下之治乱，不在一姓之兴亡，而在万民之忧乐”；100多年前，改革家梁启超提出“国家之主人为谁？即一国之民是也”。这些千古名言都讲述了一个道理，人心向背是执政的根本，只有人民安居乐业，国家才能繁荣昌盛。
This idea of loving the people and taking care of their well-being runs through the entire Chinese history. In the early days of the Chinese civilization, our forefathers famously said, “The people are the basis of a country; when the basis is secured, the country is tranquil.” 2,500 years ago, the great Chinese philosopher Confucius advised the rulers to “practice thrift, care about the people, and not to employ their services in their busy farming time”. 1,400 years ago, Li Shimin, one of China’s greatest emperors, likened sovereigns to boats and the people water, noting that water has the power to carry the boat, and the power to overturn it. Then, 400 years ago, the famous thinker Huang Zongxi concluded that it is the ordinary people’s well-being, not the fortunes of the ruling family that makes or breaks a dynasty. Three hundred years later, this thought was espoused by Liang qichao, a well-known reformist who asked, “Who is the master of a country?” “The people.” he said. The wording may vary, but these statements all point to a simple truth: good governance lies in winning the people’s heart. Only when the people are living and working peacefully can a country aspire for prosperity.
新中国成立特别是改革开放以来，中国共产党扎根于中国几千年的传统文化，使民本思想得到进一步传承和发展。“人民拥护不拥护”、“人民赞成不赞成”、“人民高兴不高兴”、“人民答应不答应”成为中国政府制定各项方针政策的出发点和归宿，受到人民热烈拥护。
This truth is not lost on those who are given the power to lead China. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, especially the introduction of the reform and opening up policy 40 years ago, the Chinese government, proud of its root in the time-honored culture of the Chinese nation, has been developing further the idea of putting people first. In formulating every policy, the government asks itself these questions: Do we have the people’s support? Do we have their consent? Will they be happy about it? Will they agree?
随着中国发展进入历史新时代，习近平主席站在时代前沿，引领时代潮流，进一步提出“以人民为中心”的发展思想，强调必须坚持人民主体地位，坚持立党为公，执政为民，不忘初心，践行全心全意为人民服务的宗旨，把人民对美好生活的向往作为奋斗目标，依靠人民创造历史伟业。必须坚持发展为了人民，把实现好、维护好、发展好最广大人民利益作为发展的根本目的。必须坚持发展依靠人民，发展成果由人民共享，让人民群众有更多获得感。“以人民为中心”的发展思想，是对中国民本思想的最新发展和诠释，充分体现了中国共产党的时代性和先进性，必将随着历史的发展不断发扬光大，焕发出勃勃生机与活力。
Today, China is in a new era. Taking the pulse of the times, President Xi Jinping has shown great insight by highlighting a people-centered philosophy of governance. He makes it clear that the people are the masters and the founding mission of the Party is to serve their well-being. Everything we do in governing the country must be held against this standard. He commits the Party to fighting for the people’s aspirations for a better life, making history with the people’s support, and staying true to its founding mission. Development, he said, must be for the people; realizing, upholding, and promoting their interests is our fundamental goal. Development must be by the people. And the fruits of development must be shared among the people to give them a better sense of fulfillment. This guiding thought represents the latest development and interpretation of China’s age-old tradition of putting people first, one of the many efforts we are making to stay in tune with the times. As history moves forward, this line of thinking will only grow in vitality.
女士们，先生们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
汉字，形美如画，音美如歌，意美如诗。它让我们悠久的文明传承至今，却又璀璨如新。希望今天的展览不仅让大家感受到中国汉字的博大精深，中国文学作品的丰富多彩，更感悟到“以人民为中心”思想的文化传承和理念变迁。我们也愿同世界各国一道，利用好联合国的平台，加强文化文明的交流互鉴，建设人类共同的精神家园！
Coming back to Chinese characters, which you find plenty around us in the hall, some say they are paintings. Some say they are melodies, some say they are poems. The Chinese characters sustain and renew the vigor of our culture. The exhibition before your eyes today will give you a glimpse into the stories behind the characters and the amazing world of Chinese literature. When you feel it with your heart, you will also see how the idea of putting people first has been kept alive and developed over the centuries. Today is not just about the Chinese language and culture; it's also about the diversity of the cultures and civilizations around the world, all of which meet here at the UN. We can’t find a better place than Geneva, or the Palais, to promote cultural exchange to protect and add to our shared cultural legacy. Now is the time for us to act.
祝愿本次联合国“中文日”活动取得圆满成功！
I wish the 2018 UN Chinese Language Day celebrations a full success.
谢谢大家！
Thank you.