刘晓明大使致第四届中英地方领导人会议的贺辞
Message of Congratulations from Ambassador Liu Xiaoming to the fourth China-UK Regional Leaders’ Summit
2018年10月16日
16 October 2018
金秋十月，丹桂飘香。我谨代表中国驻英国大使馆，向第四届中英地方领导人会议在“北方明珠”大连召开表示热烈祝贺！
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, I would like to extend warm congratulations on the fourth China-UK Regional Leaders’ Summit convened auspiciously in the golden month of October. Let me welcome all of you to Dalian, the “pearl of Northern China”.
中英地方领导人会议机制自2016年建立以来有效运转，成果丰硕，为促进两国地方交流合作、推动中英关系发展发挥了重要作用。
Since the first gathering in 2016, China-UK regional leaders’ meetings has grown into an effective platform and produced fruitful results. It has played an important role in advancing exchanges and cooperation between local authorities as well as bilateral relations between China and the UK.
本次会议主题是“树立全球视野，共创黄金时代”，可谓恰逢其时。当今世界正处于百年未有之大变局，全球力量格局深刻调整，国际经济贸易形势复杂多变，逆全球化、单边主义、保护主义日益抬头，英国“脱欧”不确定性增大。这些因素给中英地方合作带来不少挑战。同时，我们更要看到，中英地方合作面临诸多难得机遇。中英关系“黄金时代”加速发展，双方正在更大范围、更高水平、更深层次推动互利合作。随着中国特色社会主义进入新时代，中国对外开放的步伐不断加快，对外开放的大门越开越大。在脱欧背景下，英国致力于打造“全球化英国”，加快构建全球贸易关系新网络。英国视自己为“一带一路”天然合作伙伴，中英“一带一路”合作方兴未艾。这些机遇必将助力两国地方合作开辟新空间，注入新动力，迈上新台阶。
Today, as its theme says, “Establishing a Global Vision, Creating a Golden Era”, this Summit could not have been more timely. The world is experiencing profound changes unseen in a century: deep adjustment in the international landscape, complex and volatile economic and trade situation, surging anti-globalisation, unilateralism and protectionism, and rising uncertainties in Brexit. But we must not let these severe challenges take our attention away from the opportunities for China-UK subnational cooperation. The China-UK “Golden Era” has been shifted to a higher gear, promising wider, higher and deeper cooperation that benefits both sides. As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, China has accelerated and expanded its opening up. As Britain leaves the EU, it aims to build a “global Britain” and seeks to accelerate the building of a new global network of trade relations. On the Belt and Road Initiative, the UK sees itself as a “natural partner” of China, and China-UK cooperation on the BRI is thriving. All these are opportunities that will open up new prospects and give new impetus to local government cooperation between our two countries and take it to a new level.
我衷心希望，中英两国地方领导人抓住机遇、化解挑战，以更广阔的全球视野、更积极的主动作为、更强烈的责任担当，共同打造中英地方合作“四大新亮点”：
I sincerely hope that local government leaders of our two countries will seize the opportunities and deal with the challenges. I hope, with a global perspective, with more proactive actions and with a greater sense of responsibility, you will advance China-UK subnational cooperation in the following four aspects.
一是以地方领导人会议为支撑点，用好中英战略对接新机遇。当前，中国积极实施区域协调发展战略，英国提出“英格兰北部经济中心”“英格兰中部引擎”等规划。双方可通过中英地方领导人会议和地方经贸联委会等机制，深入了解彼此发展战略，加强政策对接，为双方企业合作提供更优质的环境和更便利的条件。
First, maximise the Regional Leaders’ Summit to dovetail the development strategies of our two countries and create new opportunities of growth. China is seeking to balance domestic development between different regions. For the same purpose, the UK has proposed plans such as the “Northern Powerhouse” and the “Midlands Engine for Growth”. This Summit, together with China-UK Joint Economic and Trade Commission, provides an excellent platform for the two sides to deepen understanding of each other’s development strategies and dovetail relevant plans so as to create a better environment for business cooperation.
二是以互补优势为着眼点，拓展中英务实合作新渠道。英国是世界高科技、高附加值产业的重要研发中心，中国则拥有强大制造能力和巨大市场。双方可强强联合，进一步推进在能源、金融、创新、汽车制造、基础设施建设等领域合作，挖掘人工智能、绿色经济、共享经济等新产业、新业态合作潜力，积极探索开展第三方合作。
Second, tap the comparative strengths of China and the UK to explore new avenues of business cooperation. The UK is an important R&D centre of high-tech and high value-added industries. China has strong manufacturing capability and a huge market. The two sides could dovetail these strengths in order to advance cooperation on energy, finance, innovation, automobile manufacturing and infrastructure development. You could tap the potential of cooperation in new industries and new business models such as artificial intelligence, green economy and sharing economy. You could also explore cooperation with a third party.
三是以特色项目为着力点，开创中英互利共赢新局面。每年数十个中国省市代表团赴英举办经贸推介活动，广交会、生态文明贵阳国际论坛等也为双方合作搭建了有效平台。今年英方将派高级别代表团参加首届中国国际进口博览会、北京世界园艺博览会等活动。双方应充分用好各自优势，打造具有地方特色的旗舰项目，推动《中英科技创新合作战略》在地方层面落地，促成更多高质量、高水平的合作项目。
Third, initiate flagship projects to open up a new prospect of win-win cooperation. There are already many effective channels of cooperation between our two sides, including the China Import and Export Fair and the Eco Forum Global Guiyang. In addition, Chinese provincial- or municipal-level delegations conduct dozens of trade promotion visits to the UK every year. And this year, high-level British delegations will participate in the Beijing International Horticultural Exposition and the first-ever China International Import Expo. Local authorities should pool your strengths to build some high-quality, high-level flagship projects with local features. This could be done through implementing of the China-UK Joint Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation at the subnational level and local government leaders have a pivotal role to play.
四是以人文交流为立足点，积蓄中英友好交流新能量。地方是中英人文交流的生力军，也是两国合作成果惠及民众的最前沿。今后，双方应进一步深化创意产业、文化遗产保护、旅游和艺术节庆等合作，促进地方文化、旅游、教育交流机制化、常态化，为两国民众带来更多实实在在的福祉。
Fourth, let cultural and people-to-people exchanges give new impetus to China-UK friendship. Cultural and people-to-people exchanges are most active at the subnational level and they deliver outcomes directly to the people. Going forward, local governments of both countries should deepen cooperation on creative industry, tourism, art festivals and protection of cultural heritages, and enhance institutional and regular cultural, tourism and education exchanges between the regions of our two countries.
中英关系发展得益于两国地方和民众的支持，未来更要依靠地方、扎根地方、造福地方。中国驻英国大使馆愿继续发挥桥梁和纽带作用，不断为中英地方合作提供有力支持和全方位服务。我们将与大家携手努力，共同推动新时代中英地方合作不断迈上新台阶！
The development of China-UK relations needs the support of the local governments and people of our two countries. It will continue to rely on subnational-level cooperation and deliver benefits to local communities. The Chinese Embassy in the UK stands ready to serve as a bridge for such cooperation. We will continue to provide strong support and all-round services, and join hands with all of you to take China-UK subnational cooperation of the new era to a new level!
最后，预祝第四届中英地方领导人会议圆满成功！
In conclusion, I wish the fourth China-UK Regional Leaders’ Summit a great success!