驻奥克兰总领事许尔文在中新旅游年招待会上的致辞

Remarks by Consul General Xu Erwen at the Reception in Celebration of 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism

 

2019年3月30日

30 March 2019, Consul General’s Residence

 

尊敬的雒树刚部长，

霍建强、杨健国会议员，

珍妮·莎托克市长，

万敏董事长，

女士们，先生们，

Hon. Minister Luo Shugang,

Respected Members of Parliament Raymond Huo and Jian Yang,

Her Worship Mayor from South Waikato Jenny Shattock,

Hon. President Wan Min,

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

晚上好！今天上午，中国文化和旅游部雒树刚部长和新西兰旅游部戴维斯部长在惠灵顿共同主持了中国——新西兰旅游年开幕式。今天下午，雒部长一行抵达奥克兰。今晚，我很高兴也很荣幸举办招待会庆祝中新旅游年开幕，欢迎雒树刚部长到访。首先，我对雒部长、中国旅游集团万敏董事长和其他中方代表团成员远道而来出席中新旅游年开幕式表示热烈欢迎！也谨代表中国驻奥克兰总领馆对各位嘉宾和朋友长期以来支持中新关系和两国旅游合作表示衷心感谢！

Good evening! This morning, Mr. Luo Shugang, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, and Mr. Kelvin Davis, Minister of Tourism of New Zealand, co-hosted the opening of 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism. This afternoon, Minister Luo and his delegation arrived in Auckland. Tonight, it’s my great honor and pleasure to host this reception in celebration of 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism and in honor of Minister Luo and his delegation. At the outset, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to Minister Luo, Mr. Wan Min, President of China Travel Service and all other delegation members, who have come a long way to NZ for the opening of China-New Zealand Tourism Year. I would also like to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Auckland, our warmest welcome and heartfelt thanks to all the distinguished guests, and friends present here today, for your great support to China-NZ relations and tourism cooperation.

 

本月正值2017年3月中国总理李克强访新期间两国领导人宣布2019举办中新旅游年两周年。旅游对中新双边关系至关重要，也是两国共建 “21世纪海上丝绸之路”的重要内容。旅游已成为增进两国人民之间相互了解和友谊的重要桥梁和其他领域开展务实合作的催化剂。目前，中国是新西兰第二大海外游客来源国，我相信不久的将来，中国会变成新最大的海外游客来源国。

This month happens to be the second anniversary since our two countries jointly announced 2019 as China-NZ Year of Tourism, when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang paid his successful visit to NZ in March 2017. Tourism is essential to our overall bilateral relationship and a very important content of building the 21st Maritime silk road between China and NZ. It has become an increasingly important bridge for enhancing mutual understanding and friendship, and a catalyst for pragmatic cooperation in other areas between our two peoples. Now, China is NZ’s second largest tourist resource country, and I am confident that it will surely become the first in the years to come.

 

航线的开通和运力的提高，反映并促进了中新双方游客的快速增长。自我2015年底就任中国驻奥克兰总领事以来，许多中国主要城市开通了和奥克兰之间直航航线，如北京、香港、深圳、天津、重庆、成都，西安也即将开通直航，现在旺季时每周超过160个直飞航班。互联互通的快速发展，不仅便利了人员往来，也促进了经贸、金融、基础设施、文教等领域的合作，为当地市场创造了大量就业机会。中新快速增长的航线将有可能使新西兰成为从中国乃至其他东亚国家到南美和世界其他地方的航运枢纽。

The increase in airline connectivity and capacity reflects and contributes to the fast growing Chinese visitors to NZ. After I assumed office as the Chinese Consul General in Auckland at the end of 2015, many new direct flights have been opened between Auckland and China’s major cities, such as Beijing, HK, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Chongqing, and very soon Xi’an will also launch its direct flight with Auckland, with around 160 nonstop flights back and forth per week in peak season. The rapid development of connectivity has facilitated not only the exchanges of people but also cooperation of economy, trade, finance, infrastructure, culture, education and others, bringing lots of job opportunities to the local market. The fast growing air routes between China and NZ will enable NZ to be the transportation transit hub from China and other east Asian countries to South America and other places of the world.

 

中新关系健康稳定发展不仅造福两国和两国人民，也有利于亚太和全世界。新西兰总理杰辛达·阿德恩即将对中国进行首次正式访问。新西兰基础设施委员会的大型代表团刚刚结束了其史上首次富有成果的访华之旅。下个月，新西兰贸易部长大卫·帕克也将率重要代表团出席在北京举行的第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛。我相信，中新旅游年将是机遇之年、友谊之年、合作之年。

The healthy and steady development of China-New Zealand relations not only benefits the two countries and peoples, but also is in the interest of Asia-Pacific region and even the whole world. I am very pleased to see that NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is on her way for her first official visit to China. A well-represented large delegation led by Infrastructure NZ has just concluded their fruitful visit to China, which was the first in the history. Next month, NZ Trade Minister David Parker will lead a delegation to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. In viewing of all these above, I am fully confident that China-NZ Tourism Year will be a year of opportunities, a year for friendship, and a year for cooperation.

 

我衷心希望双方以中新旅游年为契机，实现旅游发展目标，筑牢伙伴关系，深化互利合作，为两国和两国人民创造更加光明和美好的未来。我希望新西兰为中国游客提供更多便利，出台优惠政策，吸引中国投资者参与新西兰旅游相关产业和基础设施建设合作。

It is my sincere hope that both sides will grasp the good opportunity of the China-NZ Year of Tourism to achieve tourism objectives, build stronger partnership, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and create a better and brighter future for our two countries and two peoples. And it is hoped that NZ will provide more convenience to Chinese tourists and favorable policy to attract Chinese investors to partner with NZ tourist related industries and infrastructure.

 

最后，预祝中新旅游年取得圆满成功！祝大家度过一个愉快的夜晚！

Finally, I wish China-New Zealand Tourism Year a resounding success. I wish everyone a great time tonight!

 

谢谢！

Thank you.