驻马耳他大使姜江在“汉语桥”马耳他赛区预选赛上的讲话
Remarks by Ambassador Jiang Jiang at the 18th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition in Malta
2019年5月17日
17 May 2019
尊敬的各位老师，
各位同学，各位朋友：
Dear teachers and students,
Friends,
晚上好。很高兴出席第十八届“汉语桥”中文比赛马耳他赛区预选赛。去年的“汉语桥”比赛在使馆举办，同学们青春、自信的风采给使馆外交官们留下深刻印象，我也期待着今天能看到大家更加精彩的表现。
Good evening. I’m delighted to attend the 18th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition in Malta. Last year, the competition was held in the Chinese embassy and my colleagues in the embassy were deeply impressed by your youthful energy and self-confidence. I’m looking forward to your outstanding performance today.
语言是跨越时空的纽带。近年来，“汉语热”在世界各地持续升温，越来越多的马耳他朋友也加入到学习汉语的行列中。在座的同学们都是汉语爱好者、学习者，相信大家一定亲身体会到了汉语之美。汉语一个个方块字的背后，是悠久的历史积淀和深厚的文化底蕴。通过汉语学习，你可以与文人墨客畅叙幽情，也可以与圣贤之士谈古论今；你可以感受到中华文明上下5000年的薪火相传，也可以了解到新中国成立70年来的伟大成就。学好汉语，才能更好读懂中国。
Language is a bond that connects people together through time and space. In recent years, there has been growing “enthusiasm for learning the Chinese language” worldwide, and more and more Maltese friends are joining the ranks of Chinese learners as well. I believe that, as fans and devoted learners of this language, you must have discovered its beauty and the rich history and cultural heritage embodied in each Chinese character. By learning the Chinese language, you can build an emotional bond with great Chinese poets and writers or start a dialogue with Chinese sages; you get to learn about China’s five-thousand-year long civilization and its extraordinary accomplishment in the past seven decades since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. To understand China, mastering its language is the key.
“汉语桥”是中马两国人民心与心之间的沟通之桥、友谊之桥。中马两国传统友好，无论是上世纪七十年代中国在马援建干船坞、防波堤，还是后来中国文化中心、孔子学院、地中海中医中心等人文交流项目在马落地生根，都是两国人民相互支持、互学互鉴的体现。去年中马签署了共建“一带一路”合作谅解备忘录，为两国深化各领域务实合作、进一步实现民心相通勾画了蓝图。在中马关系迎来新的重大发展机遇的历史时刻，希望大家努力学好汉语，向马民众展示一个真实的中国，成为中马交流的使者，为中马友谊的传承和发扬贡献力量。
I see “Chinese Bridge” as a bridge of dialogue and exchange between the people of China and Malta, two countries that enjoy traditional friendly ties. There are many vivid examples of mutual support and mutual learning between our two countries – Dry Dock No.6 at the Grand Harbour, the breakwater near the Freeport, the China Cultural Center in Valletta, the Mediterranean Regional Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Paola, and here the Chinese medical center and Confucius Institute at the university. Last year, our two governments signed an MOU on Belt and Road cooperation, which provides a fresh blueprint for broader and deeper cooperation in people-to-people exchanges and many other fields. Today, China-Malta relations are presented with unprecedented historic opportunities for further growth. I very much hope that you will all excel in learning the Chinese language, become “ambassadors” of friendship, help present a real China to the Maltese public and further promote our time-honored relations.
此次“汉语桥”的主题是“天下一家”，这体现了中国追求和平、倡导和谐与包容的文化传统。当今世界，国际格局深刻演变，世界多极化、经济全球化、文化多样化持续发展。我相信，只有秉持“天下一家”的理念，不同文明之间交流互鉴、兼容并蓄，国与国之间相互尊重、聚同化异，才能携手构建人类命运共同体，开创世界更加美好的未来。
The topic of this year’s competition is “One World, One Family”. It echoes the traditional Chinese philosophy of pursuing harmony and peace. As the world undergoes profound changes, and multi-polarity, economic globalization and cultural diversity gain momentum, I believe that only when we see the world as one family, promote exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations and follow the principles of mutual respect and seeking common ground while settling differences between countries can we build a community with a shared future for mankind and create a brighter future for the world.
最后，祝愿同学们在比赛中取得好成绩，也祝愿今天的活动圆满成功！谢谢。
In conclusion, I wish you all excellent performance in the competition and today’s event a great success. Thank you.