我为我的祖国骄傲

I Am Proud of My Country

 

驻马耳他大使姜江

By H.E. Jiang Jiang, Chinese Ambassador to Malta

 

2019年10月1日

October 10, 2019

 

今年是中华人民共和国成立70周年。70年前的今天，毛泽东主席向全世界庄严宣告中华人民共和国成立，由此开辟了中国历史新纪元。在这举国欢庆的日子里，作为中国驻马耳他大使，我愿与马耳他朋友们分享我的喜悦与自豪。

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. On 1st October 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed to the world the founding of the People’s Republic of China, thus ushering in a new epoch in Chinese history. This is a day of national celebration in China, and I wish to share my joy and pride with Maltese friends.

 

70年在历史长河中只是短暂的一瞬间，但过去这70年对中华民族来说却有着非凡的意义。70年来，中国人民在中国共产党领导下，戮力同心，艰苦奋斗，开拓创新，不仅彻底改变了国家的面貌，也深刻影响了世界发展进程。

Seventy years are but a fleeting moment in the long sweep of history. But for the Chinese nation, the past seven decades are momentous and extraordinary. In the past 70 years, under the leadership the Communist Party of China and through tireless and courageous efforts, the Chinese people have changed the look of their country and profoundly impacted the course of world development.

 

我为我的祖国骄傲。5000多年中华文明绵延不绝，中华民族创造了人类辉煌，也曾经历艰难岁月。70年前，在中国共产党的坚强领导下，中国人民雪洗百年耻辱，实现了民族独立和国家解放，建立了中华人民共和国。中国人民切切实实地掌握了自己的命运，中国人民从此站起来了！

I feel proud of the history of my country. China is a country with a five-thousand-year uninterrupted civilization, and the Chinese are a people that keep moving forward amid trials and tribulations. Seventy years ago in 1949, the Chinese people put an end to their century-long subjugation by foreign powers, and gained independence and liberation. They founded the People’s Republic of China, and took back control of their own destiny. The Chinese people were back on their feet, and have stood firm since.

 

我为我的祖国骄傲。70年来，中国共产党带领中国人民在一穷二白的纸上绘出最新最美的画图，从经济凋敝的困境奋发成为世界第二大经济体，以爬坡过坎的奋斗开创中国特色社会主义新时代，以经济实力的显著进步、综合国力的不断增强、人民生活水平的持续改善，书写了波澜壮阔的中国故事。

I feel proud of the achievements of my country. In just seven decades, China has lifted itself out of poverty, and grown into the second largest economy in the world. The Chinese people have ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, facing down daunting challenges and severe difficulties. The Chinese story is a story about significant economic growth, rising national strength and improving lives of its people.

中国国家统计局最新发布的报告显示，2018年中国国内生产总值比1952年增长175倍，年均增长8.1%；中国人均寿命从1949年建国时的35岁提高为2018年的77岁；1949年全国人口4.5亿，文盲率高达80%，去年全国人口13.6亿，文盲率下降至6.7%，是发展中人口大国里唯一同时实现“文盲人口减半”和“贫困人口减半”的国家，并将在明年全部实现脱贫目标，中国人民从此将告别贫穷。

A recent study shows that China’s GDP in 2018 was 175 times that of 1952, representing an average annual growth rate of 8.1 percent. In 1949, China’s average life expectancy was 35 years. In 2018, the figure was 77 years. In 1949, illiteracy rate among a population of 450 million was 80 percent. Last year, illiteracy rate among a population of 1.36 billion was 6.7 percent. China is the only major developing country which has attained both goals of halving the illiterate population and halving the number of people in poverty. We have set the target of lifting all the remaining poor population out of poverty within next year. By that time, the Chinese people will have eliminated poverty in their country once and for all.

 

我为我的祖国骄傲。在中国共产党领导下，中国发展不仅使本国人民过上好日子，也为世界和平与发展作出积极贡献。目前，中国是世界第一大货物贸易国和第二大服务贸易国，是130多个国家和地区的最大贸易伙伴和最大出口市场，近些年对世界经济增长贡献率均超过30%，已成为世界经济增长的主要引擎。中国积极承担国际责任，是联合国会费和联合国维和行动经费第二大出资国，是安理会五常中派出维和人员最多的国家。中国积极参与全球反恐、打击海盗、维护国际海上通道安全，支持《巴黎协定》，积极应对气候变化等国际合作；中国积极推动朝核、伊核、中东、叙利亚、阿富汗等国际和地区热点问题的解决，为维护世界和平作出重要贡献。中国积极参与全球治理规则制定，坚定维护以联合国为核心、以国际法为基础的国际体系，维护以世界贸易组织为核心、以规则为基础的多边贸易体制，是多边主义和自由贸易的倡导者和建设者。

I feel proud of the contributions my country has made to the world. Today’s China is the world’s largest trader in goods, the second largest trader in services, and the biggest trading partner of more than 130 countries and regions. Recent years have seen China become a major engine driving the world economy, contributing some 30 percent to global growth each year. China has actively fulfilled its international responsibilities. We are the second largest contributor both to UN regular budget and its peacekeeping budget. And among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, we are the largest troop contributing country to UN peacekeeping operations. China has played an active part in the global effort of fighting terrorism, combating piracy and safeguarding international maritime routes. China supports the Paris Agreement and is an active participant in the international cooperation on tackling climate change. China has been working for peaceful settlement of regional and international hotspot issues, concerning the Korean Peninsula, Iran, the Middle East, Syria and Afghanistan. China has been actively involved in the making of global governance rules. China is firm in upholding the international system with the United Nations at the core and governed by international law. China is firm in upholding the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at it center. And China is a strong advocate of multilateralism and free trade.

 

中国坚定不移推进改革开放。自2013年习近平主席提出共建“一带一路”合作倡议，迄今已得到包括马耳他在内的160多个国家和国际组织的支持与参与，一大批有影响的标志性项目在沿线国家成功落地。这些合作项目为促进当地投资和消费，创造需求和就业，增进各国人民的人文交流和文明互鉴，造福当地民众生活作出积极贡献。我们愿同国际社会一道努力，构建人类命运共同体，建设持久和平、普遍安全、共同繁荣、开放包容、清洁美丽的世界。

China is committed to reform and opening-up. Since President Xi Jinping put forward the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, more than 160 countries, including Malta, and international organizations have participated in this initiative. A great number of signature projects have been launched in the partner countries. These projects have played an important role in boosting local investment and consumption, creating demand and employment, enhancing people-to-people exchanges and raising people’s living standards. China stands ready to work with all other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity.

 

中国奉行独立自主的和平外交政策，坚持国家不分大小、强弱、贫富一律平等，尊重各国人民自主选择的发展道路。中马关系就是这一原则的最好诠释和典范。建交以来，尤其是近年来，在两国领导人的指引下，中马高层和各领域交往密切，全方位务实合作取得积极进展。去年穆斯卡特总理赴华出席首届中国国际进口博览会，双方签署共建“一带一路”合作谅解备忘录，为两国进一步拓展深化各领域合作勾画了蓝图。目前两国正努力推进相关合作取得更丰硕成果，为两国人民带来更多实实在在的好处。

China follows an independent foreign policy of peace. We believe that all countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. All countries have the right to choose their own development path, and all countries should respect each other. These principles have underpinned China’s relations with Malta and other countries. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, and in recent years in particular, China and Malta have maintained close contacts at various levels, and our practical cooperation has made significant progress across the board. Last year, the Hon. Prime Minister Muscat attended the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai. The two governments signed a memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road cooperation on that occasion, mapping out a new blueprint for our cooperation in the new era. The two sides are now working together to make our Belt and Road cooperation even more productive and deliver more tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

 

展望未来，我对我的祖国发展前景满怀憧憬和信心。我也坚信，无论国际风云如何变幻，中马友好合作都将不断向前迈进。

Looking ahead, there is so much that our two countries can do together. I am deeply convinced, through my experience in this lovely country over the past three years, that no matter how the international landscape may change, China-Malta friendly cooperation will continue to grow and reach even greater heights.