China-Malta Friendship – From Strength to Strength Over 50 Years
传承中马友谊，共话历史新篇
The Chinese Ambassador to Malta Yu Dunhai Published a Signed Article
驻马耳他大使于敦海发表署名文章
2022年1月31日
31 January 2022
50 years ago today, China and Malta established diplomatic ties, which was a landmark decision that opened a brand-new chapter in China-Malta relations.
50年前的今天，中国同马耳他正式建立了外交关系，掀开两国关系的新篇章。
Recently, I read a book of the former Maltese Ambassador to China Mr Clifford Borg-Marks. He wrote that China made an enormous effort to help Malta’s economic transition after the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1972, by helping Malta build a dry dock with a capacity of 300,000 tons, which provided essential and timely support for Malta.
近日，在读马耳他前驻华大使克俚福先生口述回忆录时，我对两国老一辈领导人做出的这一富有战略远见的决定有了更深刻的理解。克俚福大使在书中写到：1972年中马两国建交，中国在马耳他实现经济转型过程中帮了很大的忙，中国援建的30万吨干船坞是对马耳他的雪中送碳。
What’s more, he later found out that back then, China was in fact building this large and technically demanding dry dock for Malta even before building one in China itself. The dry dock has since become widely known in Malta and been fondly referred to as “Red China Dock”.
后来到了中国他才知道，即使在当时的中国也没有这么大规模和高技术的干船坞。这段往事在马耳他几乎家喻户晓，当地民众亲切地称之为“红色中国船坞”。
It stands as a testimony to the friendship between the two and to a long-standing tradition of China’s diplomacy-China would always be there when a friend needs help, without reservation, self-interest or strings attached.
干船坞是中马友谊的历史见证，也是中国外交的生动写照：在朋友需要帮助的时候，中国从来毫无保留，没有任何私利，不附加任何条件。
Following the establishment of diplomatic ties, Malta was also able to build a breakwater and factories for glass, textile, etc. with Chinese assistance, which helped grow the economy and generate jobs. Back in those days, despite difficulties in long-distance travel and communication, over a thousand Chinese engineers and technicians set out on a journey for a foreign land thousands of miles away to help it thrive. How commendable was their devotion and selflessness! Two Chinese engineers, Xu Huizhong and Gu Yanzhao, gave their lives to the construction of the dry dock and were laid to rest in Malta. To this day, their touching story continues to inspire people who are committed to China-Malta friendship.
建交后，中国还援助马耳他建造了防波堤、玻璃厂、纺织厂、糖厂等一批民生项目，在促进马经济发展、解决就业等问题上发挥了关键作用。在那个交通通信不便的年代，上千名中国工程技术人员告别故土，远渡重洋，来到马耳他开展援助合作，这是一种怎样的精神和情怀？！中国工程师徐会仲、谷岩昭在干船坞建设中献出了宝贵的生命并长眠于马耳他，他们的奉献精神至今仍感染着无数致力于中马友好的人士。
Over half a century, this friendship has gone from strength to strength and continues to renew its vigor.
半个世纪过去了，中马友谊穿越历史的长河，历久弥新，不断焕发出新的蓬勃生机。
On 10 January, Chinese President Xi Jinping said to President George Vella over their phone conversation that China and Malta are close and time-tested friends. Fifty years on, the bilateral relationship has moved steadily forward no matter how the international landscape changed and served as a shining example of relations between countries different in size, social system, history and culture.
1月10日，中国国家主席习近平在同马耳他总统维拉通话时指出，中马是经得起时间考验的老朋友、好朋友。50年来，无论国际风云如何变化，中马关系始终健康稳定发展，成为不同大小、不同社会制度、不同历史文化国家关系的典范。
Indeed, China and Malta have always respected and trusted each other politically. Our two countries respect each other’s development paths and have given each other understanding and support on issues concerning our respective core interests and major concerns.
50年弹指一挥间。中马两国始终在政治上互尊互信，相互尊重各自选择的发展道路，在涉及彼此核心利益和重大关切问题上相互理解支持。
Economically, both countries are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation. Malta is one of the first European countries to join the Belt and Road Initiative. Bilateral trade last year rose by 56.9 percent despite the impact of Covid-19.
双方在经济上互惠互利，马耳他是最早加入共建“一带一路”的欧洲国家之一。根据中国海关发布的数据，去年中马克服疫情影响，双边贸易额逆势增长56.9%。
Culturally, our two countries have long engaged in close exchanges and mutual learning. China Cultural Centre is the first of its kind established by China in Europe. The Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine has provided treatment service more than 200,000 times.
（马耳他商店里随处可见中国商品，而中国老百姓也能在国内喝到马耳他著名的Cisk啤酒。）双方在文化上交流互鉴，瓦莱塔的中国文化中心是中国在欧洲设立的最早的文化中心。中医中心已为当地提供累计20余万人次的诊疗服务。（坐落于桑塔露琪亚市的中式园林“静园”，由其姐妹城市苏州市姑苏区援建，亭台楼阁令人仿佛置身中国。）
Malta, meanwhile, has become increasingly familiar to the Chinese people, whose fondness for this lovely country is growing by the day. A Chinese tourist wrote in the travel log that “Malta is such a fascinating country that has so much to offer. The City of Valletta mesmerizes you anywhere you look.”
中国民众对马耳他的了解与喜爱也日益增多。一位来马旅游的游客在游记中写到：马耳他丰富而迷人，当你在瓦莱塔城中穿梭时，回眸之处，总有打动你的瞬间。
Many Chinese have caught a glimpse of Malta’s enchanting scenery and time-honored history in films and drama series such as Games of Thrones and have since made it one of their top tourist destinations.
《权力的游戏》等影视作品让许多中国民众对马耳他的美丽风光和悠久历史心生向往，相信疫情后会有更多中国游客选择来马旅游。
In a world undergoing profound changes, China and Malta are partners on the international stage sharing common goals. Both countries are committed to true multilateralism and the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law. China and Malta have supported each other in playing an even greater role in international affairs and worked together to fight Covid, tackle climate change, pursue economic recovery and deal with other global challenges. Both are committed to a sound and stable China-EU relationship.
面对世界百年未有之大变局，中马是国际舞台上志同道合的伙伴。两国始终践行真正的多边主义，共同维护以联合国为核心的国际体系和以国际法为基础的国际秩序，相互支持彼此在国际事务中发挥更大作用，携手应对疫情、气候变化、经济复苏等全球性挑战，共同推动中欧关系健康稳定发展。
The past serves as a source of guidance for the future. For the next 50 years, both China and Malta will need to respond to the trend of the times and keep bilateral relations on the right course. It is important to continue to deepen political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and grow people-to-people friendship to open up broad prospects for China-Malta relations.
追昔抚今，鉴往知来。展望下一个50年，中马两国应把握历史发展大势，坚定维护两国关系正确发展方向，继续深化政治互信，拓展互利合作，厚植人民情谊，开辟中马关系新的广阔前景，赋予中马友谊更丰富的时代内涵。
Tomorrow will begin the Chinese lunar Year of the Tiger. Tiger is a symbol of courage and strength in Chinese culture. As we look ahead to the next 50 years, I am convinced that with the concerted efforts of all sides, China-Malta relations will – as Chinese idioms put it – further thrive like “a tiger with two wings”, and bring more benefits to the people of both countries, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
今天不仅是中马建交50周年纪念日，还恰逢中国除夕，可谓“双喜临门”。今年是中国农历虎年，在中国文化中，老虎是勇气、力量的象征。在这一承前启后的重要时刻，站在下一个50年的新起点上，我坚信在各界的共同努力下，中马关系将如虎添翼，生龙活虎，为两国人民带来更多福祉，为构建人类命运共同体做出更大贡献。