捍卫和平，促进发展

Safeguard Peace and Promote Development

——驻英国大使刘晓明在建军91周年招待会上的讲话

– Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Reception Marking the 91st Anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army

2018年7月26日，驻英国使馆

Chinese Embassy, 26 July 2018

尊敬的英国皇家空军詹姆斯少将，

各位使节、各位武官、各位来宾，

女士们、先生们、朋友们：

Air Vice Marshal Warren James,

Your Excellencies,

Military Attachés,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends:

 

大家晚上好！

Good evening!

 

欢迎大家出席今晚的招待会，与我们共同庆祝中国人民解放军建军91周年。

First of all, a very warm welcome to the Chinese Embassy!

It is a great delight to have you all with us tonight to celebrate the 91st anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA).

 

近一个世纪之前，中国人民解放军诞生。这一个世纪，风云激荡，战事不断，有热战，有冷战；有局部战争，有世界大战。人类经历了正义与邪恶的搏斗、光明与黑暗的决战。历史告诉我们：和平来之不易，和平需要珍惜，和平需要捍卫。

It has been nearly a century since the founding of the PLA.

In this century, the world saw much turbulence and incessant wars. There were hot wars and cold wars, regional wars and world wars. In these arduous times, mankind fought decisive battles between justice and evil, and between light and darkness.

The lesson of history is clear:

· Peace is hard won.

· Peace needs to be valued.

· Peace must be safeguarded.

 

这一个世纪，中国人民解放军始终秉持全心全意为人民服务的宗旨，不懈奋斗，砥砺前行，从无到有，由弱变强，为中国人民赢取民族独立、为维护世界和平与安全做出了重要贡献。历史证明：

And the PLA has lived up to its mission in the past century.

· It has been devoted wholeheartedly to serving the people.

· It has forged ahead relentlessly.

· It has grown from strength to strength.

· It has made important contribution to the independence of the Chinese nation.

· It has done its very best for world peace and security.

 

——中国人民解放军是中国人民的守护者。91年来，人民解放军始终在中国共产党领导下为中国人民求解放、求幸福，为中华民族谋独立、谋复兴，历经硝烟战火，一路披荆斩棘，付出了巨大牺牲，从胜利走向胜利，成就了彪炳史册的伟大功勋。当前，中国军队正着眼新时代新目标，坚持走中国特色强军之路，为实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦提供坚强保障。

In the past 91 years, the PLA has been the protector of the Chinese people.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China,

· The PLA has always fought for the liberation and happiness of the Chinese people;

· It has always pursued independence and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation;

· In this lofty cause, the PLA has braved the flames of war, overcome immense hardships and made tremendous sacrifice.

· Its tenacity has led it to win one victory after another and make glorious marks in history.

In the new era, the PLA strives to achieve new goals, that is,

· to build a strong military with Chinese characteristics

· and to provide effective safeguard for pursuing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

 

——中国人民解放军是世界和平的捍卫者。在联合国维和行动中，中国是联合国安理会“五常”国家中派遣维和人员最多的国家，累计派出维和军事人员3.7万余人次。现在仍有2507名中国军人在世界多地执行维和任务。中国也是联合国第二大维和摊款贡献国，2017年度缴纳维和摊款6.97亿美元，占摊款总额的10.25%。中国军队迄今已派出29批92艘次舰艇、62架直升机赴亚丁湾、索马里海域执行护航任务，累计安全护送中外船舶6500余艘，其中一半为外国船舶。中国军队还积极组织和参与国际人道主义救援行动，迄今已执行30多次国际紧急人道主义物资援助任务。中国人民解放军以实际行动向世界宣告，他们是世界和平与安全的坚定捍卫者。

Looking back, we see that the PLA has been a defender of world peace.

· In UN peacekeeping missions, China is the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. The PLA has sent more than 37,000 military personnel to various peacekeeping missions. As we speak, 2,507 Chinese servicemen are on active UN duty around the world.

· China is the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget. With $697 million paid in 2017, China accounts for 10.25% of the total budget.

· At sea, the PLA has to date sent 29 fleets, including 92 naval vessels and 62 helicopters, on escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. They have altogether escorted the safe passage of over 6,500 ships from around the world, half of which are foreign ships.

· In international humanitarian operations, the PLA is also taking an active part. It has so far carried out over 30 emergency humanitarian missions.

All these speak loud and clear about the PLA’s concrete actions of defending world peace and security.

 

——中国人民解放军是新安全观的践行者。当今世界正处于大发展大变革大调整时期，和平与发展仍是时代的主题。但与此同时，保护主义、单边主义沉渣泛起，强权政治、霸权主义阴魂不散，地区冲突、局部战争持续不断，恐怖主义、跨国犯罪、传染性疾病、气候变化、难民危机等非传统安全威胁日益上升，世界和平稳定面临严峻挑战。中国主张打破冷战思维、不搞集团对抗，反对以牺牲别国安全换取自身绝对安全的做法，倡导共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观，为应对各类全球性挑战做出重要贡献。

Looking back, we also see that the PLA has been an implementer of the new security concept.

The world is undergoing profound changes and transformations. Peace and development remain the theme of our times.

But at the same time, world peace and stability face severe challenges from

· surging protectionism and unilateralism,

· lingering hegemonism and power politics,

· chronic regional wars and conflicts,

· and rising non-traditional threats such as terrorism, transnational crime, epidemics, climate change and refugee crisis.

To address these challenges, countries must renounce the cold-war mentality, reject confrontation between blocs of countries and work together. We must come to the conclusion that in this new era, there is no place for absolute security of oneself at the expense of others’ security.

China champions common, comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable security. In line with this new security concept, China is determined to make important contribution to addressing global challenges.

 

女士们、先生们，

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

2015年，习近平主席对英国的国事访问开启了中英关系“黄金时代”。今年初，梅首相成功访华，两国领导人一致同意增强中英关系“黄金时代”的战略性、务实性、全球性和包容性。中英两军关系是两国关系的重要组成部分，近年来，中英两军交流与合作空前活跃。仅近1个月，中国空军上将于忠福率团成功访英并出席英国空军成立100周年活动；英国第一海务大臣菲利普·琼斯上将顺利访华；第六次中英防务战略磋商成功举行。去年，中国海军护航编队首访伦敦。英国皇家空军“红箭”表演队首次亮相珠海航展，两军还成功开展联合撤侨室内推演，并在联合国维和行动以及反恐、反海盗、人员培训等领域开展了卓有成效的合作。

President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK in 2015 ushered in the China-UK “Golden Era”. At the beginning of this year, Prime Minister May paid a successful visit to China, during which the leaders of our two countries agreed to build a more strategic, practical, global and inclusive bilateral relationship.

Military-to-military relationship is an important part of China-UK relationship. In recent years, our two militaries have seen more active exchanges and cooperation than ever.

In the recent month alone,

· General Yu Zhongfu of the PLA Air Force led a delegation to the UK and attended the events marking the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force;

· The First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones paid a successful visit to China;

· And the sixth China-UK Defence Strategic Consultation was successfully held.

Last year,

· The Chinese Navy Escort Taskforce paid its first visit to London.

· The Red Arrows performed at the Airshow China in Zhuhai for the first time.

· The two militaries held a successful joint evacuation tabletop exercise.

· And they have engaged in effective cooperation on UN peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, anti-piracy and personnel training.

 

女士们、先生们，

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

习近平主席说，要“树立正确的历史观”。他告诫我们应端起历史的望远镜回顾过去，总结历史规律，把握历史大势。上个世纪，世界经历了火与血的考验、战与和的洗礼。进入21世纪，我们应以史为鉴，更好地维护世界和平，促进世界发展。为此，我衷心希望，中英两国、两军能把握世界和平大势，着眼世界发展大局，一起走好“三条路”：

President Xi Jinping said that we should have the right historical perspective. What he means is that we should review the past, draw lessons from history and grasp the historical trend.

In the last century, the world went through tests of fire and blood, endured wars and enjoyed peace. In the 21st century, it is important that we draw lessons from history and do our utmost to safeguard world peace and promote development.

I sincerely hope that China and the UK, and the militaries of our two countries will keep in mind the big picture of world peace and development.

 

一是走好增进互信之路。互信是合作的基础。中英历史文化、社会制度不同，但两国都倡导多边主义，反对单边主义；都支持自由贸易，反对保护主义；都主张维护联合国权威，维护以规则为基础的国际秩序。双方应在相互尊重和平等相待基础上，加强对话，增进互信，深化合作。

First, we should enhance mutual trust.

Mutual trust is the basis of cooperation. China and the UK differ in history, culture and social system.

· But both our countries champion multilateralism and oppose unilateralism.

· Both support free trade and stand against protectionism.

· And both uphold the authority of the UN and the rule-based international order.

Our two countries have every reason to enhance dialogue, build mutual trust and deepen cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

 

二是走好扩大合作之路。双方应抓住“黄金时代”的机遇，进一步拓展交流与合作的广度、深度、高度和频度，共同应对各类全球性安全与发展挑战，提升中英关系“黄金时代”的战略性和全球性，使两国和两军关系在合作中成长，在合作中成熟，在合作中共赢。

Second, we should expand cooperation.

The China-UK “Golden Era” offers opportunities for our two sides to expand, deepen, upgrade and increase our exchanges and cooperation. This will enable us to pool our strengths in addressing the challenges to global security and development, and enhance the strategic and global significance of the China-UK “Golden Era”.

Through cooperation, the relationship between our two countries and our two militaries will grow strong and prosperous.

 

三是走好维护和平之路。中英同为联合国安理会常任理事国，都是世界上有重要影响的国家，都肩负着维护人类和平的时代重任。中英两国、两军应携手努力，积极履行国际责任和义务，珍惜和平、捍卫和平，为构建人类命运共同体，为建设持久和平、普遍安全的美好世界贡献力量！

Third, we should safeguard peace.

China and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Both are countries of global influence. Both shoulder the important mission of safeguarding peace for mankind. It is our international responsibilities and obligations to join hands, cherish peace and safeguard peace.

The world is a community with a shared future for mankind. The people of the world deserve a better future – a future of lasting peace and universal security.

Together, we can make this happen.

 

最后，我提议：

Now, may I invite you to join me in a toast:

 

为庆祝中国人民解放军建军91周年，

To the 91st anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army of China,

为中英两国和两军关系更上层楼，

To ever-growing China-UK relationship and military-to-military cooperation,

为世界的持久和平与普遍安全，

To lasting peace and universal security in the world!

 

干杯！

Cheers!