欢迎大家出席我和我夫人胡平华为祝勤公使离任和陈雯公使到任举行的招待会。今天恰逢正月十五元宵节，按中国习俗要吃汤圆，寓意全家团团圆圆、和睦幸福，也寄托了对未来生活的美好愿望。今天举办这个招待会，可谓恰逢其时！ Welcome to the Chinese Embassy. It is a pleasure to have you with us to bid farewell to Minister Zhu Qin and Welcome Minister Chen Wen. Today is the Lantern Festival. According to tradition, the Chinese family would gather together on this day to have glutinous rice ball, which symbolises reunion, harmony, happiness and aspiration for a better life. I am glad that we have chosen today to host the reception, to bring friends together in a great reunion and to make best wishes for the new year. These days, I have hosted or attended many Chinese New Year celebrations and spoken on many big topics such as China-UK relations, China-UK cooperation and China-UK friendship. Today’s theme is special. It is both big and small. It is about state-to-state relations. It is also about personal friendship. In fact, the grand edifice of China-UK relations is built on every bit of efforts in every piece of work by everyone involved in this honorable endeavor. The two protagonists of today’s event, Minister Zhu Qin and Minister Chen Wen, are no doubt the witnesses, builders and contributors in this important bilateral relationship. 祝勤公使是与我共事的第五位公使，即使馆“二把手”。我们中国外交界将“二把手”称为“首席馆员”，欧美外交界称之为“副馆长”。我们更强调“二把手”的“排头兵”作用，可以说中国使馆的“首席馆员”既当头，又当兵，非常辛苦。20多年前，我也当过首席馆员，个中甘苦十分清楚。 Minister Zhu Qin is the fifth Minister whom I have worked with. He is “Number Two” at the Embassy. This position is called “deputy head of mission” in the West. In Chinese foreign service, we call them “first staff member” to emphasize their role as the “file leader”. So, the Number Two at the Chinese Embassy is both a leader and a member of staff. This is a tough job. I myself was “first staff member” more than twenty years ago, and I know all too well what a hardship post this is. 祝勤公使和陈雯公使的名字，一个叫“勤”，意思是努力奋进；一个叫“雯”，意思是美丽彩云。我认为，这两个字正好诠释了两位公使共同的优秀品质和多彩人生，也诠释了他们在中英关系这片广阔天地里的辛勤耕耘和美好收获。 Hardship builds character and promises colourful life experience. Minister Zhu’s name, Qin, means diligence. Minister Chen’s name, Wen, means beautiful, bright clouds. Their names are the perfect interpretation of their fine character and colourful career, of their hard work cultivating China-UK relations and of the bountiful harvests they have reaped. 首先，他们都与英国有着不解之缘。祝勤公使和陈雯公使都出生在上个世纪70年代初，跟中英建立大使级外交关系的“年岁”相仿。在外交生涯初期，他们都曾经在中国驻英国使馆工作，陈雯公使还在伦敦政治经济学院求学，英伦岁月的滋养和历练见证了他们的成长和成熟。迄今为止，他们至少三分之一的职业生涯都与中英关系有关，时间铭刻下他们对英国人民的美好情谊。 Both Minister Zhu Qin and Minister Chen Wen have a close bond with the UK. They were both born in early 1970s, around the time when China and the UK established ambassadorial diplomatic relationship. In the early years of their diplomatic career, they both worked here in this Embassy. Minister Chen Wen studied in London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The time they spent and the experience they gained in Britain helped them grow to be seasoned diplomats. As of today, they have devoted at least one third of their diplomatic career to China-UK relations. Their friendship with the people here in this country has become closer as time passes. 第二，他们都始终致力于推进中英关系。今年是中英建立代办级外交关系65周年。65年来，中英关系取得的每一项进展、每一点成绩，都凝聚着两国各界人士的辛勤汗水，也与一代代中国外交人员的努力耕耘是分不开的。应该说，两位公使都为推进中英关系做出了贡献。虽然他们今后将处于不同岗位，但相信他们仍将直接或间接地为中英关系的大厦添砖加瓦。 Both Minister Zhu Qin and Minister Chen Wen have been committed to advancing China-UK relations. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-UK diplomatic relationship at the level of chargé d’affaires. The progress and achievements of China-UK relations in the past 65 years are attributable to the painstaking efforts of people from all walks of life in both our two countries, not least the generations of Chinese diplomats. Our two ministers have played their part in advancing this relationship. They will soon take up different positions, but I am sure they will continue to make direct or indirect contribution to China-UK relations. 第三，他们都是值得信赖的好朋友。祝勤公使与我共事两年多，他勤奋、严谨的工作作风不仅给我，也一定给英国朋友和使馆同事留下深刻的印象。陈雯公使在我上任时担任外交部欧洲司英国处处长，九年上了四个台阶，其中的艰辛和付出毋庸细说。今天，我要跟大家分享一下他们工作之外的另一面。祝勤公使和陈雯公使都是豁达开朗、真诚友善、幽默风趣的好朋友、好伙伴。在驻英使馆春节联欢会上，他们演出的小品总能获得最热烈的掌声和最欢乐的笑声。他们还分别是2018年度驻英使馆羽毛球比赛的男双和混双冠军。 Both Minister Zhu Qin and Minister Chen Wen are trustworthy friends. Minister Zhu Qin and I have spent two and a half years working together. His diligence and his rigorous attitude have impressed not only me but also many British friends and his colleagues at the Embassy. Minister Chen Wen was head of the British Division in the Department of European Affairs of China’s Foreign Ministry when I came to London as Chinese Ambassador. In just nine years, she made four steps upward in her career. One can imagine the hard efforts that she has made. Today let me share with you the other side of the two ministers. Both Minister Zhu Qin and Minister Chen Wen are good friends and good team workers. They are broad-minded, open, kind and sincere. Both have a good sense of humor. They are super stars at the Embassy’s Chinese New Year Gala. Their appearance in a cameo always wins the loudest laughter and applause. Moreover, they are 2018 champions in men’s doubles and mixed doubles respectively in the badminton competition of the Embassy. 习近平主席在新年贺词中说，“我们都在努力奔跑，我们都是追梦人”。推动中英关系“黄金时代”持续健康发展是我们共同的梦想。此时此刻，站在中英建立代办级外交关系65周年这个新起点上，让我们以梦为马、不负韶华！ President Xi Jinping said in his New Year message, “We are running at full speed towards the realisation of our dreams.” Sound and sustained development of the China-UK “Golden Era” is our common dream. As we celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-UK diplomatic relationship at the level of chargé d’affaires, we are standing at a new starting point. Let’s seize the moment and let our dreams drive us forward. Let’s give our best wishes to Minister Zhu Qin. I am sure that “nothing, not even mountains and oceans, can separate people who have common goals and vision”. Let’s also give our sincere wishes to Minister Chen Wen. I hope that “by ascending another storey, you will enjoy a grander sight.” In conclusion, may I send my best wishes to everyone present here tonight. I wish you and your family a happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Pig!