文化的力量
The Power of Culture
驻马耳他大使姜江在马耳他大学“中国之夜”活动上的讲话
Remarks by Ambassador Jiang Jiang at “Encounters with China” at the University of Malta
2019年7月26日
26 July 2019
各位朋友：
Dear Friends,
晚上好！非常高兴出席此次以中国文化为主题的“中国之夜”活动。
Good evening. What a delight to join you at “Encounters with China”.
文化是一个民族的“根”和“魂”，了解一个国家首先就要从了解她的文化开始。中华文明绵延几千年，中华文化博大精深，要在短时间内帮助大家准确了解这样一个宏大的命题，我个人认为要把握三个关键词：
For a nation, culture is often seen as its “root”, its “soul”. To know a country, one starts with its culture. Tonight’s event features the Chinese culture, one nurtured by the millennia-long Chinese civilization. To have a good grasp of this topic, broad and deep, I suggest that we focus on the following three key words:
第一个关键词是“和平”。中国有句古话，以力假仁者霸，以德行仁者王。纵观中华民族发展史，以和为贵、协和万邦始终是我们的处事理念和价值追求，和平一直深深地刻入中国人民的血脉基因。明朝时期，著名航海家郑和率领当时世界上最强大的船队七下西洋，远涉亚非30多个国家和地区，带去了茶叶、瓷器、丝绸、工艺，却没有侵占别国一寸土地。近代以来，中国饱受西方列强的侵略和凌辱，战争的苦难给我们留下了刻骨铭心的记忆，因此更加懂得和平的可贵。
The first word is “peace”. The pursuit of peace among all nations has been a philosophy guiding the conduct of the Chinese people throughout China’s history. Some 600 hundred years ago in China’s Ming Dynasty, Chinese navigator Zheng He led the most sophisticated fleet of vessels on seven voyages, covering over 30 countries and regions in Asia and Africa. He and his men brought the locals Chinese tea, porcelain, silk and handicraft, and yet occupied not a single inch of others’ land. In modern times, China suffered the invasion and humiliation of foreign powers. The scarring memories from the scourge of war made the Chinese better appreciate the value of peace.
今天的中国坚定做世界和平的建设者，积极履行国际义务，是联合国安理会常任理事国中派遣维和人员最多的国家。我们奉行独立自主的和平外交政策，坚定不移走和平发展道路。我们不把自己的意志强加于人，不干涉别国内政，也不允许其他国家干涉中国内政。中国无论发展到什么程度，永远不称霸，永远不搞扩张，将始终是维护世界和平的坚定力量。
Today’s China is a staunch upholder of world peace, an active player in fulfilling international obligations, and the largest troop contributor to UN peace-keeping missions among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. China follows an independent foreign policy of peace, and keeps to the path of peaceful development. China does not impose its own will upon others or interfere in others’ internal affairs, and likewise we do not allow others to meddle in our domestic affairs. China seeks no hegemony or expansion, whenever and wherever. Instead, China will remain a staunch force for global peace.
第二个关键词是“和谐”。和谐体现在人与自然的共生关系。中华民族向来尊重自然、热爱自然，强调要把天地人统一起来、把自然生态同人类文明联系起来，按照大自然规律活动，取之有时，用之有度。今天，我们大力探索绿色低碳发展道路，构建生态文明，同时深度参与全球环境治理，推动落实《巴黎协定》，积极应对气候变化，推动实现全球可持续发展。
The second keyword is “harmony”. Harmony is first about the way man lives with nature. The Chinese nation has the tradition of respecting and loving nature, pursuing the unity of man and nature, of human society and the eco-environment. The Chinese people believe that humankind should follow the law of nature and be moderate and measured in their use of what the nature offers. Today, China is exploring a path to green, low-carbon development to enhance ecological conservation. China is also deeply involved in global environmental governance, pushing for the implementation of the Paris Agreement, tackling climate change and promoting global sustainable development.
和谐还体现在国与国之间的相处之道。国家之间要相互尊重、求同存异、合作互助、和谐相处。面对逆全球化和保护主义、单边主义抬头，中国坚定维护多边贸易体制，在联合国、世界贸易组织、二十国集团、亚太经合组织等多边框架内与各国深化合作，为全球发展不断注入正能量。我们反对以本国利益优先为由损害他国利益，不认同“修昔底德陷阱”。我们相信和谐才能共处，合作才能共赢，通过与世界各国共建“一带一路”，捍卫多边主义、国际规则和自由贸易，推动构建人类命运共同体。
Harmony is also about the way countries engage and interact. Mutual respect and mutual support, seeking common ground while reserving differences – this is the right way to go for countries to live with each other. In face of rising unilateralism and protectionism, China remains firm in upholding multilateralism, and deepening cooperation with other countries at the UN, the WTO, the G20, APEC and other multilateral frameworks to inject positive energy into global development. We oppose advancing one’s own interest at the expense of others’. We do not think the Thucydides trap is destined to happen. We believe in living in harmony and seeking win-win through cooperation. By developing the Belt and Road with partner countries, China is safeguarding multilateralism, international rules and free trade in an effort to promote the building of a global community with a shared future.
第三个关键词是“包容”。中华文明兼收并蓄，不以冲突排除异己，而是通过包容实现共存。中国是一个多民族国家，56个民族均有各自独特的文化。秉持包容理念，各民族人民相互依存，团结友爱，是相亲相爱的一家人。维吾尔族的歌舞、藏族的民俗、蒙古族的美食……都是中华文化的宝贵组成部分。中国还是一个多宗教的国家，各宗教之间互不排斥，相互尊重，和睦共处，共同为祖国繁荣发展贡献力量。
The third keyword is “inclusivenesss”. The Chinese civilization is known for being open and inclusive. Rather than keeping people who differ out with use of force, China seeks co-existence in inclusiveness. China is home to 56 ethnic groups, each of which has its unique culture. People of the 56 ethnic groups are like members of one big family, living side by side in unity, amity and harmony. The songs and dances of the Uygurs, the folk customs of the Tibetans, the fine cuisine of the Mongolians, to name but a few, are all valuable components of the Chinese culture. China is also a multi-religious country where people of different religious belief live side by side in mutual respect and harmony, jointly contributing to the progress and prosperity of the motherland.
我们相信，世界上不同文化、不同文明之间也要坚持开放包容、互学互鉴。改革开放以来，中国积极融入世界，吸取其他文明的先进经验，也为世界文明之间交流互鉴作出贡献。以马耳他为例，中马两国在文化领域一直有着良好交流与对话。马耳他中国文化中心是欧洲第一家中国文化中心，马大孔子学院到今年已有10年的历史，地中海地区中医中心、马耳他大学中医中心积极传播中医文化，他们都为促进中马两国人文交流和民心相通作出了积极的贡献。
We believe that between the different cultures in today’s world, there also requires an open and inclusive approach, and mutual learning. Since the launch of reform and opening-up, China has worked actively to integrate into the world, by drawing on the experience of other cultures and contributing its share to cross-cultural exchange and dialogue. Take Malta for example, China and Malta have maintained close contacts in the cultural field. The China Cultural Center is the first of its kind in Europe. The Confucius Institute at the University of Malta celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The Mediterranean Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University have alleviated the pains of numerous Maltese patients. All of these institutions have made valuable contributions to forging a closer bond between the people of our two countries.
各位朋友，
Dear Friends,
今年是新中国成立70周年。70年来，中国从一个贫困落后的国家成长为全球第二大经济体，中华民族实现了从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃，取得这些成就的根本原因，就是我们走出了一条中国特色社会主义道路，而这条道路正是植根于中国优秀传统文化。我们对我们所选择的发展道路充满信心。
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The past seven decades have seen China develop from a poor country into the world’s second largest economy, and the Chinese nation become self-reliant, get richer and grow stronger. These achievements are possible because we have found a development path suited to China’s own conditions. This is the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is a path deeply rooted in China’s traditional culture and we have strong confidence in this path.
今天到场的嘉宾不少是学生，我想再提一个中华文化的重要概念，就是推崇勤奋好学的优秀品质。希望同学们抓住机遇，用奋斗谱写青春最华美的乐章，不断成长进步，为促进中马两国人民的福祉，为世界和平与繁荣贡献自己的一份力量。
I was told many present tonight are students. So, maybe a “tip” from the Chinese culture to share with the students present: that is hard work and dedication to learning, a fine quality that can take you far in life. I hope that you will seize every opportunity, make the best of your time of youth, and play your part in serving the well-being of the people of our two countries and in promoting global peace and prosperity.
谢谢！
Thank you!