Serve with Sincerity All the Way Through

--Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Farewell Reception for Ambassador Liu Xiaoming and Madam Hu Pinghua

Chinese Embassy in the UK, 25 January 2021

精诚如一，善始令终

——驻英国大使刘晓明在离任招待会上的致辞

2021年1月25日，中国驻英国大使馆

Director General Bates,

My Lords and MPs,

Ambassadors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends:

尊敬的英国外交发展部总司长贝茨女士，

尊敬的各位议员，

尊敬的各位使节，

女士们、先生们、朋友们：

Good morning!

大家上午好！

Thank you for joining me and my wife Hu Pinghua at our Farewell Reception online.

感谢大家出席我和夫人胡平华女士的线上离任招待会。

In December 2009, I was appointed New China's eleventh Ambassador to the UK.

2009年12月，我被任命为新中国第11任驻英国大使。

In February 2010, I arrived in London to take up my post.

2010年2月，我抵英履职。

Now I have been working and living in the UK for eleven years. This is the longest and last tour of my diplomatic career of 47 years.

在英工作生活的11年，是我47年外交生涯中驻外时间最长的一次，也是最后一次。

It has been an honour to be the longest-serving Chinese Ambassador both in the history of China-UK relations and of all Chinese ambassadors of all time. I will cherish the memory deeply for the rest of my life.

我有幸成为中英关系史上任期最长的中国驻英使节和中国历史上任职时间最长的驻外大使。我对此深感荣幸，也备感珍惜。

These eleven years have seen tremendous changes in both China and the world. As President Xi said, the world is experiencing profound changes unseen in a century.

这11年是中国和世界发生巨大变化的11年。正如主席所说，世界正经历百年未有之大变局。

In these eleven years, I have witnessed historic leaps in China's development, a new era for socialism with Chinese characteristics, historic changes in the relations between China and the rest of the world, and the ups and downs, and twists and turns in China-UK relations.

11年来，我见证了中国发展实现历史性跨越、中国特色社会主义进入新时代，见证了中国与世界的关系发生历史性变化，也见证了中英关系历经波澜起伏。

Here in the UK, I have witnessed four general elections and two referendums. I have observed the entire process of the UK leaving the EU and embarking on the journey of building a "global Britain". And I have had the honour of working with, among others, four Prime Ministers and six Foreign Secretaries.kouyi.org

11年来，我经历英国4次大选、2次公投，目睹了英国脱欧全过程和“全球化英国”再启程，有幸与英国4任首相和6任外交大臣共事。

I have been to all corners of the UK, from Yell of Shetland Islands in the north to the Channel Islands in the south, from England to Scotland, from Northern Ireland to Wales, and from the Crown dependencies to overseas territories. I have worked with people from all walks of life in this country to advance China-UK cooperation across the board. Altogether I have made over 700 speeches, contributed more than 170 articles to mainstream newspapers and had over 170 interviews with mainstream media.

我遍访英国各地，北至最北端的设得兰群岛的耶尔岛，南至英吉利海峡诸岛，从英格兰到苏格兰，从北爱尔兰到威尔士，从皇家属地到海外领地，我广泛接触英国各界人士，积极推进中英各领域合作，发表演讲700余场，在主流报刊撰文170多篇，接受主流媒体采访170多次。

As President Xi said, if you never forget why you started, you can accomplish your mission.

主席说，“不忘初心，方得始终”。

At an interview with the British magazine Diplomat eleven years ago upon arrival, I used the acronym "IDEA" to summarize my missions as Chinese Ambassador to the UK:

11年前，我在履新后不久接受英国《外交官》杂志采访时，曾用“IDEA”一词来概括自己作为驻英大使的使命：

I is for "interests": I will work to expand the common interests of China and the UK;

“I”代表利益（interests），即扩大中英共同利益；

D is for "dialogue": I will promote dialogue, which is always better than confrontation;

“D”代表对话（dialogue），即对话永远好于对抗；

E is for "exploration": I will provide facilitation for our two sides to explore new areas for cooperation;

“E”代表探索（exploration），即探索合作新领域；

And A is for "accommodation": I will highlight the principles of mutual respect, understanding and accommodation in our bilateral relations.

“A”代表互谅(accommodation)，即相互尊重、互谅互让。

For the past eleven years, I have kept these missions in mind and worked tirelessly with people from all sectors in the UK to bring China-UK relations forward.

11年来，我始终牢记使命，锐意进取，与英国各界人士一道推动中英关系不断向前发展。

First, our common interests have grown. The pie is getting bigger and bigger.

第一，中英共同利益的蛋糕越做越大。

In the past eleven years, China-UK trade in goods almost doubled, with British export to China increasing by about 20 times, making China the third largest market for British export of goods.kouyi.org

Chinese investment in the UK has surged by about 20 times. The UK is now the second largest destination in Europe for Chinese investment. Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant has been the largest investment from China in Europe and become a flagship project of China-UK cooperation.

11年来，中英货物贸易额将近翻了一番，英国对华出口增长约20倍，中国成为英国第三大货物出口市场；中国对英投资增长约20倍，英国成为中国在欧洲第二大投资目的地国，欣克利角C核电站作为中国在欧洲最大单笔投资，成为中英合作旗舰项目。

There have been many "first's" in China-UK financial cooperation. The UK was the first major Western country to issue RMB sovereign bond and to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. London also witnessed the issuance of the first Chinese RMB sovereign bond outside China. 

中英金融合作开创诸多“第一”：英国第一个发人民币主权债券，第一个申请加入亚投行，中国在伦敦发行中国境外第一笔人民币主权债券。

London is now the world's largest offshore RMB exchange centre and the second largest offshore RMB clearing centre. The total clearing volume has exceeded 50 trillion RMB yuan.

伦敦成为世界第一大人民币离岸交易中心和第二大人民币离岸清算中心，人民币清算量超过50万亿元。

The Shanghai-London Stock Connect was officially launched, connecting for the first time the Chinese capital market with a foreign one, and enabling many Chinese companies to benefit from London's world-class financial services.

“沪伦通”正式开通，多家中资企业在伦交所上市，开创中国与境外资本市场互联互通先河。

China and the UK are also committed to working together to promote the high quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative and we have signed an agreement on cooperation in third markets.kouyi.org

中英“一带一路”合作方兴未艾，双方签署第三方市场合作协议，共同致力于推进“一带一路”高质量发展。

Second, China and the UK have more dialogue mechanisms for exchanging views at the top level.

第二，中英高层对话机制更加丰富。

Leaders of our two countries have maintained communication and exchanges and this provides driving forces for the growth of China-UK relations.

两国领导人保持沟通和交往，为中英关系发展不断注入新动力。

In the past eleven years, China and the UK have held 5 sessions of the Prime Minister's Meeting, 5 sessions of the Strategic Dialogue, and 8 sessions of the Economic and Financial Dialogue. Our two sides also launched the High-level People-to-People Dialogue and the Security Dialogue.

11年来，中英举行了5次总理会晤、5次战略对话、8次经济财金对话，还开启了两国高级别人文交流机制和高级别安全对话。

The definite highlight of these exchanges was President Xi's "super state visit" to the UK in 2015. This milestone event bore historic significance, ushered in the China-UK "Golden Era", and left an indelible mark in the history of China-UK relations.

最令我记忆深刻的是，2015年主席对英进行了具有历史性、里程碑意义的“超级国事访问”，开启了中英关系“黄金时代”，在中英关系史上留下了浓墨重彩的一笔。

Third, China and the UK have explored broader areas for international coordination.

第三，中英国际协作探索广阔领域。

In face of the ever-changing international situation, China and the UK have enhanced coordination under the framework of various international organisations, such as the UN and the G20. We share growing consensus in supporting multilateralism and free trade, opposing unilateralism and protectionism and addressing global challenges such as climate change. We have also maintained communication and coordination on international and regional hotspot issues.

面对国际形势风云变幻，中英在联合国、二十国集团等国际组织框架下加强协作，在支持多边主义和自由贸易、反对单边主义和保护主义、携手应对气候变化等全球性挑战方面共识更加突出，在国际和地区热点问题上保持沟通协调。

In recent years, our two countries have worked vigorously to promote cooperation on climate response and green development. Later this year, China and the UK will host COP15 and COP26 respectively. Our two sides are working on synergy between the two conferences to make them successful so as to enhance cooperation on climate response, promote green development and take the lead in global governance on the environment.kouyi.org

近年来，中英积极推进气候变化和绿色发展合作。今年，中英将分别举办《生物多样性公约》第15次缔约方会议和《联合国气候变化框架公约》第26次缔约方会议，双方正加强沟通协调，确保两场大会相得益彰、协同增效，为推进中英气变合作、促进绿色发展、引领全球环境治理注入动力。

Fourth, China and the UK have enhanced mutual respect, trust and accommodation but daunting tasks still remain.

第四，中英互尊互信互谅任重道远。

Thanks to the concerted efforts of people from all walks of life in both countries, China and the UK have deepened mutual understanding and cemented public support for bilateral relations.

在中英各界人士共同努力下，两国相互了解和认知不断加深，民意基础逐步扩大。

In the past eleven years, annual mutual visits between our two countries have doubled, reaching two million. The number of Chinese students in the UK also doubled, reaching 220,000. The UK has become the top destination for Chinese students who want to study overseas. Fruitful results have been achieved in exchanges and cooperation in areas of culture, science and technology, and innovation. The UK was the first country to sign the Joint Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation with China.

11年来，中英年度人员往来数量翻了一番，达200万人次；在英中国留学生数量增长一倍多，达22万。英国已成为中国学生留学的首选地，两国文化、科技、创新交流合作成果丰硕，英国成为第一个与中国签署《科技创新合作战略》的国家。

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the peoples of our two countries have come to each other's aid and tackled the difficulties together. There have been numerous touching moments.

新冠肺炎疫情暴发以来，两国人民守望相助、共克时艰的友好情谊令人感动。

China and the UK differ in political system, development stage, history and culture. It is natural that we do not always see eye to eye. China-UK relationship has not always been smooth sailing in the past eleven years. But the history of China-UK relations tells us that when the principles of mutual respect and equality are followed, and when international law and the basic norms governing state-to-state relations are observed, the China-UK relationship will transcend differences and move forward along the right track.kouyi.org

诚然，中英政治制度、发展阶段、历史文化不同，在一些问题上难免存在分歧。11年来，中英关系也并非一帆风顺。但回首中英关系发展的历史，我们有理由相信，只要相互尊重、平等相待，遵守国际法和国际关系基本准则，中英关系就能超越分歧，沿着正确轨道向前发展。

At the moment, the worst pandemic in a hundred years is ravaging the world, precipitating the profound changes unseen in a century and bringing deep adjustments to the international landscape. The world is facing an important choice between cooperation and confrontation, between dialogue and division and between openness and closedness.

当前，百年变局与世纪疫情相互激荡，国际格局深刻调整，世界面临合作与对抗、对话与分裂、开放与封闭的选择。

Against such a backdrop, China and the UK, as major countries of global influence, shoulder the important mission of safeguarding world peace and development. I sincerely hope that China and the UK will see the big picture, follow the megatrend and work with each other in the same direction. A sound and stable China-UK relationship will benefit the people of both countries and beyond.

在这样的形势下，中英作为具有全球影响的大国，肩负着维护世界和平与发展的重任。我衷心希望，中英双方能着眼大局、顺时应势、相向而行，推动两国关系健康稳定发展，更好造福中英两国人民和世界人民。

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends:

女士们、先生们、朋友们，

As I am about to leave the UK, I have received warm letters from many British friends. I thank you for your recognition of my work in promoting China-UK exchanges and cooperation. I also appreciate your best wishes to me, Pinghua and my family. I am deeply touched.

在即将离任回国之际，我收到许多英国朋友热情洋溢的来信，大家对我任内推动中英交流合作给予积极评价，对我、平华及家人致以美好祝福，令我深受感动。

Many beautiful moments keep coming back. They remind me of the work I have done for better China-UK relations and the friends I have made and worked together toward this goal. They will be my sweetest and most deeply cherished memories.

11年来与中英两国朋友们共话友谊、共促合作的一幅幅美好画卷，不时浮现在我的眼前，它们将成为我最宝贵、最温馨的回忆。

I would like to express my most sincere thanks to all the friends who have cared for and supported China's development and China-UK friendship, and who have provided support and assistance to me in my work!

在此，我谨向所有关心与支持中国发展和中英友好的朋友们，向所有为我履职提供支持和帮助的朋友们，表示最诚挚的谢意！

My thanks also go to my colleagues in the Chinese Embassy in the UK. Over the past eleven years, I have worked with six deputy heads of mission, and hundreds of diplomats and staff. They represent the best of the Chinese diplomatic team. Each one of them is remarkable. I would not have achieved anything without their dedication and efficiency.kouyi.org

我还要感谢驻英使馆的同事们。11年来，我先后与6位公使兼首席馆员、数百名外交官及工作人员共事。他们是中国外交队伍的杰出代表，个个都是好样的。正是有了他们的敬业精神和高效工作，我才能有所作为。

Last but not least, I would like to say a big "thank you" to my wife Hu Pinghua. Her understanding and support are my source of strengths. If I had achieved anything, she would be the secret to the success. Now I would like to invite her to make a few remarks.

最后，我要感谢我的夫人胡平华。她的理解和支持是我永恒的动力，也是我成功的秘密。现在我请她给大家讲几句话。

(Madame Hu made a few remarks.)

（胡平华女士讲话）

Ladies and Gentlemen:

女士们、先生们，

Shakespeare said, "Welcome ever smiles, and farewell goes out sighing." I am reluctant to say farewell. But at the same time, I am pleased that I have accomplished my mission, served my country and worked for China-UK relations with all my heart from the beginning to the end.

莎士比亚说，“欢迎是永远含笑的，告别总是带着叹息”。离别时分，我心有不舍，也深感欣慰。过去11年，为了中国外交和中英关系，我精诚如一，不辱使命，无愧于心，善始令终。

It is my sincere hope that the China-UK friendship will last forever, China-UK cooperation will become deeper and wider, and China-UK relations will go steady and go far.

我衷心祝愿中英友谊地久天长，祝愿中英合作走深走实，祝愿中英关系行稳致远。

In 17 days, we will celebrate the Chinese New Year and ring in the Year of the Ox. I wish everyone online a happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Ox!

再过17天，就是中国农历牛年春节。祝愿各位朋友牛年吉祥、身体健康、阖家幸福、诸事顺遂！

Thank you!

谢谢大家！