Work Together for a Better Future of China-Canada Relations
Address by H.E. Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs
At Luncheon Hosted by Canada China Business Council
Ottawa, 23 June 2009
尊敬的德马雷名誉主席、克鲁伊特主席、哈德会长， 尊敬的克拉克前总理、弗莱厄蒂部长、贝尔德部长， 女士们、先生们、朋友们：
Honorary Chairman Andre Desmarais, Chairman Peter Kruyt, President Peter Harder, Former Prime Minister Right Honorable Joe Clark, The Honorable Minister Flaherty, The Honorable Minister Baird, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
非常高兴出席今天的午餐会。首先，我要感谢加中贸易理事会的热情邀请和周到安排，使我有机会同各位新老朋友见面。长期以来，在座各位为增进中加两国人民相互了解和友谊、推动两国关系改善和发展作出了积极努力。我对此表示衷心感谢。
I am delighted to join you at this luncheon. I want to thank the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) for its kind invitation and warm hospitality. It is a real pleasure to meet all of you, friends both old and new. For years, you have worked hard to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples and promote bilateral relations between our two countries. Let me take this opportunity to express sincere thanks for what you have done.
我首次访问加拿是在30多年前。当时，我从事外交工作不久，作为一个中方代表团的工作人员访问贵国。加拿热情的人民、广袤的土地、优美的环境给我留下了深刻印象。后来由于工作关系，我多次来访。此次是我担任中国外长以来首次访加，故地重游，倍感亲切。我这次来访是为了与加方就中加关系和共同关心的问题深入交换意见，增加了解，扩共识，深化合作，推动两国关系进一步改善和发展。昨天，我同坎农外长举行了会谈，并会见了金塞拉参议长。今天上午，我分别会见了哈珀总理和自由党领袖伊格纳蒂夫先生。我们谈得很好，访问取得了积极成果。
I first visited Canada more than 30 years ago. That was shortly after I joined the foreign service and I came here as a staff member of a Chinese delegation. I was deeply impressed by your warm people, vast land mass and beautiful scenery. Later on, my work brought me here several times. Yet this is my first visit to Canada as the Chinese Foreign Minister and it is nice to be back again. The purpose of my visit is to continue our in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest, increase understanding, build consensus, deepen cooperation, and push for continued improvement and growth of our bilateral ties. Yesterday, I had talks with Minister Cannon, and met with the Honorable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate. And this morning, I had separate meetings with the Right Honorable Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Honorable Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Liberal Party. The talks and meetings went very well, making my visit a very productive one.
女士们、先生们、朋友们：
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
中加关系源远流长。一百多年前，中国劳工来到加拿，为修筑横贯这个国家东西部的“太平洋铁路”作出了不可磨灭的贡献。第二次世界战期间，中加两国人民并肩抗击法西斯。白求恩夫的英雄事迹在中国家喻户晓，他毫不利己、专门利人的国际主义精神永远激励着世界上爱好和平的人们。上世纪60年代初，加拿在西方国家中率先开展对华贸易，出口小麦到中国，向中国人民提供了宝贵支持。1970年，中加实现建交，加拿成为最早与新中国建交的西方国家之一，两国关系由此揭开了新篇章。
Relations between China and Canada have a long history. More than 100 years ago, Chinese workers came to Canada and made indelible contribution to the building of the Pacific Railway that extends from the east to the west of Canada. During World War II, people of our two countries fought side by side against the fascists. The heroic deeds of Dr. Norman Bethune are remembered by all the Chinese people. His internationalist spirit, his dedication to the service of others, has always been a source of inspiration to the peace-loving people of the world. In the early 1960s, Canada became the first Western country to conduct trade with China, exporting wheat to my country. That was a valuable support to the Chinese people. In 1970, the two countries established diplomatic relations and Canada became one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, opening a new chapter in China-Canada relations.
中加建交 39年来，两国关系虽经历风雨波折，但总的方向是向前发展的。在两国几代领导人亲自推动和各界人士共同努力下，双方交流领域不断拓宽，合作水平持续提高。两国高层及各级别交往日益增多。双方在经贸、司法执法、能源、环保、科教文卫等广泛领域建立起40余个交流合作机制，在联合国、世界贸易组织、20国集团、亚太经合组织等多边机制中的合作日趋密切。
In the past 39 years, in spite of some twists and turns, China-Canada relations have, on the whole, moved forward. Thanks to the personal commitment of leaders of several generations and concerted efforts of people from various sectors of both countries, our exchanges and cooperation in all fields have been growing steadily and exchanges at the top and other levels have increased. We have put in place over 40 exchange and cooperation mechanisms that cover a wide range of areas, including economy, trade, justice, law enforcement, energy, the environment, science, education, culture and health. Our two countries have conducted close cooperation at the United Nations, the WTO, G20, APEC and other multilateral mechanisms.
两国经贸关系从昔日的单一商品贸易发展到今天的全方位、跨领域、多元化合作。双边贸易额由建交之初的1.5亿美元增长到去年的345.2亿美元，提前实现了2005 年9月两国领导人确定的到2010年突破300亿美元的目标。中国已成为加拿第二贸易伙伴、第三出口市场和第二进口来源国。中国出口到加拿的轻工、纺织及各种耐用消费品质优价廉，不仅丰富加拿人民的日常生活，还为他们节省量开销。中国对加的投资也不断增长。加拿鲍尔、庞巴迪、加拿铝业等知名企业以及永明、宏利保险公司、蒙特利尔银行、皇家银行等金融机构纷纷进入中国并取得快速发展。秦山核电站三期项目更成为两国在和平利用核能方面合作的示范工程。
Our business ties have expanded from single commodity trade to diversified cooperation in all sectors. Our bilateral trade has grown from US$150 million in the early days of diplomatic relations to US$34.52 billion last year, reaching the target of bringing the bilateral trade to US$30 billion by 2010 set by our leaders two years ahead of schedule. China has become Canada's second largest trading partner, third largest export market and second largest source of imports. The high-quality yet inexpensive imports from China such as light industrial goods, textiles and a variety of consumer durables have enriched the daily lives of the Canadian people and saved them a lot of money. China's investment in Canada is also growing. Well-known Canadian companies such as Power Corporation, Bombardier and Alcan as well as financial institutions such as Sun Life, Manulife, Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank have established their presence in China and now enjoy booming business. The third phase of Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant is hailed as a model project of our cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
中加两国人员交往不断增加。中国已成为加最主要的移民和海外留学生来源地之一，目前加有华人华侨140多万、中国留学生近6万。中文已成为加第三语言。中加之间结好的省市达到44对。北京、上海与温哥华、多伦多之间每周有40多个直飞航班，每天有2000多人次往返于中加之间。遍布中国各地的30多所加拿研究中心成为中国民众了解加拿的窗口，中国在加拿设立的5所孔子学院也为加人民学习汉语和了解中国文化提供了良好条件。在这里，我还要特别提到去年加拿政府和人民在四川汶川特地震后给予中国政府和人民的支援。地震发生后，加拿联邦和地方政府宣布了多项援助措施，各界人士纷纷慷慨解囊，这充分体现了中加两国人民在特自然灾害面前相互支持的人道主义精神，加深了两国人民业已存在的友好情谊。借此机会，我愿再次向加拿政府和人民表示衷心感谢。
Our people-to-people exchanges and contacts at the local level have been on the rise. China is now one of Canada's largest sources of immigrants and overseas students. There are a 1.4 million-strong Chinese community and nearly 60,000 Chinese students in Canada. The Chinese language has become the third largest language in Canada. We have established 44 pairs of sister provinces or cities. Each week, over 40 flights fly across the Pacific Ocean, linking Beijing and Shanghai with Vancouver and Toronto. Each day, more than 2,000 people travel between the two countries. Over 30 Canadian research centers across China have served as a window for the Chinese people to get to know Canada. In the same way, the five Confucius Institutes in Canada have enabled the Canadian people to study Chinese and learn about its culture. Here I wish to mention in particular the support of the Canadian government and people for the Chinese government and people in the wake of the massive earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan last year. Shortly after the earthquake, the federal and local governments of Canada announced several assistance measures and people from various sectors made generous donations. This fully reflects the humanitarian spirit of people of the two countries to support each other in the face of the devastating natural disaster and has greatly deepened the existing friendship between our two peoples. Let me take this opportunity to express, once again, our sincere thanks to the Canadian government and people.
中加关系的发展历程告诉人们，尽管两国国情不同，不可能在所有问题上都有一致看法，但这没有、也不应该成为两国关系发展的障碍。中国有句古语：“和则亲，异则敬。” 不同文明和社会制度的国家应该相互尊重、求同存异、取长补短、共同发展；应该尊重世界的多样性，尊重各国人民选择其本国发展道路的权利，互不干涉内政。只要遵循这些原则，中加双方就能牢牢把握两国关系的正确方向，推动两国关系不断健康稳定向前发展。
A review of the growth of China-Canada relations shows that although our two countries differ in national conditions and do not always see eye to eye on everything, we should not let these differences stand in the way of our relations. And nor can they. As an old Chinese saying goes, harmony makes us close to each other and differences make us respect each other. Different civilizations and countries with different social systems should respect each other, seek common ground while shelving differences, draw on each other's strengths and pursue common development. It is important to respect world diversity, respect the right of people of all countries to choosing development paths of their own countries and not to interfere in other countries' internal affairs. As long as these principles are observed, China and Canada will keep to the right direction of their bilateral relations and promote sound and steady growth of the bilateral ties.
近年来，中加关系并非一帆风顺，但令人高兴的是，在双方的共同努力下，中加关系正在不断改善和发展。特别是，2008年7月胡锦涛主席与哈珀总理在日本洞爷湖八国集团与发展中国家领导人对话会期间会晤，就发展中加关系达成了重要共识，有力推动了两国各领域的交流与合作。自那时以来，双方在经贸、能源、科技、卫生、教育等广泛领域的互利合作取得新的进展，两国关系展现出新的活力和前景。
China-Canada relationship has not always been smooth in recent years. Yet, it is heartening to note, that with joint efforts, China-Canada relations are improving and growing. I want to mention in particular the important agreement on furthering China-Canada relations that President Hu Jintao and the Right Honorable Prime Minister Stephen Harper reached during their meeting at the G8 Outreach Session in Japan last July. It has given a strong boost to the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all areas. Since that meeting, new progress has been made in our mutually beneficial cooperation in a host of areas, spanning economy, trade, energy, science and technology, health and education. Today, our bilateral relationship is showing fresh vitality and broader prospects.
Address by H.E. Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs
At Luncheon Hosted by Canada China Business Council
Ottawa, 23 June 2009
尊敬的德马雷名誉主席、克鲁伊特主席、哈德会长， 尊敬的克拉克前总理、弗莱厄蒂部长、贝尔德部长， 女士们、先生们、朋友们：
Honorary Chairman Andre Desmarais, Chairman Peter Kruyt, President Peter Harder, Former Prime Minister Right Honorable Joe Clark, The Honorable Minister Flaherty, The Honorable Minister Baird, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
非常高兴出席今天的午餐会。首先，我要感谢加中贸易理事会的热情邀请和周到安排，使我有机会同各位新老朋友见面。长期以来，在座各位为增进中加两国人民相互了解和友谊、推动两国关系改善和发展作出了积极努力。我对此表示衷心感谢。
I am delighted to join you at this luncheon. I want to thank the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) for its kind invitation and warm hospitality. It is a real pleasure to meet all of you, friends both old and new. For years, you have worked hard to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples and promote bilateral relations between our two countries. Let me take this opportunity to express sincere thanks for what you have done.
我首次访问加拿是在30多年前。当时，我从事外交工作不久，作为一个中方代表团的工作人员访问贵国。加拿热情的人民、广袤的土地、优美的环境给我留下了深刻印象。后来由于工作关系，我多次来访。此次是我担任中国外长以来首次访加，故地重游，倍感亲切。我这次来访是为了与加方就中加关系和共同关心的问题深入交换意见，增加了解，扩共识，深化合作，推动两国关系进一步改善和发展。昨天，我同坎农外长举行了会谈，并会见了金塞拉参议长。今天上午，我分别会见了哈珀总理和自由党领袖伊格纳蒂夫先生。我们谈得很好，访问取得了积极成果。
I first visited Canada more than 30 years ago. That was shortly after I joined the foreign service and I came here as a staff member of a Chinese delegation. I was deeply impressed by your warm people, vast land mass and beautiful scenery. Later on, my work brought me here several times. Yet this is my first visit to Canada as the Chinese Foreign Minister and it is nice to be back again. The purpose of my visit is to continue our in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest, increase understanding, build consensus, deepen cooperation, and push for continued improvement and growth of our bilateral ties. Yesterday, I had talks with Minister Cannon, and met with the Honorable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate. And this morning, I had separate meetings with the Right Honorable Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Honorable Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Liberal Party. The talks and meetings went very well, making my visit a very productive one.
女士们、先生们、朋友们：
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
中加关系源远流长。一百多年前，中国劳工来到加拿，为修筑横贯这个国家东西部的“太平洋铁路”作出了不可磨灭的贡献。第二次世界战期间，中加两国人民并肩抗击法西斯。白求恩夫的英雄事迹在中国家喻户晓，他毫不利己、专门利人的国际主义精神永远激励着世界上爱好和平的人们。上世纪60年代初，加拿在西方国家中率先开展对华贸易，出口小麦到中国，向中国人民提供了宝贵支持。1970年，中加实现建交，加拿成为最早与新中国建交的西方国家之一，两国关系由此揭开了新篇章。
Relations between China and Canada have a long history. More than 100 years ago, Chinese workers came to Canada and made indelible contribution to the building of the Pacific Railway that extends from the east to the west of Canada. During World War II, people of our two countries fought side by side against the fascists. The heroic deeds of Dr. Norman Bethune are remembered by all the Chinese people. His internationalist spirit, his dedication to the service of others, has always been a source of inspiration to the peace-loving people of the world. In the early 1960s, Canada became the first Western country to conduct trade with China, exporting wheat to my country. That was a valuable support to the Chinese people. In 1970, the two countries established diplomatic relations and Canada became one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, opening a new chapter in China-Canada relations.
中加建交 39年来，两国关系虽经历风雨波折，但总的方向是向前发展的。在两国几代领导人亲自推动和各界人士共同努力下，双方交流领域不断拓宽，合作水平持续提高。两国高层及各级别交往日益增多。双方在经贸、司法执法、能源、环保、科教文卫等广泛领域建立起40余个交流合作机制，在联合国、世界贸易组织、20国集团、亚太经合组织等多边机制中的合作日趋密切。
In the past 39 years, in spite of some twists and turns, China-Canada relations have, on the whole, moved forward. Thanks to the personal commitment of leaders of several generations and concerted efforts of people from various sectors of both countries, our exchanges and cooperation in all fields have been growing steadily and exchanges at the top and other levels have increased. We have put in place over 40 exchange and cooperation mechanisms that cover a wide range of areas, including economy, trade, justice, law enforcement, energy, the environment, science, education, culture and health. Our two countries have conducted close cooperation at the United Nations, the WTO, G20, APEC and other multilateral mechanisms.
两国经贸关系从昔日的单一商品贸易发展到今天的全方位、跨领域、多元化合作。双边贸易额由建交之初的1.5亿美元增长到去年的345.2亿美元，提前实现了2005 年9月两国领导人确定的到2010年突破300亿美元的目标。中国已成为加拿第二贸易伙伴、第三出口市场和第二进口来源国。中国出口到加拿的轻工、纺织及各种耐用消费品质优价廉，不仅丰富加拿人民的日常生活，还为他们节省量开销。中国对加的投资也不断增长。加拿鲍尔、庞巴迪、加拿铝业等知名企业以及永明、宏利保险公司、蒙特利尔银行、皇家银行等金融机构纷纷进入中国并取得快速发展。秦山核电站三期项目更成为两国在和平利用核能方面合作的示范工程。
Our business ties have expanded from single commodity trade to diversified cooperation in all sectors. Our bilateral trade has grown from US$150 million in the early days of diplomatic relations to US$34.52 billion last year, reaching the target of bringing the bilateral trade to US$30 billion by 2010 set by our leaders two years ahead of schedule. China has become Canada's second largest trading partner, third largest export market and second largest source of imports. The high-quality yet inexpensive imports from China such as light industrial goods, textiles and a variety of consumer durables have enriched the daily lives of the Canadian people and saved them a lot of money. China's investment in Canada is also growing. Well-known Canadian companies such as Power Corporation, Bombardier and Alcan as well as financial institutions such as Sun Life, Manulife, Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank have established their presence in China and now enjoy booming business. The third phase of Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant is hailed as a model project of our cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
中加两国人员交往不断增加。中国已成为加最主要的移民和海外留学生来源地之一，目前加有华人华侨140多万、中国留学生近6万。中文已成为加第三语言。中加之间结好的省市达到44对。北京、上海与温哥华、多伦多之间每周有40多个直飞航班，每天有2000多人次往返于中加之间。遍布中国各地的30多所加拿研究中心成为中国民众了解加拿的窗口，中国在加拿设立的5所孔子学院也为加人民学习汉语和了解中国文化提供了良好条件。在这里，我还要特别提到去年加拿政府和人民在四川汶川特地震后给予中国政府和人民的支援。地震发生后，加拿联邦和地方政府宣布了多项援助措施，各界人士纷纷慷慨解囊，这充分体现了中加两国人民在特自然灾害面前相互支持的人道主义精神，加深了两国人民业已存在的友好情谊。借此机会，我愿再次向加拿政府和人民表示衷心感谢。
Our people-to-people exchanges and contacts at the local level have been on the rise. China is now one of Canada's largest sources of immigrants and overseas students. There are a 1.4 million-strong Chinese community and nearly 60,000 Chinese students in Canada. The Chinese language has become the third largest language in Canada. We have established 44 pairs of sister provinces or cities. Each week, over 40 flights fly across the Pacific Ocean, linking Beijing and Shanghai with Vancouver and Toronto. Each day, more than 2,000 people travel between the two countries. Over 30 Canadian research centers across China have served as a window for the Chinese people to get to know Canada. In the same way, the five Confucius Institutes in Canada have enabled the Canadian people to study Chinese and learn about its culture. Here I wish to mention in particular the support of the Canadian government and people for the Chinese government and people in the wake of the massive earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan last year. Shortly after the earthquake, the federal and local governments of Canada announced several assistance measures and people from various sectors made generous donations. This fully reflects the humanitarian spirit of people of the two countries to support each other in the face of the devastating natural disaster and has greatly deepened the existing friendship between our two peoples. Let me take this opportunity to express, once again, our sincere thanks to the Canadian government and people.
中加关系的发展历程告诉人们，尽管两国国情不同，不可能在所有问题上都有一致看法，但这没有、也不应该成为两国关系发展的障碍。中国有句古语：“和则亲，异则敬。” 不同文明和社会制度的国家应该相互尊重、求同存异、取长补短、共同发展；应该尊重世界的多样性，尊重各国人民选择其本国发展道路的权利，互不干涉内政。只要遵循这些原则，中加双方就能牢牢把握两国关系的正确方向，推动两国关系不断健康稳定向前发展。
A review of the growth of China-Canada relations shows that although our two countries differ in national conditions and do not always see eye to eye on everything, we should not let these differences stand in the way of our relations. And nor can they. As an old Chinese saying goes, harmony makes us close to each other and differences make us respect each other. Different civilizations and countries with different social systems should respect each other, seek common ground while shelving differences, draw on each other's strengths and pursue common development. It is important to respect world diversity, respect the right of people of all countries to choosing development paths of their own countries and not to interfere in other countries' internal affairs. As long as these principles are observed, China and Canada will keep to the right direction of their bilateral relations and promote sound and steady growth of the bilateral ties.
近年来，中加关系并非一帆风顺，但令人高兴的是，在双方的共同努力下，中加关系正在不断改善和发展。特别是，2008年7月胡锦涛主席与哈珀总理在日本洞爷湖八国集团与发展中国家领导人对话会期间会晤，就发展中加关系达成了重要共识，有力推动了两国各领域的交流与合作。自那时以来，双方在经贸、能源、科技、卫生、教育等广泛领域的互利合作取得新的进展，两国关系展现出新的活力和前景。
China-Canada relationship has not always been smooth in recent years. Yet, it is heartening to note, that with joint efforts, China-Canada relations are improving and growing. I want to mention in particular the important agreement on furthering China-Canada relations that President Hu Jintao and the Right Honorable Prime Minister Stephen Harper reached during their meeting at the G8 Outreach Session in Japan last July. It has given a strong boost to the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all areas. Since that meeting, new progress has been made in our mutually beneficial cooperation in a host of areas, spanning economy, trade, energy, science and technology, health and education. Today, our bilateral relationship is showing fresh vitality and broader prospects.
