Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai At the Launch of "Old Friends": The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story
奎因大使,
蘭蒂女士,
白潤(rùn)璋先生,
佩特州務(wù)卿,
各位新、老朋友,
女士們、先生們,
下午好。很榮幸參加蘭蒂女士的《“老朋友”:習(xí)近平與艾奧瓦的故事》新書(shū)發(fā)布會(huì)。非常高興與諸位老朋友相聚一堂。感謝你們的盛情邀請(qǐng)。
我謹(jǐn)對(duì)蘭蒂女士表示熱烈祝賀和誠(chéng)摯謝意。你的新書(shū)忠實(shí)記錄了習(xí)近平主席和艾奧瓦人民的深情厚誼,它凝聚著你的心血。這不僅僅是一本書(shū),更是你致力于中美人民友好的生動(dòng)寫(xiě)照。
Ambassador Kenneth Quinn,
Mrs. Sarah Lande,
Mr. Bai Runzhang,
Secretary of State Paul Pate,
All the Old and New Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon. It is really a great honor for me to attend the Launch of the book by Mrs. Sarah Lande, "Old Friends": The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story. I am delighted to see so many old friends here. Thank you very much for your kind invitation to me.
I would like to extend warm congratulations and heartfelt appreciation to Mrs. Lande. Many thanks for your time and efforts to faithfully record the long lasting friendship between President Xi Jinping and the people in Iowa. Your book is more than a book. It reflects your passion, efforts and contribution to the friendship between our two great peoples.
我也要衷心感謝布蘭斯塔德大使、奎因大使、雷前州長(zhǎng)、貝隆先生等老朋友為促進(jìn)中美兩國(guó)和兩國(guó)人民友好所作的不懈努力。感謝艾奧瓦人民、雷諾茲州長(zhǎng)、佩特州務(wù)卿等,是你們的努力讓中美友誼薪火相傳。
女士們、先生們,
33年前,習(xí)近平和其他四個(gè)中國(guó)年輕人來(lái)到艾奧瓦州。艾奧瓦人的熱情好客、謙遜有禮深深打動(dòng)了當(dāng)年的習(xí)近平主席。多年后,他在同艾奧瓦的老朋友重逢時(shí)回憶道,“對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō),你們就是美國(guó)?!碑?dāng)年在艾奧瓦和中國(guó)之間播下的友誼種子,如今已長(zhǎng)成枝繁葉茂的大樹(shù)。對(duì)于我和很多人而言,習(xí)近平主席與艾奧瓦的故事感人肺腑,給人啟迪。
I also want to express my sincere gratitude to all the other old friends-- Ambassador Terry Branstad, Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, former Governor Robert Ray and Mr. Luca Berrone, for their unremitting efforts in promoting friendship between our two countries and our two peoples. My appreciation also goes to the people of Iowa and Governor Kim Reynolds,Secretary of State Paul Pate. Thank you for taking over the baton and continuing our joint journey of friendship.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thirty-three years ago, Xi Jinping and four other young Chinese arrived in Iowa. The people of Iowa greeted them with respect, hospitality, humility and smiles. Mr. Xi was so moved that when recounting the memory years later, he said to his old friends in Iowa, and I quote "To me, you are America". A seed of friendship between Iowa and China was planted and has finally grown into a tall stock. To me and to many others, the Xi Jinping-Iowa story is truly touching and inspiring.