今天，英国有越来越多的人关注中国，研究中国，这是一件好事，因为只有相知才能相交。作为研究中国的学术机构和学者，我想固然应当从事深入的学术研究，更应走出象牙塔，让更多的普通英国民众认识和了解一个现代中国，增进两国民众间彼此的好感，加强两国关系的民意基础。我衷心希望国王学院中国研究中心今后能发挥突出的作用。

Today, more and more people in Britain are keen to learn about China, which is very encouraging. As people need to know more about each other before making friends. In my view, academic institutions and China experts in Britain should not only pursue their academic studies. But should also reach out to the general public and help them understand today's China. This will be conducive in promoting the friendship between our two peoples and strengthening popular support for the China-UK relations. I do hope the China Institute will play a leading role in this regard.

刚才，我参加了孔子铜像的揭幕典礼。看到中国两千多年前的大思想家和教育家孔子的雕像矗立在与中国万里之遥的伦敦大学国王学院的校园中，我感到很高兴，也很感慨。孔子是中国历史上伟大的思想家、政治家、教育家和儒家学派的创始人。他的许多重要思想至今仍闪耀着智慧的光芒，极富现实意义。

A short while ago, I attended the unveiling of the statue of Confucius. It was both pleasing and touching to see the statue of the great philosopher, statesman and educator standing in the campus of King's College, thousands of miles away from China. Confucius, even 2,000 years after his passing, remains a source of wisdom and inspiration.

美国诗人、哲学家爱默生说：“孔子是全世界各民族的光荣”。今天，以推广汉语、增进中外了解为目标的孔子学院已经遍布世界88个国家和地区，英国也已建立了12家孔子学院和54个孔子课堂。最新的一个孔子课堂就在昨天成立，我参加了揭牌仪式。

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American poet and philosopher once remarked that Confucius brings glory to every nation in the world. Today, Confucius Institutes have been established in 88 countries and regions to promote the Chinese language and mutual understanding. The UK alone is home to 12 Confucius Institutes and now 54 Confucius Classrooms. As I had the pleasure of attending the launch ceremony of the 54th Classroom just yesterday.

希望孔子铜像的矗立不仅成为国王学院与中国友好关系的象征，更能带动国王学院的年轻学子们研究孔子的思想，研究中国的文化，研究中国的过去，更研究中国的今天。

I hope that the statute of Confucius will not only serve as a symbol of friendship between King's College and China. But also encourages more students here to learn about Confucian thinking and Chinese culture as they get to know more about China's past and present.

孔子曰：“和为贵”。又曰：“和而不同”。国与国之间，不同文明之间，要相互尊重，求同存异，取长补短，相互促进。只有这样，我们所处的世界才能更加和平，更加和谐，更加美好。

Confucius said "peace is precious" and one should pursue "harmony without uniformity". It is important for countries, no matter how different they are and whatever civilisations they have inherited, to forge relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. Only in this way, and by drawing on each other's strong points to make up for deficiencies, can our world be a more peaceful, more harmonious and better place for all.

最后，我希望国王学院以中国研究中心成立为契机，不断加强与中国的交流与合作，为增进中英两国人民的相互了解和友谊作出更大的贡献。

In conclusion, I hope that King's College London will take today's launch as a golden opportunity to pursue closer exchanges and cooperation with China, and make greater contribution to the mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples.

谢谢！

Thank you.