尊敬的瓦西利乌委员，
尊敬的索尔斯特部长，
尊敬的王晓主席，
青年朋友们：

Madame Commissioner Vassiliou,
Minister Soltész,
President Wang Xiao,
Dear Young Friends,

很高兴今天能参加“中欧青年交流年”开幕式，与大家共同见证这一必将载入中欧关系史册的重要时刻！这是中欧联合开展的第一个主题年，也是中欧青年合作的重要里程碑，它开启了中欧人文交流的新篇章。在此，我谨代表温家宝总理对 “中欧青年交流年”的开幕表示热烈的祝贺！

I'm excited to attend this opening ceremony for the China-EU Year of Youth, and witness together with you this important moment that will surely go down in the history of China-EU relations. The Year of Youth is the first theme year event jointly organized by China and Europe, and this landmark event will open up a new chapter for our people-to-people exchange. It is therefore my great pleasure to express, on behalf of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, the warmest congratulations on the launching of China-EU Year of Youth.

青年朋友们，

Dear Young Friends,

中欧建交35年以来，各领域交流合作由少到多、由低到高、由浅入深，取得长足发展。当前，中欧高层互访空前密切，政治互信不断加深，经贸合作成果丰硕，国际事务协调更加紧密。中欧不仅互为最重要的贸易伙伴，在携手应对人类社会的共同挑战面前，更是同舟共济、共创未来的重要战略伙伴。中欧都处在各自发展进步的关键阶段，双方合作的全面性、战略性、互利性和成长性日益凸显，中欧关系正站在全新历史起点上。中欧关系能否薪火相传，节节攀高，长久造福各自人民并肩负起时代赋予的历史使命，关键在于能否得到双方人民的理解和支持。在这个意义上，中欧人文交流应该发挥更加重要的作用。

Over the last 35 years since we established diplomatic ties, cooperation between China and Europe has demonstrated huge progress both in terms of quality and quantity. With economic and trade cooperation yielding substantial returns, China and Europe have become each other's most important trading partner. Underpinning such strong ties is our ever-growing political mutual trust evidenced by frequent high-level visits and closer coordination on international affairs. So today China and Europe are more than just trading partners. We are also strategic partners who share a same destiny, rise to the common challenges, and work together for a future of prosperity. At this time when China and Europe are both in the key stage of development, our comprehensive, strategic, and mutually beneficial cooperation is increasingly picking up momentum from a new historical starting point. Whether this momentum can be sustained and grow from strength to strength will rest largely with whether or not we can gather understanding and support from our peoples. In this connection, people-to-people exchange has an irreplaceable role in ensuring that our bilateral ties will fulfill its historical mission and bring durable benefits to our people.

青年是人文交流中最活跃的因素，未来由你们来创造。举办“中欧青年交流年”，正是中欧领导人高瞻远瞩，为中欧全面战略伙伴关系可持续发展所做出的重大政治决策。中欧领导人均全力支持2011年“中欧青年交流年”活动。他们对此次活动充满殷切期待，希望通过这一活动，增进中欧青年间相互理解和友谊，带动中欧人文交流不断迈上新台阶。

Youth represent the most dynamic element in people-to-people exchange, because you are the ones to create the future. Both leaderships strongly support and have high expectations for this Year of Youth event. Behind the major political decision to launch such a large-scale program are the strategic vision of our leaders and their ardent wish that efforts like this will increase mutual understanding and friendship between our younger generations.

我以为，中欧青年在推动双方关系长期、健康、可持续发展方面担负着重要使命，主要体现在：

In my view, youth are pioneers for people-to-people exchange and young people shoulder an important responsibility to promote healthy, sustainable and long-term growth of China-EU ties. Now I'm going to talk about three areas where I think our young friends could make a difference.

一是增添内涵，注入活力。中欧间虽然有着不同的传统文化和历史积淀，但中欧青年身上体现的现代元素是相同的：你们活力四射，充满激情和无穷的创造力，是国家进步、创新和发展的动力源泉，是世界潮流的倡导者和世界未来发展趋势的引领者。希望你们能够带动更多青年朋友积极参与中欧关系的发展，不断迸发新思想、推出新创意，为中欧合作提供不竭的动力。

To begin with, young people could invigorate and extend the boundary of China-EU relations. China and Europe differ greatly in terms of history, culture and traditions. However, such difference is superseded by certain similarities when it comes to our younger generation-you are all full of passion, vigor and creativity. As advocators of global trend and forerunners of the future world, you are the powerhouse for technology innovation, economic development and social progress. In the future, we hope to see more young people taking active parts in growing China-EU ties with your new ideas and innovative thinking.

二是传承文明，创新文化。中欧是东西方古老文明的杰出代表。作为传统和现代文化的载体，青年朋友既充分汲取本民族、本地区的精神营养，又善于学习和借鉴其它文明的精华。中欧青年之间的深入交流互动，必将为中欧文明间对话架起一座新的桥梁，促进不同文明和文化和谐共处、兼容并蓄、推陈出新，共同推动人类步入文明“共生”的新时代，同时也为中欧关系长足发展奠定更坚实的人文基础。

Furthermore, young people could contribute to cultural innovation and common progress of human civilization. Home to ancient civilizations, China and Europe are able to provide their youth with some of the finest ancient oriental and western cultural heritage. We expect young people to have an open heart for all different cultures, home and foreign, traditional and modern. We believe that with your capacity to learn and willingness to communicate, you will be able to combine the merits of all cultures for innovation, and build a new bridge of inter-civilization dialogue between China and Europe. Our hope is on you to promote a world where all civilizations could achieve common progress, and your efforts to deliver this goal will undoubtedly consolidate the popular support for future China-EU ties.

三是超越分歧，传播友谊。中欧青年共处于网络发达的地球村，有着丰富多彩的交流手段。你们通过平等尊重对方、亲身感知对方、努力理解对方，以虚怀若谷的态度相互学习，用开放包容的心态对待差异，充当双方在政治、经贸、社会、文化等领域的“润滑剂”。相信你们一定能够突破旧思维和旧观念的束缚，摒弃各种偏见和陈见，弥合差异，增信释疑，扩大共识，在彼此心中播下友谊的种子，努力成为终身的朋友和中欧世代友谊的使者，使中欧关系更加牢不可破、历久弥新！

Last but not the least, young people are uniquely capable of going beyond difference for friendship. Internet has made our world a global village, giving us all kinds of choices to stay connected. Such favorable conditions put you in a better position to respect, understand, and appreciate the people on the other side. I always picture young people as "lubricant" who could learn from others and approach their difference with an open mind and an inclusive heart, in politics, business, culture, and all other sectors of our society. But of course, this will require that we break off from the old ways of thinking and abandon bias and stereotype. With you as envoys of lifelong friendship across generations, I'm confident that all of the differences and misgivings between us will be finally replaced by trust and agreements, and China-EU relations will definitely stand the test of all times.

青年朋友们，

Dear Young Friends,

2011年开启了21世纪的第二个十年。当今世界处在大变革、大调整之中，世界多极化持续发展，科技革命加速推进，全球和区域合作方兴未艾，国与国相互依存日益紧密，求和平、谋发展、促合作已成为不可阻挡的时代潮流。未来属于年轻一代，也决定于年轻一代。可以预见，未来十年是中欧关系发展的重大机遇期，也是你们人生中可以大展宏图的重要阶段。作为中欧各界青年的代表，你们是中欧关系的未来，中欧友好合作的持久发展寄托在你们身上。希望你们以“中欧青年交流年”为契机，为推动中欧全面战略伙伴关系贡献自己的智慧和力量，在中欧人文交流史上谱写出更多精彩篇章！

As we head into the second decade of the 21st century, we are also stepping into a world of major changes and adjustments. Peace, development and cooperation have become an irresistible trend of times. Multipolarization, interdependence, science and technology revolution, and global and regional cooperation are the prime imprints of our age. Our future belongs to the younger generation, but it also defines them. What will happen in the next ten years carries great significance both on you and on China-EU relations. The prospect of China-EU ties bears immense opportunities for growth. As youth representatives, you have all reasons to live up to the expectation and fully realize the potential of China-EU friendship and cooperation. For the future, I expect greater success in the people-to-people exchange between China and Europe. And today, for all of you, this China-EU Year of Youth event is a golden opportunity to start your own contribution to our comprehensive strategic partnership.

最后，祝中欧青年友谊之树常青！“中欧青年交流年”圆满成功！

To conclude, I wish the friendship tree between the Chinese and European young people be evergreen, and I wish the China-EU Year of Youth a crowning success!

谢谢大家！

Thank you!