尊敬的巴基斯坦国立现代语言大学校长—阿齐兹先生，
各位评委，各位参赛选手，
女士们，先生们！
Respected Mr. Aziz Ahmad Khan, Rector of the National University of Modern Languages,
Judges, contestants,
Ladies and gentlemen,

早上好！
Good morning!

我非常高兴出席今天在这里举行的第十届“汉语桥”世界大学生中文比赛巴基斯坦赛区决赛。我想对巴国立现代语言大学和伊斯兰堡孔子学院为此次比赛做出的各项细心周到的安排表示感谢。我还想向参赛选手们表示祝贺。你们非凡的语言天赋、流利的汉语水平和对中国文化的理解令我印象深刻。我相信，你们一定能在决赛中脱颖而出，创造佳绩。
It gives me great pleasure to attend the Pakistan Finals for the10th "Chinese Bridge" competition. I would like to thank National University of Modern Languages (NUML) and Islamabad Confucius Institute (ICI) for their thoughtful arrangements for today's contest. And I would also like to congratulate our young contestants on their amazing language abilities! I'm really impressed by your proficiency in Chinese language and understanding in Chinese culture. I believe you will excel in the final competition in China.

诞生于2002年的“汉语桥”世界大学生中文比赛至今已经吸引了来自全世界70多个国家的上万名学生参赛，极大推动了中文普及并掀起了一股学习汉语的热潮。我们应当为它喝彩。
The "Chinese Bridge" competition is now a huge success. Launched in 2002, a hundred thousand students from more than seventy countries have competed. We should give a big cheer for how the competition is boosting the learning of Chinese language and arousing a "Chinese fever" all around the world.

在今天这个场合，我想就语言谈一些个人看法。
On this occasion, I would like to say a few words on language.

语言是技能。掌握一门语言无疑是多了一项交流沟通的技能，对个人事业发展有好处。由于中巴特殊的“全天候”战略伙伴关系，巴基斯坦学生学习汉语拥有更为有利的条件。中国总理温家宝去年底的成功访问极大丰富了两国人文交流的内涵。在《联合声明》中，双方同意全面拓展人文交流，重点加强中文和乌尔都语教育。中方今年将邀请100名巴基斯坦高中生赴华参加“汉语桥”夏令营，并继续向伊斯兰堡孔子学院提供奖学金。中方还将自今年起，在三年之内向巴方提供500名政府奖学金名额。可以说，你们学习汉语正逢其时。
Language is a skill. Acquiring a new language means mastering additional skills in communication and having more opportunities for career development. Specific to Pakistan, as we all know, the China-Pakistan relationship is all-weather and time-tested. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit last year has created a new dimension for people-to-people exchanges. In the joint statement, we agreed to expand people-to-people interactions in a comprehensive manner and intensify Chinese and Urdu languages learning. China will invite 100 Pakistan high school students to the "Chinese bridge" Summer Camp and continue to provide Confucius Institute scholarships to Pakistan college students. China will also provide 500 government scholarships to Pakistan in 3 years starting from 2011. It is really high time for Chinese learning.

语言是桥梁。第13任中国驻巴大使张春贤能够说一口流利的乌尔都语。我知道我的很多同事对学习乌尔都语怀有浓厚的兴趣。我还知道，很多巴基斯坦朋友会说汉语，其中就有巴国立现代语言大学和伊斯兰堡孔子学院的校友。我们为他们骄傲。今天，我还想特别提及伊斯兰堡孔子学院的学生。去年温总理来巴，我们在巴中友谊中心举办了这样一场活动，就是两国总理与为中巴友谊做出突出贡献人士座谈。座谈会临近结束的时候，伊斯兰堡孔子学院学员朱雷和14岁女孩拉比亚分别用中文和英文深情并茂地朗诵了一首题为“巴中友谊”的诗。在场观众深受感染，有人不禁落泪。这就是语言直通心灵的力量。
Language is a bridge. My predecessor Mr. Zhang Chunxiang, the 13th Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, is a fluent Urdu speaker. I know many of my colleagues have keen interests in picking up Urdu language. And I also know many Pakistanis can speak Chinese, some of them were students of NUML or ICI. They have made great contributions to China-Pakistan ties. We are proud of them. And today I would like to specially mention the students of ICI. Last December when the Chinese Premier visited Pakistan, there was a "free talk" at the Pakistan-China Friendship Center attended by people working for our friendship. Toward the end, Junaid Bashir, a boy from ICI, and Rabya, a 14-year-old girl, recited a poem titled "Pakistan-China Friendship" in Chinese and English respectively. The audience were greatly impressed and many of them moved to tears. This is the power of language.

语言是窗户。它不仅仅是一套符号系统，更是传达文化内涵的重要载体。有人曾说，“语言是思想的服装”，“文字是思想的符号”。学习汉语，就像为中华文化开了一扇窗。透过它，你可以看到中国人的生活方式、行为准则、价值观念、国家心理和民族性格，可以探寻过去几十年来中国经济社会取得巨大成就的背后动因。
Language is a window. It is not just a system of symbols, but is also the most important carrier of cultural messages. Some poet once said, "Language is the dress of thought", "words are but signs of ideas". Learning Chinese is like opening a widow to Chinese culture. You can gain much insight into Chinese people's way of life, behavior, values, national psychology and character, as well as factors leading to China's economic and social transformation in the past few decades.

语言是乐趣。寓教于乐也许正是“汉语桥”取得成功的重要原因。作为一名外交官，我不仅在你们的国家工作，还在你们的国家生活。生活需要有乐趣。两周前，我从当地英文报纸上得知，著名乌尔都语作家、诗人阿卜杜尔·哈米德先生因病辞世。巴国立语言研究机构主席称，“哈米德先生的去世意味着巴浪漫诗歌黄金时代的终结”。包括我在内的很多中国人都是诗歌爱好者。然而，由于我不懂乌尔都语，虽身在巴基斯坦，却难以欣赏文学巨匠的作品，“宝山空回”实为憾事。我常常在想，如果我懂乌尔都语，在这儿的常驻生活会更加有趣和充实。
Language is a fun. Making learning fun is a sure recipe for success, and that explains why the "Chinese bridge" a success. As a diplomat, I not only work in your country, I'm actually living here. Life needs to be of fun. Two weeks ago, I learned from local English newspapers that Mr. Abdul Hamid, a prolific Urdu writer, passed away. Pakistan National Language Authority Chairman Mr. Iftikhar Arif called his death "the end of a golden period of romantic poetry." The Chinese people, including me, love poetry. However, I barely get the pleasure of reading his poetry. What a pity! It often occurs to me that my life here would have been much more interesting and fulfilling if only I understood your language.

最后，我真诚的希望越来越多的巴基斯坦朋友发现学习中文不仅有趣而且有益。中国使馆将一如既往的提供力所能及的支持。
I sincerely hope that an increasing number of Pakistan friends find learning Chinese interesting and beneficial. The Chinese embassy will continue to provide the best possible support.

谢谢大家！
Thank you!