宋哲大使在欧洲议会人民党党团早餐会的演讲

一是实质和表象的差距。中欧关系实际上是健康和富有成果的。中欧作为全面战略伙伴，互为重要贸易伙伴，有着完备的政治对话机制，各领域合作范围之宽、程度之深，都在大国关系中名列前茅。

First, the gap between substance and coverage. China-EU relations are healthy and fruitful in substance. We are comprehensive strategic partners, important trading partners and we have sophisticated political dialogue mechanism. The scope and the depth of cooperation between China and EU are among the best in big-power relationships.

但近年来，中欧关系似乎给人留下了问题成堆的印象。究其原因，主要是中欧之间的分歧和问题往往被人为地放大和突出了。一些媒体为了吸引眼球，热衷于挖掘和炒作中欧关系中的问题和分歧；一些人明知中欧在人权等问题上的理念差异无法在短期内弥合，却仍出于各种原因，不时公开对中国的内政说三道四；更有甚者，一些人为了捞取个人政治资本，不惜在涉及中方核心利益的问题上挑战中方底线，破坏双方之间的政治气氛，引发民众的对立情绪。久而久之，人们对中欧关系的理解和印象逐渐偏离了正轨，开始聚焦于人权等消极因素。我认为，出现上述现象是很令人遗憾的。

But in recent years, China-EU relations seem to give people an impression that there are a lot of problems. The main reason is that differences and problems between China and Europe are often artificially amplified and highlighted. In order to attract attention, some media are keen to explore and inflate problems and differences in China-EU relations. Some people understand clearly that China and the EU will not be able to bridge their gaps of concept on issues such as human rights in short term, yet for various reasons, they would keep on making irresponsible remarks publicly on China's internal affairs from time to time. To make matter worse, in order to stock up personal political capital, some even challenge the bottom line on issues concerning China's core interests, which brings damage to the political atmosphere between the two sides and trigger public antagonism. Over time, people's understanding and impressions of China-EU relations gradually deviate from the right track and began to focus more on negative factors, such as human rights. It is indeed regrettable that things would have gone this way.

二是兴趣和认识的差距。中欧都被彼此古老灿烂的文明深深吸引，有着强烈的认识对方、了解对方的兴趣。不久前，我们使团举办了“中国春节走进欧洲议会”活动，仅开幕式现场的欧洲朋友就达600多人。在第二天举行的欧洲议会对华关系非正式对话会上，与会人数超过预期整整一倍，很多人一直站到会议结束。这是欧洲渴望接近中国、了解中国的真实写照。但在“想了解”和“了解”之间还存在相当的距离。坦率地讲，我感到欧洲对中国的认识还远远不够，很多人对中国的印象甚至还停留在十几年甚至几十年前的水平。

Secondly, the gap between interest and knowledge. China and the EU both enjoy an ancient and splendid culture, which is deeply attractive to each other. Both have strong interest to know more about each other and understand each other. Not long ago, our mission held some functions to present the Chinese New Year to the European Parliament, the opening ceremony alone attracted more than 600 guests and friends. On the next day of the opening, the European Parliament held a session of informal dialogue on relations with China, the number of participants was double than expected, and many people were standing till the end of the session. This is a vivid portrayal of Europe's desire to move closer to China and understand China. However, there is still considerable distance between the desire and reality. Frankly, I feel that Europe's understanding of China is far from enough, and many people see China as it was 10 years or even decades ago.

欧洲对于中国同样如此。欧洲的文学、艺术令几代中国人陶醉；埃菲尔铁塔和圆形斗技场每年至少招来100万中国游客；五大联赛吸引着亿万中国球迷，我也是其中一个。但中国百姓也时常对欧盟有着许多问号。他们不明白，到底是布鲁塞尔说了算，还是27个首都说了算？为什么一些欧盟国家总是在双边做好人，在多边做恶人？他们不明白，为什么同样性质的事情发生在欧美是正常的，而发生在中国就要备受责难？为什么欧洲人看起来对13亿中国人的人权进步漠不关心，却格外在意个别所谓“人权卫士”或罪犯的人权和一定自由，甚至在没有弄清基本事实的情况下发表不负责任的声明？他们还不明白，既然中欧已是全面战略伙伴，为什么还要继续维持歧视性的对华军售禁令？

The other way round, China's understanding of Europe also remains to be further improved. European literature and art enthralls generations of Chinese people. Now each year, at least 1 million Chinese tourists come to Europe to visit the Eiffel Tower and the Collosseum. Hundreds of millions of Chinese football fans watch the five major European leagues on TV, and I am one of them. But the Chinese people also have many question marks on the EU. They do not understand whether Brussels has the final say, or the 27 capitals all share the final say? Why some EU countries act as "good guy" as member states, but "bad guy" on the EU front? They do not understand why China is often blamed for some domestic issues that are not taken notice at all if they take place in Europe or the US? Why do Europeans seem to be aloof from the overall human rights progress for 1.3 billion Chinese people, but are particularly interested in the human rights or absolute freedom of a few so-called "human rights defender" or even criminals? Why do they issue irresponsible statements even without some basic knowledge of the actual happenings? They do not understand, why does the EU continue to maintain discriminatory arms embargo against China, when China and the EU are already comprehensive strategic partners for such a long time?

其实，缩小上述差距，为中欧关系营造良好的政治、人文和舆论环境并不困难。中欧虽然相距遥远，历史文化背景迥异，但我们对和平与发展的向往，对友谊与合作的珍视是完全一致的。早在1827年，歌德曾对他的助手说，中国人“几乎和我们有着同样的思想、行为和感情”。我相信，只要我们将心比心，推己及人，用真心去感知对方,用真诚去感动对方，用对话与合作去扩大理解共识，用宽容和信任去消除误解分歧，中欧关系就能平安渡过“后危机”和“后里约”的调整期，结出更多的丰硕果实，造福于中欧人民，造福于世界人民。

In fact, it is not that difficult to narrow these gaps and create a good political, cultural, and public opinion environment for China-EU relations. Although we are far apart geographically and different in historical and cultural background, we now have many things in common, not least in pursuing peace and development and in cherishing friendship and cooperation. As early as in 1827, Goethe said to his assistant that the Chinese people have almost the same thoughts, behaviors and feelings like us in Europe. I believe, as long as we care about each other's feelings, be sincere to each other, build more understanding and consensus through dialogue and cooperation, and remove misunderstanding and differences with accommodation and trust, China-EU relations will be able to ride safe through the "post-crisis "and" post-Lisbon Treaty" period of transition and bring more benefit to the people of China, Europe and the world.

在这方面，欧洲议会可以发挥独特的重要作用。欧洲议会是欧洲民意的代表。中欧立法机构、各专门委员会以及各党团之间的交流，不仅有助于双方增进对彼此政策的了解，更有助于加强双方民众的沟通，缩小认知差距。更重要的是，根据我个人的了解，《里约》后的欧洲议会正从“后排乘客”变为“前排副驾驶”，在欧盟对外关系中的影响和作用越来越大。从这个意义上讲，欧洲议会是中欧关系发展的重要利益攸关方。欧洲议会完全可以在欧盟对华关系中扮演更加积极的角色，发挥更加积极的作用，为推动中欧关系的发展做出更加积极的贡献。人民党党团作为欧洲议会第一大党团更是责无旁贷。相信在未来中欧关系发展史上，以及中欧立法机构和政党交流史上，人民党党团今后均会留下浓墨重彩的一笔。

In this regard, the European Parliament can play a unique and important role. The European Parliament represents the European public opinion. Exchanges between China and the EU's legislative bodies, special committees, as well as political groups, not only enable the two sides to better understand each other's policies, but also help to strengthen people-to-people contacts and narrow the gaps in perception. More importantly, according to my personal understanding, after the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament will move from passenger seat in the back to co-driver seat in the front, holding stronger influence and role in the EU's external relations. In this sense, the European Parliament is an important stakeholder of the China-EU relations, and shall play a more positive role, exert more positive influence and make more positive contribution to the development of China-EU relations. The People's Party group, as the largest political group in the European Parliament, is duty-bound in every means. I am confident that the EPP will leave a strong and impressive mark in the history of China-EU relations, as well as in the history of exchange between China and the EU's legislative bodies and political parties.

尊敬的各位议员朋友，

MEPs and Friends,

我们都是中欧关系发展事业的重要参与者，肩负着共同的使命和责任。我们既是历史的见证者，更是历史的塑造者。岁月不居，时不我待。我期待着与欧洲议会以及人民党党团的议员朋友们共同努力，在中欧之间架起一座理解和互信的桥梁，为中欧人民不断增进相互理解与信任、为中欧关系的长期健康稳定发展做出应有的贡献。

As we all are participants in developing China-EU relations, we have a joint mission and share common responsibility. We are not only witnesses of history, but also makers of history. I look forward to working together with the European Parliament and Members of the People's Party group, to build a bridge of understanding and mutual trust between the people of China and Europe, and contribute to long-term, healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.

谢谢大家。下面欢迎大家提问。

Thank you.  Now I am ready to take your questions.