Secretary-General Message on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
New York, 17 May 2010


联合国秘书长2010世界电信和信息社会日致辞
2010年5月17日


In today's world, telecommunications are more than just a basic service – they are a means to promote development, improve society and save lives. This will be all the more true in the world of tomorrow.


在当今世界，电信不仅仅是一项基本服务，而是一种促进发展、改进社会和拯救生命的手段。未来的世界将更是如此。


The importance of telecommunications was on display in the wake of the earthquake which devastated Haiti earlier this year. Communications technologies were used to coordinate aid, optimize resources and provide desperately sought information about the victims. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and its commercial partners contributed scores of satellite terminals and helped to provide wireless communications to help disaster relief and clean-up efforts.


在今年初发生了摧毁海地的地震之后，电信的重要性体现出来。通信技术被用来协调援助、优化资源和提供迫切需要的伤之人员的信息。国际电信联盟及其商业伙伴捐赠了数十部卫星终端，并帮助提供无线通信服务，以协助救灾和清理工作。


I welcome those efforts and, more broadly, the work of ITU and others to promote broadband access in rural and remote areas around the world.


对于这些努力，更广泛地讲，对于电联和其他各方促进世界各地农村和偏远地区宽带接入的工作，我表示欢迎。


Greater access can mean faster progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Internet drives trade, commerce and even education. Telemedicine is improving health care. Earth monitoring satellites are being used to address climate change. And green technologies are promoting cleaner cities.


更广泛的宽带接入可能意味着在实现千年发展目标方面取得更快的进展。因特网推动了贸易、商业、甚至教育的发展。远程医疗正在改善保健服务。地球监测卫星正被用于应对气候变化。绿色技术正在使城市更加清洁。


As these innovations grow in importance, so, too, does the need to bridge the digital divide.


随着这些创新的重要性日益加强，也越来越有必要弥补数字鸿沟。


The theme of this year's observance, “Better Cities, Better Life with ICTs,” is a reminder that communications technologies must be employed – and disposed of – in a manner that raises living standards while protecting the environment.


今年的纪念活动以“利用信通技术优化城市和生活”为主题，它提醒我们，必须以提高生活水平并同时保护环境的方式采用和处理通信技术。


The United Nations is committed to ensuring that people everywhere have equitable access to information and communication technologies. On this International Day, let us resolve to fully harness the great potential of the digital revolution in the service of life-saving relief operations, sustainable development and lasting peace.


联合国致力于确保任何地方的人们均可公平地利用信息和通信技术。值此国际日之际，让我们下定决心，在拯救生命的救济活动、可持续发展和持久和平中充分发挥数字革命的巨大潜力。