赵卫平总领事在到任招待会上的致辞（中英对照）

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Remarks by Consul General Zhao Weiping at the Reception Marking the Assumption of Office

2013年2月20日，半岛酒店

The Peninsula Chicago, 20 February, 2013

尊敬的怀特州务卿，

尊敬的高夫先生（州长代表），

尊敬的西斯娜女士（市长代表），

尊敬的州参议员弗雷里奇先生，

尊敬的芝加哥期货交易所终身名誉主席梅拉梅德先生，

尊敬的华联会主席胡晓军先生，

各位领团同事，女士们，先生们，朋友们：

Honorable Jesse White, Secretary of State of Illinois,

Mr. Daniel Goff, Representative of Governor Quinn,

Ms. Jenny Cizner, Representative of Mayor Emanuel,

Mr. Mike Frerichs, State Senator of Illinois,

Mr. Leo Melamed, Chairman Emeritus of Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group,

Mr. Tony Hu, President of the Chinese American Association of Greater Chicago,

Colleagues from the Consular Corps,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

大家盛情光临今晚招待会，让我深感荣幸，谨向各位表示诚挚谢意。

It is my great pleasure and privilege to welcome you to the reception this evening. I wish to express my sincere thanks for your gracious presence.

　　我尤其要感谢怀特州务卿、高夫先生、西斯娜女士、弗雷里奇参议员、梅拉梅德先生和胡晓军先生刚才发表了热情洋溢的讲话。

In particular, I wish to thank Secretary White, Mr. Goff, Ms. Cizner, Senator Frerichs, Mr. Melamed and Mr. Hu for their warm remarks.

　　出任中国驻芝加哥总领事，我感到十分光荣。

I feel deeply honored to serve as the Chinese Consul General to Chicago.

　　芝加哥和美国中西部地区不仅在全美政治、经济、金融、文化等各领域举足轻重，而且在推动美国对华友好交流与合作方面发挥着重要作用。

Chicago and the Midwest not only carry a significant weight in the politics, economy, finance and culture of the United States, but also play a crucial role in promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between the United States and China.

　　近年来，胡锦涛主席、习近平副主席先后到访美国中西部地区，充分表明中方高度重视发展与该地区友好合作关系。

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice President Xi Jinping have both visited the Midwest in recent years, which is a full testimony to the great importance China attaches to expanding friendly relations and cooperation with this region.

　　目前，中国已经成为美国中西部地区的重要合作伙伴。双方贸易额占中美贸易总额的15%，中国已成为该地区重要的出口市场。根据美国商务部最新统计数字，2012年，美国中西部地区对华出口额达159.9亿美元，比上年增长13.37%。越来越多的中国企业将该地区作为对美投资的首选，为当地创造了成千上万个就业机会。该地区吸引了接近5万名中国留学生，成为中国留学生最集中的地区之一。

China is a key partner of the Midwest today. About 15% of China’s trade with the United States comes from this region. And China is also a major export market for the states and cities in the Midwest. According to the latest statistics by the US Commerce Department, in 2012, export to China by America’s Midwest reached 15.99 billion US dollars, growing 13.37% from the previous year. More and more Chinese companies have chosen this region as the gateway for their investment in the United States, and created tens of thousands of jobs for the local communities. The Midwest is also a magnet for Chinese students, with the total number reaching close to 50,000.

　　更加令人鼓舞的是，中国与美国中西部地区的合作潜力依然十分巨大。潜力来自于中美两国是世界上最大的两个经济体这一事实，来自于中美关系的不断发展，来自于中国与该地区各级政府对双方关系的高度重视。归根到底，潜力来自于双方经济的高度互补性以及各界对拓展合作的极大热情。

More encouragingly, there remains a huge potential to be tapped in China’s cooperation with the Midwest. The potential comes from the fact that China and the United States are the two largest economies in the world. It comes from the continued growth of China-US relations, the strong support for bilateral relations from our governments at various levels, and most importantly, the complementarities of our two economies and the passion of our public for even closer China-US cooperation.

　　作为中国驻芝加哥总领事，我的重要使命就是，进一步挖掘潜力，推动中国与美国中西部地区友好合作关系不断向前发展。我希望并相信，双方将会提出更多的点子，并采取更多的举措，以推动彼此合作取得更多实际成果。

As Chinese Consul General to Chicago, my mission is to unleash the potential and further promote the friendly relations and cooperation between China and the Midwest region. It is my hope and belief that both sides will produce more ideas and take more actions so as to bring about more tangible benefits through our cooperation.

　　作为中国驻芝加哥总领事，我也将竭诚为广大侨胞服务，促进中国与美国中西部地区领事关系取得新的发展。

Also, as Chinese Consul General to Chicago, I will do everything I can to serve the Chinese communities here in the consular district and work for closer consular relations between China and the Midwest.

　　真诚希望美国中西部地区各界朋友继续对总领馆及我本人的工作给予大力支持和帮助。

I sincerely hope that friends from all walks of life in the Midwest will continue to extend their kind support and assistance to the work of the Chinese Consulate and myself.

　　现在，让我们共同举杯，祝愿中国与美国中西部地区的交流合作不断发展，祝愿双方人民友谊长存，祝愿各位来宾身体健康，干杯！

Now, may I propose a toast,

To the continuous development of exchanges and cooperation between China and America’s Midwest,

To the everlasting friendship between our two peoples,

To the health of all our guests present,

Cheers!

谢谢大家。

Thank you.