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Wellness for Pakistan’s International “Face”
Pakistan is both an old and a youg country. This warm soil gave birth to shining old civilizations, and in the modern era, it recorded the glorious poetry of national independence and self-reliance. The people of Pakistan are kind-hearted and gallant, self-respecting and and believing in themselves, and they never give up, staunch and unyielding as their national qualities are. During the past sixty years, the government and people of Pakistan have faced complicated domestic and foreign conditions, calmly reacted to all kinds of serious challenges, and have made remarkable achievements on the road of defending the independence and sovereignty of the country, building the country, and developing its economy. Since the beginning of the new century, Pakistan has been in the first line of the international fight against terrorism, has made huge efforts, has made huge sacrifices, and made outstanding contributions for regional and global peace and stability. The Chinese people deeply respect the people of Pakistan.
巴基斯坦是一个年轻而又古老的伟大国家。这片热土孕育了辉煌灿烂的古代文明，在近代史上书写了争取民族独立、国家自强的壮丽诗篇。巴基斯坦人民善良勇敢、自尊自信，有着百折不挠、坚韧不拔的民族气质。建国60多年来，巴基斯坦政府和人民面对复杂的国内外形势，沉着应对各种严峻挑战，在捍卫国家主权独立和领土完整、建设国家和发展经济的道路上取得了显著成就。进入新世纪以来，巴基斯坦身处国际反恐前沿，付出了巨大努力，承受了巨大牺牲，为地区乃至世界和平稳定作出了突出贡献。中国人民对巴基斯坦人民充满深深的敬意。
Emphasizing “Common Struggles”
As early as 2000 years ago, tbe Silk Road established a friendly bridge between our two old civilizations. China’s Han dynasty’s envoy Zhang Qian, the monk Fa Xian of the Eastern Jin dynasty era, and the monk Xuan Zang all once left their footsteps here. Pakistan believes that “credibility and integrity are of better use than wealth”, and China believes that if someone lacks trustworthiness, you can’t know what he may be good for. The concepts of our two countries’ traditional cultures are in accordance with each other. In the recent past, China and Pakistan have suffered imperialist and colonialist aggression and oppression, sympathized with each other, and supported each other. During the 1930s, the great Pakistani poet Iqbal wrote that “as the sleeping people of China was just awakening, the springs of the Himalya mountain were starting to boil”, speaking highly of the struggle of the Chinese people for national independence, its struggle against foreign aggression, and supporting [the Chinese people’s struggle]. With similar historical experiences and a common history of struggles, the peoples of China and Pakistan can easily relate to each other’s feelings.
早在2000多年前，丝绸之路就在我们两个古老文明之间架起了友谊的桥梁。中国汉代使节张骞、东晋高僧法显、唐代高僧玄奘的足迹都曾经到过这里。巴基斯坦认为“诚信比财富更有用”，中国认为“人而无信，不知其可也”，两国传统文化理念契合相通。在近代，中巴曾经遭受帝国主义、殖民主义的侵略和压迫，彼此同情，相互支持。早在上世纪30年代，巴基斯坦伟大诗人伊克巴尔就写下了“沉睡的中国人民正在觉醒，喜马拉雅山的山泉已经开始沸腾”的诗句，赞扬和声援中国人民争取民族独立、反抗外来侵略的斗争。相似的历史遭遇，共同的斗争历程，使中巴人民心灵相通。
Only the toughest grass can stand high wind, and people show their moral qualities during times of hardship. We will not forget that Pakistan was one of the first countries that recognized New China, and the first Islamic state that established diplomatic relations with New China. At crucial moments, when New China broke the external blockade, retook its legitimate seat at the United Nations, and explored the issues of reform and opening up, Pakistan always stepped forward and gave us selfless and valuable help. When China suffered natural disaster challenges, Pakistan always provided help. During the big Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, Pakistan gave us generous support, mobilized all strategic airfreighters, and took its entire strategic reserves of tents to the disaster area right away. To save space on the flights, medical staff removed the chairs on the planes and set on the floor during the flights. As of today, thousands of Pakistani workers are working with Chinese workers night and day, on projects shouldered by China, from which many touching stories have emerged.
“疾风知劲草，烈火见真金。”我们不会忘记，巴基斯坦是最早承认新中国的国家之一，也是首个同新中国建立外交关系的伊斯兰国家。在新中国打破外部封锁、恢复在联合国合法席位、探索改革开放等关键时刻，巴基斯坦总是挺身而出，给予我们无私而宝贵的帮助。在中国遇到自然灾害和困难挑战的时候，巴基斯坦总是及时伸出援手。2008年中国汶川发生特大地震，巴基斯坦倾囊相助，出动所有的战略运输机，将全部战略储备帐篷第一时间运到了灾区。随行医疗队为节省飞机空间，拆掉了飞机上的座椅，一路上席地而坐。今天，数以千计的巴基斯坦工作人员在各地同中国职工一起夜以继日建设中国承担的项目，涌现出许多感人肺腑的故事。
And when Pakistan was in need, China always gave strong backing, too. China firmly supports Pakistan’s efforts for its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. When Pakistan suffered particularly heavy floods in 2010, China in the first place provided help with rescue forces from the air and on the ground, sending the biggest medical force in history, and dispatching, for the first time, convoys and helicopters, thus creating a precedent in China’s foreign rescue support. At the end of 2014, after the terrorist attack incident in Peshawar, China invited injured students from Pakistan, and their family people, to get treatment in China, to let the young minds feel the genuine friendship of the Chinese people.
同样，在巴基斯坦需要的时候，中国始终是巴方的坚强后盾。中国坚定支持巴基斯坦维护主权独立和领土完整的努力。2010年巴基斯坦遭受特大洪灾，中国第一时间伸出援手，陆空全方位施援，派出历史上最大规模的医疗救援队，首次派遣大规模车队和直升机执行救援任务，开创了中国对外援助史上的先河。2014年底，白沙瓦恐怖袭击事件发生后，中方专门邀请巴方受伤学生和家人赴华疗养，让孩子们幼小的心灵感受到中国人民真挚的情谊。
Following remarks about deepening strategic cooperation and the establishment of a Sino-Pakistani “economic corridor” (中巴经济走廊), Xi turns to public diplomacy, or “people-to-people diplomacy”:
Thirdly, China and Pakistan will be of the same mind, and maintain their friendship from generation to generation. The people are the decisive force behind the promotion of national progress and the development of history, and the support of the peoples of the two nations is the driving force behind our weather-proof friendship and comprehensive cooperation. 2015 is the year of Sino-Pakistani friendly exchanges. We want to have exchanges by friendship cities [友城?], cultural centers, platforms provided by the news media, to carry out festive activities rich in content, form, and shape. We want to continue the mutual exchange of young people, encourage the young of both countries to have more contacts with each other, and more exchange. During the coming five years, China will provide 2000 training places, and help Pakistan to train 1000 Chinese teachers. We welcome Pakistan’s active participation in the China South Asia Cultural Exchange Program, to make Sino-Pakistani friendship enter the hearts of the people yet more deeply.
第三，中巴要心心相印，坚持世代友好。人民是推动国家进步和历史发展的决定力量，两国人民支持是中巴全天候友谊和全方位合作的不竭动力。2015年是中巴友好交流年，我们要以友城交流、文化中心、新闻媒体为平台，开展形式多样、内容丰富的庆祝活动。我们要延续互派百人青年团的传统，鼓励两国青年一代多来往、多交流。中国将在未来5年内为巴方提供2000个培训名额，并帮助巴方培训1000名汉语教师。我们欢迎巴方积极参与中国－南亚人文交流计划，让中巴友好更加深入人心。
Disinterring an old Promise
The Chinese nation cherishes peace. For more than two-thousand years, Chinese people have known the truth that “Even if the state is great, if [the commander] loves war, [the state] will certainly be destroyed”. The Chinese people value [the principle of] “What you do not wish yourself,do not do onto others”, and do not identify with the idea that strong countries should be hegemons. To take the road of peaceful development is beneficial for China, for Asia, and for the world, and no power can change China’s belief in peaceful development. China adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal political affairs, will not impose its own will on others, and even if more powerful than now, it will never seek hegemony.
中华民族历来爱好和平。中国人在两千多年前就认识到“国虽大，好战必亡”的道理。中国人民崇尚“己所不欲，勿施于人”，中国不认同“国强必霸论”。走和平发展道路，对中国有利，对亚洲有利，对世界也有利，任何力量都不能动摇中国和平发展的信念。中国坚持不干涉别国内政原则，不会把自己的意志强加于人，即使再强大也永远不称霸。
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Related
» An Upbeat Visit, New York Times, Apr 21, 2015
» Widely hailed, Radio Pakistan, Apr 21, 2015
» 中巴关系有多铁, CNS, Apr 21, 2015
» India monitoring, Times of India, Apr 20, 2015
» Economic Corridor, Times of India, Apr 18, 2015
» AIR re-tweets Pakistan Bashing, The Hindu, Febr 16, 2015
» Strongest Supporters, Pew, July 14, 2014
» Few Americans trust Pakistan,Pew, Oct 23, 2013
» Should you ever …, May 24, 2011
» Muhammad Iqbal, Wikipedia, accessed 20150422
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