中国外交部翻译司司长张建敏：“21世纪杯”大有可为

It has been a great privilege for me to be involved with the 21st century cup English speaking contest for so many years. 

非常荣幸多年参与“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛。

When I think about why this contest came into being, how it has grown and what impacts it has made, I cannot but marvel at the vision of its founders.

每当想到比赛创办的缘由、成长的历程和产生的影响，我都会由衷地钦佩创办者当初的远见。

Yes, the 21st century cup story is one about Chinese students striving to improve their English speaking and communication abilities, but more importantly, it is also a story of China's remarkable progress in opening-up and its sincere efforts for better mutual understanding with the outside world.

是的，比赛让人看到中国学生如何努力提高语言水平和沟通能力，但同时，它也让人看到中国不断扩大开放，并致力于增进与世界的相互理解。

In this new era of exchanges between China and the world, the 21st century cup will have an even bigger role to play, especially in encouraging more and more Chinese students to commit themselves to both serving the country and meeting challenges facing all humankind.

I wish the 21st century cup greater success, and I hope more contestants will join us in the Chinese foreign service.

我们已经进入中国和世界交往空前密切的新时代。在这一新时代，21世纪杯比赛更加大有可为，特别是可以鼓励更多中国学生不仅立志服务国家，而且要努力应对人类面临的全球挑战。我预祝“21世纪杯”比赛未来更加成功，我也希望能有更多比赛选手选择外交事业。