Speech at the Official Ceremony for the China National Pavilion Day on Shanghai Expo
by Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress
Expo Center, World Expo Park, Oct. 1, 2010

尊敬的各位国家元首、议长，
尊敬的各位贵宾，
女士们，先生们，
朋友们：

Your Excellencies Heads of State and Speakers of Parliament,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

在隆重庆祝新中国成立61周年的喜庆日子里，我们又迎来上海世博会中国国家馆日，不仅给中国的国庆增添了欢乐的气氛，也把上海世博会推向了新的高潮。首先，我谨代表中国政府和人民，向出席中国国家馆日活动的各位来宾表示热烈的欢迎和诚挚的感谢！

On this joyous day of grand celebration for the 61st anniversary of the People's Republic of China, we gather here to mark the China National Pavilion Day of Expo 2010 Shanghai. It adds to happiness of the anniversary of the People's Republic, and it brings the Expo 2010 Shanghai event to a new height. At the outset, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, warm welcome and sincere thanks to all distinguished guests attending the China National Pavilion Day events.

上海世博会是世博史上第一次在发展中国家举行的全球盛会。5个月来，参展的246个国家和国际组织汇集黄埔江畔，100多位外国领导人莅临世博园区，近6000万中外游客接踵而至，200多万中外志愿者真诚奉献，联袂演绎了“城市，让生活更美好”的华彩乐章。不到6平方公里的世博园，千姿百态的万国建筑毗邻而居，独具匠心的创意布展争奇斗艳，丰富多彩的文艺演出竞相绽放，各领风骚的最佳实践区熠熠生辉，启迪智慧的论坛对话精彩纷呈，生动体现了世界的多样性，构成一幅多元文化、多种文明和谐共融的美好画卷。

Expo 2010 Shanghai is the first such global event hosted by a developing country in the history of the world expo. In the past five months, participants from 246 countries and international organizations have gathered by the Huangpu River to attend the Expo. The Expo site has hosted over 100 foreign leaders and nearly 60 million Chinese and foreign visitors. Together with the over two million dedicated volunteers from home and abroad, they have made "Better City, Better Life" a living reality. In the less than six square kilometer Expo Park, pavilions of diverse styles bearing distinct features of different countries stand alongside each other, hosting creative exhibitions and various cultural performances, not to mention the unique Urban Best Practices Area and the inspiring forum dialogues. Together, they form a vivid picture of the diverse world and the harmonious co-existence of different cultures and civilizations.

我们完全有理由相信，在各方共同努力下，上海世博会一定能够办成一届成功、精彩、难忘的世博会。借此机会，我谨对大力支持上海世博会的各国政府和人民、国际展览局和有关国际组织、各参展方以及所有为上海世博会作出贡献的朋友们，表示衷心的感谢！

We have every reason to believe that, with concerted efforts of all sides, Expo 2010 Shanghai will surely be a successful, splendid and unforgettable event. Let me take this opportunity to express sincere gratitude to the governments and peoples of other countries, to the International Exhibitions Bureau and relevant international organizations, to all participants for their great support for the Expo and to all friends who have contributed their share to the Expo.

女士们、先生们、朋友们！

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

屹立于上海世博园的中国馆“东方之冠”，光彩夺目，气势磅礴，它以“城市发展中的中华智慧”为主线，让人从中感受中国人民创造美好生活的生动实践，领略中华文化世代传承的和谐理念，畅想中国科学发展的美好未来。

Standing proudly in the Expo Park, the splendid and magnificent China Pavilion, the "Oriental Crown", is a showcase of "Chinese Wisdom in Urban Development". It is living proof of the effort by the Chinese people in pursuit of a better life. It gives expression to the long-lasting belief in harmony as rooted in the Chinese culture and to the vision of a brighter future of China through scientific development.

中华民族有着悠久的历史和灿烂的文化，在5000多年的漫长岁月中，各族中华儿女在这片广袤的大地上薪火相传、生生不息，孕育了勤劳勇敢、自强不息的优秀品格，铸就了海纳百川、兼容并蓄的博大胸怀，形成了鼎故革新、勇于探索的进取精神，为人类社会的文明进步作出了不可磨灭的重大贡献。

The Chinese nation has a long history and a splendid culture. For over 5,000 years, generation after generation of the Chinese people of different ethnic groups have lived on this vast land. They have formed a fine character of diligence, courage and self-reliance. They are open-minded and inclusive. They dare to innovate and explore new ways of development. The contribution they have made to the progress of human civilization is significant and indelible.

新中国成立60多年来，中国共产党团结带领全国各族人民，以改天换地的豪情壮志和波澜壮阔的创新实践，成功实现了从半殖民地半封建社会到民族独立、人民当家作主新社会的历史性转变，从新民主主义革命到社会主义革命和建设的历史性转变，从高度集中的计划经济体制到充满活力的社会主义市场经济体制、从封闭半封闭到全方位开放的历史性转变，谱写了中华民族气壮山河的壮丽史诗。

Over the past 60 years or more since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in an earth-shaking and pioneering endeavor and succeeded in bringing about three historic shifts: the shift from a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society to a new society of national independence, where people are the masters of their own country; the shift from a new democratic revolution to a socialist revolution and development; and the shift from a highly centralized planned economy to a robust socialist market economy and from a closed or semi-closed state to one of all-round opening up. These are indeed epoch-making changes of the Chinese nation.

改革开放30多年来，国民经济以世界上少有的速度持续快速发展，各项事业全面进步，综合国力大大增强，人民生活总体达到小康，城乡面貌日新月异，民族团结和睦，社会和谐稳定，国际地位不断提升，古老的中华大地焕发出勃勃生机。

In the past 30 years since the beginning of reform and opening-up, China's economy has maintained rapid growth rarely seen in the world. Our social programs have made progress. Our comprehensive national strength has increased significantly. Our people, on the whole, are leading a life of moderate prosperity, with the outlook of rural and urban areas steadily improving. We enjoy unity and amity among all our ethnic groups, harmony and stability in our society and continued rise in our international standing. China, once an ancient land, is taking on new vigor and vitality.

展望未来，到2020年，我们将建成惠及十几亿人口的更高水平的小康社会，到本世纪中叶将基本实现现代化。这是一代又一代中国人梦寐以求的美好愿景和矢志不渝的奋斗目标。更多信息请访问：http://www.engbus.cn/

Looking ahead, we will build a moderately prosperous society at a higher level by 2020 to benefit our over one billion people, and will realize modernization by the middle of this century. This is the grand vision and abiding goal of the Chinese people from generation to generation.

正是因为中国人民曾饱受贫寒饥饿的煎熬，更加渴望过上富足安康的生活，发展已成为中国人内在的共同追求。

The Chinese people, once plagued by poverty and hunger, long all the more for a life of prosperity and peace. This had made development a common pursuit of the Chinese people.

正是因为中国改革开放以来始终把发展作为第一要务，人民生活一天比一天好，发展是硬道理的思想已深入人心，不可逆转。

China has given top priority to development ever since it started reform and opening-up. This has resulted in higher and higher living standards of the people and rendered the belief that development is of overwhelming importance popular and unchangeable.

正是为中华民族酷爱和平，近代又频受劫难、屡遭战乱，中国人更加珍惜和平，更加懂得维护世界和平既是应尽的国际义务，也是谋求自身发展的内在需要。

The Chinese nation is a peace-loving nation. Having suffered from numerous atrocities and wars in modern history, we know all too well the value of peace. And we are keener in the understanding that to uphold world peace is our international obligation and serves our development need at home.

中国作为世界上最大的发展中国家，是在人口多、底子薄、起步晚的基础上发展起来的，仍处于并将长期处于社会主义初级阶段。我们相信，前进的道路上会遇到这样或那样的矛盾和困难，但我们对未来充满信心。因为我们已经开辟了中国特色社会主义发展道路，形成了中国特色社会主义理论体系。

China is the largest developing country in the world, and China's development is based on a large population, a weak economic foundation and a late start in development. China remains and will continue to be in the primary stage of socialism for a fairly long period of time. We are consciously aware that there will be problems and challenges on the way ahead. Yet, we are fully confident about our future, because we have embarked on a road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and have formulated a system of theories on socialism with Chinese characteristics.

只要我们坚定不移地沿着这条道路走下去，深入贯彻落实科学发展观，继续解放思想，坚持改革开放，推动科学发展，促进社会和谐，就一定能够把中国建设成为富强民主文明和谐的社会主义现代化国家。

As long as we follow this road unswervingly, thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, continue to free our minds, remain committed to reform and opening-up and promote scientific development and social harmony, we will certainly make China a socialist modern country that is prosperous, democratic, harmonious and culturally advanced.

女士们、先生们、朋友们！

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

再过一个月，上海世博会就要落下帷幕。但世博会倡导的进步创新、和谐共融的精神历久弥新，世界人民求和平谋发展促合作的时代潮流滚滚向前。让我们携起手来，加强交流互鉴，密切沟通协调，积极应对挑战，为推动建设持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐世界而努力奋斗！

Though Expo 2010 Shanghai will be concluded in one month's time, the spirit of progress, innovation, harmony and common prosperity advocated by the Expo will long endure. Ours is a time when people around the world are calling for peace, development and cooperation. Let us join hands to enhance exchanges and mutual learning, deepen contacts and coordination, rise up to challenges, and work together to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity!

谢谢大家。

Thank you.