PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG'S NATIONAL DAY MESSAGE 2013

新加坡总理 李显龙2013年国庆节致辞

9 August 2013

2013年8月9日

My fellow Singaporeans:

亲爱的同胞:

I am speaking to you from the new SAFRA clubhouse in Toa Payoh. This is where SAFRA built its very first clubhouse in 1975. We have just rebuilt it with better facilities for NSmen and your families. It is a small gesture to thank you for your many contributions and sacrifices. It is also an example of how we are upgrading our amenities and environment as Singapore develops, year by year.

我是在战备军人协会崭新的大巴窑俱乐部和大家讲话。1975年，战备军协的第一个俱乐部就设在这里。不久前，大巴窑俱乐部经过重建后重新开放，为战备军人和家属提供更好的设施，这是感谢大家为国家做出贡献和牺牲的一点心意。随着国家的发展，我们也一步步改善我们的环境和设施，翻新战备军协俱乐部是其中一个例子。

We have made steady progress this past year. We have cleared the queue for HDB flats, stabilised BTO prices and tightened up on property speculation and excessive borrowing. We have added more buses and increased the number of bus routes. We are trying out free early morning MRT rides into the city. We will add more trains to the existing lines. Phase One of the Downtown Line will open in December, and more MRT lines after that. We also celebrated several successes in the arts and sports, including our LionsXII team winning the Malaysian Super League.

过去一年，我们的努力取得了成绩。在房屋方面，我们缩短了申购新组屋的等候时间，首次申请者不再需要等候多年才买得到新组屋。我们也稳住预购组屋价格，并采取措施抑制房地产投机活动和过度借贷的问题。在交通方面，我们扩大巴士车队和增加新巴士路线。为了舒缓早上繁忙时段的人潮，我们试验推行（在限定时间）免费乘搭地铁进市区的计划。接下来，我们还会为现有地铁线添置更多列车。地铁市区线的第一阶段路线将在今年12月通车。之后，还会有更多地铁线陆续通车。另外，我们在艺术和体育方面也获得成就，包括我国12狮足球队赢得马来西亚超级足球联赛冠军。

We are tackling longer term issues too, especially marriage and parenthood, as well as population. The White Paper on Population in January provoked strong reactions, but the debate helped us to understand the issues better. We face difficult choices: We need foreign workers to serve our economy and Singaporeans’ needs, and immigrants to make up for our shortfall of babies. But we also worry about crowding and congestion, and maintaining our Singaporean identity. So we are feeling our way forward carefully, conscious both of our needs and our limits, and seeking the best outcome for Singaporeans.

我们也正在着手处理一些长期课题，尤其是国人结婚生子和国家人口的课题。今年一月发布的人口白皮书引起了激烈的反应，不过这些讨论确实让我们更加了解有关课题。我们面对困难的抉择：一方面，我们需要引进外国劳工从事经济活动和应付国人的需要，也需要外来移民填补低生育率造成的人口不足；可是另一方面，我们又担心移民涌入造成拥挤问题，以及如何维系新加坡人对国家的认同感和归属感。所以，我们很小心地探索前方的路，我们知道我们的需要和我们面对的挑战，并希望为新加坡人寻求最好的结果。

Our economy is holding steady amidst global uncertainties. We are attracting more quality investments. Unemployment remains low. We grew by 2.0% in the first half of 2013, and expect to grow by 2.5-3.5% this year, higher than previously expected. Even as we tighten up on foreign workers and immigration, we must maintain investor confidence and keep Singapore open for business.

在全球经济不明朗的情况下，我国经济保持稳定。我们吸引到更多优质的投资项目，失业率也保持在低水平。今年上半年，我国经济增长百分之2，全年很可能达到百分之2.5到3.5的增长。在紧缩外劳和移民政策的同时，我们必须让投资者对我们保有信心，确保新加坡仍然是具有吸引力的经商之地。

The world is changing rapidly and unpredictably. Technology is transforming our lives. Societies everywhere feel under pressure: Jobs have become less secure, wages are rising more slowly or even stagnating, families are working harder, and parents worry whether their children will do better than themselves.

世界变得很快，也难以预测。科技给我们的生活带来巨大变化。在很多国家，社会压力正在加剧，工作少了保障, 工资增长缓慢甚至停滞下来，人们更卖力工作、为人父母者担心下一代的前景不如自己这一代。

Singapore is changing too. The economy is maturing and our population is ageing. Different groups in society now have more diverse and even conflicting interests. Older Singaporeans worry about healthcare and costs of living. Younger ones aspire to wider education opportunities and more affordable homes.

新加坡也在改变中。我国经济已趋向成熟，人口日渐老化，而社会各群体的诉求也更加多样化，甚至会互相抵触。年长国人担心医药保健和生活费的问题，年轻国人则渴望有更多更广的升学途径，以及价格更大众化的房子。

Our road ahead will be different from the road we have travelled. So we must reassess our position, review our direction, and refresh our strategies to thrive in this new world.

前方的路跟我们走过的路将会是不同的。因此，我们必须重新思考我们的定位、检讨我们的方向、和更新我们的策略，改善我们在这个新世界里的生活。

In my Message last year, I said that Singapore should always be our best Home, with Heart and Hope. We launched Our Singapore Conversation to define our shared future together. Many have participated actively and passionately. We heard many valuable suggestions. Thank you for taking part in this effort.

我在去年的国庆献词中曾说，新加坡是我们共有的家园，我们必须努力把她建设成一个富有爱心、充满希望，永远最美好的家。为此，我们开展了“我们的新加坡全国对话”，一起勾画我们共同的未来。许多国人积极热烈地参与讨论，我们听到了很多宝贵的意见。非常感谢你们的参与。

Our Singapore Conversation has helped us crystallise what we aspire to: A Singapore which gives its citizens opportunities to succeed and live fulfilling lives. A nation which defines success in many ways, and offers multiple paths to many peaks. A society with safety nets that give people peace of mind. A community where the disadvantaged get help, and those who have done well in turn do more to help others.

全国对话会让我们更加清楚和明白，大家向往的新加坡。我们希望它是一个能够为国民提供各种机会求取成功、充实人生的国家；一个对成功有广范定义、让人民能通过各种途径攀登不同高峰的国度；一个为国人提供安全网、让他们得以安身立命的社会；以及一个弱势群体能够获得帮助、成功者也愿意为他人付出的社区。

We will set goals and work out plans to realise these aspirations. We must match these aspirations against the world we live in – our competition, our opportunities, and our potential as a people.

我们将制订目标和计划，实现这些理想。不过，我们的理想不能脱离现实，我们必须考虑到，我们所处的世界会带给我们什么样的竞争、我们能享有什么样的机会，以及全国齐心合力

所能发挥的潜在力量。

Today Singapore stands tall internationally. Many countries admire us. Developed countries and emerging economies want to pick up ideas from us. Every citizen gains from our strong Singapore brand – our workers enjoy a premium in wages, and our people studying and working abroad are welcomed and respected.

今天的新加坡，在国际上享有崇高地位。许多国家羡慕我们，无论是发达国家或新兴经济体，都希望借鉴我们的经验。响亮的新加坡品牌已让所有公民受惠 ——我们的工友享有良好的工资，在外国念书或工作的新加坡人也受到礼遇。

At the same time, other countries are rapidly progressing and catching up. We must stay ahead of the competition, and maintain our standing in the world.

然而，另一方面，其他国家正迅速发展并迎头赶上。我们必须在世界竞争中保持领先，才能持续立足于世界。

To succeed under changed circumstances, we must adapt our basic approach to nation building. We must strike a new balance between the roles of the individual, the community and the State.

要在新形势下继续取得成功，就必须调整建设国家的根本方针和策略。我们必须在个人、社区和政府的角色之间，找到新的平衡。

We must strengthen our sense of community. We need to give greater mutual support to one another – helping the less fortunate in big ways and small; volunteering for causes that we care about; organising ourselves to work for the common good.

我们必须加强社区精神，更好地发挥互助精神，例如:以各种方式帮助社会上较不幸的人、义务推动自己认同的社会公益活动、或自发组织起来进行有利大众的事。

We already do this, especially during crises. When dengue and the haze threatened us, we stood together and took care of one another. That is Singapore – not just separate individuals, but a community with a shared purpose and a sense of collective responsibility, taking the initiative to help one another in good times and bad. We need to strengthen this spirit of togetherness.

事实上，我们已经在这么做了。当我们面对骨痛热症和烟霾的威胁时，我们并肩而立，守望相助。这就是新加坡，我们不是一群互不相干的个体，而是有着共同目标、体现集体责任精神、自动自发、愿意同甘共苦的社会。我们必须加强这个观念。

The Government will also play a bigger role to build a fair and just society. We will do more to enable every Singaporean to succeed, through education and lifelong learning. We will keep avenues to rise wide open to all. We will help those from families with less get off to a good start in life, beginning from pre-school. We will tackle the cost of living, for example healthcare costs, especially for the elderly. We will foster a more equal society, by helping every family afford their own HDB flat, and giving low income workers a better deal through Workfare. In Singapore, everyone will always have a stake in this country, and ample chances to make good in life.

在建设公平公正的社会方面，政府也将扮演更大的角色。我们会在教育和提倡终身学习方面做得更多，好让每个新加坡人都有机会取得成功，并确保各种提升的渠道对所有人保持敞开。我们会从学前教育着手，帮助家境较不宽裕的孩子，确保他们在人生道路上有好的起跑点。同时，政府也将进一步帮助国人应付生活费，例如医药费、尤其是年长者的医药费。为了建设更为平等的社会，我们将帮助每户家庭实现“居者有其屋”，以及通过“就业奖励计划”让低薪工友享有更合理的待遇。在新加坡，每个新加坡人永远是国家要照顾的对象，人人也都会有充分机会成就自己。

But remember: Each one of us must still do our best, and be self-reliant and resourceful. Because Singapore can only succeed if each one of us contributes his part.

不过，要记住：我们还必须各尽所能，发挥尽善尽美、自强不息的精神，因为唯有人人献出一份力，新加坡才能有所成就。

At the same time, all this is only possible if we are one united people, and not divided by race, social class, or political faction. We must always have able, honest and committed leaders, who can be trusted to serve Singaporeans. We need a good Government that thinks and plans ahead, and more importantly feels for our concerns and hopes. That is the way to build a better Singapore – together.

要实现这一切，我们就必须万众一心，不被种族、社会阶级或政治派别所分化。我们需要能干、诚实和有献身精神的国家领袖，他们必须值得信赖和会竭尽所能为人民服务。同时，我们也需要一个好政府——有前瞻性，会未雨绸缪，更重要的是懂得体察民情和体恤民心，了解我们的担忧和期望 。惟有社会、人民和政府一起努力，才能建设更美好的新加坡。

We have come a long way, but our best years are ahead of us. We have the power to shape our destiny and write a new chapter in the Singapore story. Let us stand together, and dedicate ourselves to building in Singapore a brighter future for all.

一路走来，新加坡取得了长足的发展，但我们最好的年头还没有到来。新加坡的命运掌握在每个新加坡人手中，我们有能力塑造未来，为新加坡故事谱写新的篇章。让我们携手为建设更美好的新加坡共同努力。

Happy National Day!

祝愿全体国人，国庆日快乐！

更多精品翻译素材，敬请关注可可英语。