回顾过去，东亚地区发生了深刻变化，取得了巨大进步。展望未来，我们可以满怀信心地说，推功东亚经济和社会发展达到新的水平，已经具备了比较良好的条件。

　　In retrospect, profound changes and tremendous progress have taken place in East Asia. Looking ahead, we can say with full confidence that relatively sound conditions exist for East Asia to raise its economic and social development to a new level.

　　维护地区的和平与稳定，发展经济科技，扩大互利合作，促进共同繁荣，成为东亚各国的共识。东亚国家致力于在相互尊重、平等相待、互不干涉内政的基础上发展相互关系，通过友好协商妥善处理存在的某些分歧。东亚政局稳定，国家关系良好。这为东亚各国保持经济持续增长，发展经济合作，创造了重要的前提条件。

　　It has become the shared understanding of East Asian countries to maintain regional peace and stability, develop the economy, science and technology, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote common prosperity. East Asian countries are committed to the development of their relations on the basis of mutual respect, treating one another as equals and non-interference in one another’s internal affairs and properly addressing some existing differences through friendly consultations. With political stability, East Asian countries enjoy good relations among themselves. This has provided an important prerequisite for the sustained economic growth of East Asian countries and the development of their economic cooperation.

　　东亚国家具有相当的经济实力，有的进入了发达阶段，有的踏上了新兴工业化的航程，有的正在步入快速发展的行列。这一地区拥有丰富的劳动力资源和自然资源，各国都在按照自己的实际情况确定发展战略，不断调整产业结构，转变增展方式，促进科技进步，加强对外经济联系。这为东亚各国开展经济合作提供了广阔的空间。

　　East Asian countries have built up significant economic strength. Some have entered the developed stage, others have joined the rank of newly industrialized nations, and still others have embarked on the road of rapid growth. Endowed with rich human and natural resources, countries in this region have formulated their development strategies in light of their actual conditions, constantly readjusted their industrial structure, effected shifts in modes of growth, promoted scientific and technological progress, and strengthened external economic exchanges. All this has provided a broad scope for East Asian countries to engage in economic cooperation.

　　东亚各国人民在漫长的历史实践中创造了自己的优秀文化。这种文化传统，以社会集体为重，崇尚自尊自强、艰苦奋斗、勤劳节俭、谦虚好学的美德，处理人际关系提倡和洽协调，对待国际关系主张和平共处。这是宝贵的精神财富。只要东亚各国结合本国的实际，顺应时代的潮流，弘扬和运用这些具有东方特色的文化传统和智慧，同时经济吸取世界各国人民创造的一切进步文明成果，就可以为不断发展东亚经济合作提供精神动力。

　　Through their long histories, the peoples of East Asian countries have created their own fine cultural traditions. These cultural traditions attach great value to social communities uphold such virtues as self-strengthening arduous effort, industriousness, frugality, modesty and eagerness to learn. They stress harmony in handling human relations and stand for peaceful coexistence in international relations. These cultural conditions constitute valuable spiritual legacy. As long as East Asian countries keep up with the trend of the times and carry forward and apply those cultural traditions and wisdom with oriental features in light of their actual national conditions while vigorously absorbing all fruits of human progress and civilization, the development of economic cooperation in East Asia will be further boosted by these spiritual motivations.

　　香港回归祖国诗中华民族的盛事，也是全世界瞩目的一件大事。中华民族雪洗了百年耻辱，振奋了民族精神，感到无比的骄傲和自豪。

　　The return of Hong Kong to the motherland is both a great victory for the Chinese nation and a great event attracting worldwide attention. It has wiped out the century-old humiliation of the Chinese nation and activated the national spirit, and we are very proud of it.

　　香港实现平稳过渡，标志着邓小平“一国两制”构想的巨大成功，对澳门回归和解决台湾问题，实现祖国完全统一将起到积极的推动作用。香港自回归祖国以来，保持了原有的社会、经济制度不变，生活方式不变和法律基本不变，“一国两制”、“港人治港”、高度自治的方针和香港特别行政区基本法得到全面贯彻执行。香港社会稳定，人心稳定，经济保持稳健运行。

　　The smooth transition of power in Hong Kong is a great success attributable to Deng Xiaoping’s concept of “one country, two systems” and will facilitate the return of Macao to the motherland and the solution of the Taiwan issue, all with a view to achieving the complete reunification of the motherland. Since its return, Hong Kong’s previous socioeconomic system and way of life have remained unchanged and its laws have been kept basically unchanged. The policies of “one country, two systems”, and “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” with a high degree of autonomy, and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have been implemented in an all-round way. Hong Kong now enjoys social stability, its residents have a sense of security and its economy is developing smoothly.

　　中央政府全力支持香港特别行政区政府的工作，支持香港为应付东南亚金融风暴的冲击而采取的措施。我们高兴地看到，香港特别行政区作为独立的选举单位，选出自己的全国人大代表，出席本次大会，参与管理国家大事。香港回归祖国以来已经有了一个良好的开端，也一定会有更加美好的未来。

　　The central government has given full support to the government of HKSAR in its work and in the measures it has taken for dealing with the impact of the financial crises in Southeast Asian countries. We are pleased to see that, as an independent constituency, HKSAR has elected deputies to attend this congress and participate in the administration of state affairs. Hong Kong’s return has had a good beginning and Hong Kong’s future will be even brighter.

　　现代化的交通、电信与大众传媒手段使世界越来越小，国际社会如同一个地球村，居住在地球村里的各国人民在文化交流和冲撞中和睦相处、彼此尊重、共求发展。

　　Modern means of transportation, telecommunication and mass media have shortened the geographical distance of the world. The international community appears to be no more than a global village, in which peoples of all nations experience the inevitable cultural exchanges and clashes, while seeking common development in a harmonious and respectful relationship.

　　我赞同这种的看法：当代社会的民族文化不可能在自我封闭的状态下得到发展。在我看来，不同的文化应该相互学习，取长补短。当然，在广泛的文化交流中，一个民族的文化必须保持本民族的鲜明特色。我认为，文化交流不是让外来文化吞没自己的文化，而是为了丰富各民族的文化。

　　I’m with the view that in this modern world, the culture of any nation cannot develop in isolation. And I believe that different cultures should learn from each other’s strengths to offset their own weaknesses. Of course, the culture of a nation must withhold its own distinctive national characteristics in its extensive exchange with other cultures. Cultural exchange, I think, is by no means a process of losing one’s own culture to a foreign culture, but a process of enriching each other’s national curltures.