英语新闻丨马英九将率台湾青年来大陆出席有关活动并参访

Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, will lead a group of Taiwan youth to the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang and Sichuan later this month to participate in an ice-themed major event and engage in other exchange activities, a spokesperson from the Chinese mainland announced on Wednesday.

国务院台办发言人11日宣布，中国国民党前主席马英九将率台湾青年于12月下旬赴黑龙江、四川出席海峡两岸青年冰雪节活动并参访。

This will be Ma's second visit to the mainland this year, following an 11-day trip starting from the end of March, during which he led a Taiwan youth delegation to Guangdong, Shaanxi and Beijing. The visit concluded with a meeting between Ma and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

这将是马英九今年第二次访问大陆，此前他曾于3月底进行为期11天的访问，期间率领台湾青年学子访问了广东、陕西和北京。访问结束时，中共中央总书记习近平会见马英九一行。

Last week, a delegation of mainland college students, including Olympic table tennis champion Ma Long and shooting champion Yang Qian, completed a nine-day visit to Taiwan.

上周，包括奥运乒乓球冠军马龙和射击冠军杨倩在内的大陆高校师生访问团结束了对台湾为期9天的访问交流。

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, confirmed at a regular news briefing that Ma's upcoming visit will occur from Dec 18 to 26. She welcomed Ma's visit and assured that all activities would be well-arranged.

国务院台办发言人朱凤莲在例行新闻发布会上证实，马英九将于12月18日至26日来访。她对马英九的到来表示欢迎，并保证将妥善安排各项活动。

Zhu emphasized that China has a long history, rich culture, vast territory and magnificent landscapes, making it a shared homeland for compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. She added that the youth on both sides represent the future of cross-Strait relations.

朱凤莲强调，中国历史悠久、文化灿烂、幅员辽阔、山川壮美，是两岸同胞的共同家园。两岸青年承载着两岸关系的未来和希望。

"We hope that compatriots on both sides, especially young people, will frequently interact and visit each other, inherit and promote excellent traditional Chinese culture, enhance exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Zhu said.

“希望两岸同胞特别是青年朋友常来往、多走动，共同传承弘扬中华优秀传统文化，携手促进两岸各领域交流合作，致力中华民族伟大复兴。”朱凤莲说。

Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, said in a news release that, amid global tensions, cross-Strait relations are more important. He emphasized that, as Ma has said, the more exchanges and profound understanding there are between young people across the Strait, the fewer conflicts there will be in the future.

马英九文教基金会执行长萧旭岑在一份新闻稿中说，在全球紧张局势下，两岸关系更为重要。他强调，正如马英九所说，两岸年轻人之间的交流越多，理解越深刻，未来的冲突就会越少。

During this visit, Ma and the Taiwan youths will participate in an ice-themed event in Heilongjiang, China's northeasternmost province, which will be attended by young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

访问期间，马英九和台湾青年将参加在中国最东北省份黑龙江举行的冰雪主题活动，两岸青年也都将参加。

Zhu said the event, taking place from Dec 18 to 24, will include activities such as a short video exhibition, an exchange seminar with cross-Strait youths, and a tour of venues for the 9th Asian Winter Games.

朱凤莲介绍，此次活动将于12月18日至24日举行，包括短视频展播、两岸青年交流座谈会、第九届亚洲冬季运动会场馆巡礼等多项活动。

"Currently, it is expected that around 1,000 participants, mostly young people, will participate in the ice-themed activities," Zhu said.

“目前，预计将有以台湾青年为主体的约1000名台胞参加冰雪节活动。”朱凤莲说。

Just days ago, from Nov 27 to Dec 5, a delegation of 40 teachers and students from seven mainland universities, including Tsinghua University, visited Taiwan. The group engaged in exchanges with their Taiwan peers, visited universities, and toured historical and cultural sites, including the Taipei Confucius Temple.

就在几天前，11月27日至12月5日，由清华大学等7所大陆高校40名师生组成的访问团赴台参访。访问团与台湾同行进行了交流，参观了大学，并游览了台北孔庙等历史古迹。

Zhu noted that the visit was warmly welcomed and actively supported by various sectors in Taiwan. "The people of Taiwan have felt the youthful energy of mainland youths, represented by Olympic champions Ma Long and Yang Qian, and their sincerity and goodwill in understanding Taiwan," she said.

朱凤莲指出，此次访问受到了台湾各界的热烈欢迎和积极支持。她说：“台湾民众看到了以奥运冠军马龙、杨倩为代表的大陆青年的青春风采，看到了他们了解台湾的诚意善意。”

She cited several Taiwan children who expressed a desire to learn table tennis in the mainland after receiving signed paddles from Ma.

她举例说，一些台湾小朋友得到马龙签名球拍后，表示希望有机会来大陆学习乒乓球。

Meanwhile, the mainland delegation also experienced the warmth and friendliness of the Taiwan people and their genuine willingness to engage with the mainland, the spokeswoman said.

与此同时，朱凤莲表示，大陆师生访问团也感受到台湾民众的热情友善以及和大陆交流的真情实意。

Zhu said that the mainland group members received many handwritten letters, postcards and well-prepared small gifts from Taiwan people.

朱凤莲指出，大陆访问团收到很多台湾民众手写的信件、明信片和用心准备的小礼物。

"Many young people from Taiwan and mainland delegation members agreed to meet again next year, looking forward to more exchanges across the Strait," Zhu said. "Their actions and efforts have promoted cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, brought compatriots closer and demonstrated deep affection."

“很多台湾青年和访问团成员相约来年再见，期待两岸有更多交流。” 朱凤莲说，“他们用自身行动和努力促进了两岸交流合作，拉近了两岸同胞距离，诠释了浓浓的同胞亲情。”

The mainland will continue to support and promote cross-Strait youth exchanges, providing more platforms and opportunities for mutual learning and interaction so that young people on both sides can make greater contributions to the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations, according to the mainland official.

朱凤莲表示，大陆将一如既往支持和推动两岸青年交流，持续为两岸青年互学互鉴、交流交心搭建更多平台、创造更多机会，让两岸青年为推动两岸关系和平发展、融合发展贡献更大力量。

compatriot

n. 同胞

rejuvenation

n. 复兴

cross-Strait youth exchange

海峡两岸青年交流