让世界文明的花园百花齐放、春色满园 ——谢锋大使在“中国时尚与艺术体验”活动上的致辞

Let all cultures flourish together in the garden of world civilizations —— Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Xie Feng at the Experience Chinese Fashion and Arts event

2024年4月26日

April 26, 2024

尊敬的阿尔马格罗秘书长，

各位来宾，

女士们、先生们、朋友们:

Secretary-General Almagro and Ms. Marín,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

欢迎各位到中国驻美使馆体验中国时尚与艺术。首先，感谢远道而来的香黛宫艺术团及华盛顿雪娟舞蹈团，让大家有机会通过时装秀、旗袍舞、亲自试穿等多种方式，全方位领略旗袍文化的独特魅力。很高兴与美国全球外交服务协会共同主办本场活动，让更多美国朋友走进使馆、共同体验中国时尚与艺术。

Welcome to the Experience Chinese Fashion and Arts event at the Chinese Embassy. First of all, let me thank members of the Chantel Gong Art Troupe led by Ms. Gong Hangyu, who have come a long way from China, and the Xuejuan Dance Ensemble, for leading us to explore the unique charm of qipao through fashion show, dance and styling. It is a great pleasure to co-host the event with the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide, and have all of you here with us today for a journey into Chinese fashion and art.

旗袍是独一无二的，它展现了精湛的中国传统手工技艺，被列入国家级非物质文化遗产名录。它浓郁的民族风格、独特的美学价值和深厚的文化内涵，已经成为中国女性优雅自信、大气端庄的象征。2014年，中方选择旗袍作为APEC领导人非正式会议的夫人服饰。

Qipao is one of a kind. Known for its exquisite traditional craftsmanship, qipao has been listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in China. With its iconic style and aesthetic and cultural value, qipao fully embodies the grace and confidence of Chinese women. In 2014, it was the outfit for leaders’ spouses at the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing. 

旗袍是传统的、也是现代的。旗袍从清朝宫廷走向大街小巷、不断改良创新，展现了新时代女性突破传统束缚、追求独立自主的新风貌。旗袍是中国的、也是世界的。作为中国传统服饰的代表，旗袍被誉为国粹，既蕴含优雅端庄的东方韵味，同时融合中西方元素、日益走向世界。海派旗袍发祥于我的家乡上海，正是“兼容并蓄、海纳百川”的海派文化的体现。不少好莱坞影星身着旗袍亮相，很多国际知名品牌也从旗袍中获取设计灵感。

Qipao is both traditional and modern. It has evolved from Qing Dynasty court attire into everyday clothing, serving as a testimony to how girls and women of the new era break free from convention and embrace independence.

Qipao is both of China and of the world. Known as a national treasure, it is the quintessence of Chinese elegance, and has also gained global appeal by integrating Eastern and Western elements. For instance, the Shanghai-style qipao, which originated in my hometown, is an epitome of Shanghai culture featuring diversity and inclusiveness. Many Hollywood stars have made public appearances in qipao, and the dress is a constant source of inspiration for designers of global brands. 

服饰是世界认识中国的一扇窗口。中华文明历经数千年绵延不绝，在革故鼎新中不断发展、在兼收并蓄中生生不息。从张骞出使西域架起东西方文明交流的桥梁，到唐代与70多国通使开创“万国衣冠会长安”的盛唐气象；从佛教东传到“西学东渐”，再到改革开放以来全方位对外开放，中华文明既保持历久弥新的独特魅力，为人类文明发展贡献了华彩篇章，又借鉴吸收一切人类优秀文明成果，在同其他文明交流互鉴中汲取营养。今日之中国，正以更加开放的姿态拥抱世界、以更有活力的文明成就贡献世界。

Attire is a window to understand China. The Chinese civilization has run uninterrupted for thousands of years, exploring new ground through reform and innovation, and gaining fresh vigor through drawing on other cultures. 

Over 2,100 years ago, Zhang Qian, a Han Dynasty envoy, made a journey westward, building bridges of exchanges between Eastern and Western cultures. In the Tang Dynasty, China exchanged envoys with over 70 countries, and its capital Chang’an bustled with people from around the world. From the introduction of Buddhism and Western learning, to all-round opening-up since 1978, Chinese civilization has both retained its uniqueness and kept contributing to human civilization, and enriched itself through interactions and mutual learning with other cultures. China today is opening its arms wider to embrace the world, and creating a better world with a more dynamic civilization.

世界不缺乏美，缺乏的是善于发现美的眼睛、接受不同文化之美的平和心态、欣赏所有文明之美的宽广胸怀。中美历史文化、社会制度、发展道路不同，这不应该成为阻碍交流的鸿沟，而应当成为相互借鉴的动力。近期“新中式”火爆出圈，用“中国风”上衣搭配美国牛仔裤、汉服马面裙搭配美国T恤衫，将中西方服饰文化、传统因素与现代审美潮流完美融合，成为几乎人手一件的“新春战袍”。中国科幻小说《三体》被搬上美国荧幕，融合中国元素与西方文化的动画电影《功夫熊猫4》正在热映，再次证明不同文化完全可以各美其美、美美与共。

Beauty is everywhere. What is lacking is not beauty, but eyes to perceive her, and a big heart and an open mind to appreciate the beauty of all civilizations. China and the United States are different in history, culture, social system and development path. Nevertheless, these should not hamper our exchanges, but should encourage us to learn from each other.  

In recent years, especially during this Spring Festival, more and more young people have become fascinated with the neo-Chinese style. OOTDs (outfit of the day) such as Chinese-style tops with jeans and T-shirts with horse-face skirts are gaining traction, in a perfect combination of Chinese and Eastern attire and traditional and modern aesthetics. The Three Body Problem, adapted from Chinese sci-fi bestsellers, is now on Netfix. Kung Fu Panda 4, a fusion of Chinese and Western culture, is in theaters. All these have proven again that there is every reason why different civilizations can prosper respectively and together.

女士们、先生们、朋友们，

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

一朵鲜花打扮不出美丽的春天。世界上有200多个国家和地区、2500多个民族和多种宗教，每一种服饰、每一种音乐、每一种生活方式，都是不可替代的，都是人类共同的宝贵财富。中方提出全球文明倡议，希望与世界各国一道，共同倡导尊重世界文明多样性，共同倡导弘扬全人类共同价值，共同倡导重视文明传承和创新，共同倡导加强国际人文交流合作。希望时尚和艺术成为中美文化交流互鉴的纽带、不同文明对话进步的动力。

As an idiom goes, “A single flower does not make a spring.” There are over 200 countries and regions in this world, with more than 2,500 ethnic groups and multiple religions. Each and every kind of attire, music and lifestyle is irreplaceable and is a shared treasure of mankind. 

This is why China has put forward the Global Civilization Initiative. We look forward to working with other countries to jointly advocate the respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. It is our hope that fashion and art will serve as bridges for China-U.S. cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and inject impetus into dialogue between and common progress of all civilizations.

祝大家度过一个美好的夜晚。谢谢！

I wish you all a wonderful evening! Thank you.