On 21 September 2016, The Globe and Mail published an article of Premier Li Keqiang. The full text of the article is as follows.
9月21日，即將訪問加拿大的中國國務院總理李克強在加拿大英文媒體《環球郵報》發表署名文章，全文如下：

A time to nurture cooperation
讓中加友好合作結出更多碩果

21 September 2016

By H.E. Li Keqiang

Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
中華人民共和國國務院總理 李克強

I am delighted to be coming to Canada, the beautiful land of maples. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a visit to China, during which the two sides reached extensive common understanding on the development of China-Canada relations. My visit to Canada at a short interval of three weeks is to inaugurate the new annual dialogue between our heads of government and further promote mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries to secure fresh progress for the China-Canada strategic partnership.
我即將訪問美麗的“楓葉之國”加拿大。不久前，特魯多總理到訪中國，雙方就中加關系發展達成很多共識。時隔3個星期，我應邀訪問加拿大，進行兩國總理首次年度對話，目的是進一步增進中加相互了解，擴大互利合作，推動中加戰略伙伴關系持續向前發展。

As an ancient poem goes, distance cannot divide true friends who feel close even when thousands of miles apart. Though separated by the vast Pacific Ocean, our two peoples enjoy a deep bond of amity and goodwill. As early as the latter half of the 19th century, tens of thousands of Chinese workers came to Canada to help build the Canadian Pacific Railway, which linked up the country’s east and west and contributed to Canada’s economic and social development. In the 1930s, Norman Bethune, a Canadian doctor, devoted himself to the Chinese people’s struggle against Japanese aggression and made the ultimate sacrifice. In the 1970s, defying all odds, the older generation of Chinese and Canadian leaders made the bold and visionary decision to open the door of relations between our countries, making Canada one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with New China. All these episodes remain fresh in the memory of many Chinese and Canadians.
相知無遠近，萬里尚為鄰。中加兩國雖隔著寬廣的太平洋，但兩國人民心理距離很近，彼此充滿友好和親切感。早在19世紀中后期，數以萬計的華工參加修筑加拿大太平洋鐵路，為貫通加拿大東西大動脈、促進經濟社會發展作出了貢獻。上世紀30年代，白求恩大夫積極投身中國人民抗日戰爭事業，獻出了寶貴生命。70年代，兩國老一輩政治家以非凡的勇氣和遠見卓識，沖破重重阻力，開啟了中加關系的大門，加拿大成為最早同新中國建交的西方國家之一。這些都已成為兩國人民口口相傳的佳話。

Recent years have seen more such handshakes across the Pacific. We decided to set up an annual dialogue between the Premier of China and the Prime Minister of Canada, which will make policy communication between us more timely and effective. China is Canada’s second largest trading partner. Bucking the trend of steep decline in global trade, China-Canada trade continued to rise last year. Two-way investment has been booming, evidenced by a 126% increase in the investment by Chinese companies in Canada last year. Our people-to-people exchanges are also growing. Each week 90 or so flights crisscross between us, making possible more than 1.3 million visits between us last year.
近年來，中加跨越太平洋的握手更加有力。雙方建立了總理年度對話機制，政策溝通交流更加及時、高效。中國是加拿大第二大貿易伙伴。在全球貿易額大幅下降的背景下，去年兩國貿易額逆勢增長。雙向投資蓬勃發展，去年中國企業對加投資增長126%。兩國人文交流日益頻繁，目前每周約有90個航班穿梭于中加之間，去年人員往來超過130萬人次。

China-Canada relations enjoy a solid foundation and bright prospects. There is neither past grievances nor foreseeable major conflicts of interests between us. Our economies, which are at different stages of development, are highly complementary, making us natural partners of cooperation. We both uphold multilateralism and cultural diversity, and are active players and contributors in the international system. In the context of the sluggish world economic recovery, our countries face greater challenges in economic development and business cooperation, yet our converging interests and mutual need have also grown stronger. It remains in the fundamental interests of both countries to expand multi-dimensional and high-quality cooperation.
中加關系發展具有良好的基礎和光明的前景。兩國既沒有歷史問題糾葛，也沒有重大現實利害沖突。兩國處于不同的發展階段，經濟互補性很強，是天然的合作伙伴。兩國都奉行多邊主義，主張維護文明多樣性，都是國際體系的積極參與者和建設者。當前，世界經濟復蘇艱難曲折，兩國經濟發展和經貿合作都面臨新的挑戰，雙方的共同利益在增加，相互需求也在增加。拓展中加全方位、高水平合作，符合雙方的根本利益。

Mutual trust is the cornerstone of friendly relations and cooperation between China and Canada. We appreciate the pro-active approach taken by the new Canadian government toward developing relations with China. We are ready to work with Canada to cultivate a healthy, stable and future-oriented strategic partnership in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation. We will step up communication and coordination with Canada at the UN, G20, APEC and other fora to send a positive signal of China and Canada working together to promote world peace and stability, and contribute our share to the recovery of the world economy. The two sides should respect each other’s concerns on issues of vital interests and the right to independently choose the path of development and overcome distractions to make sure that the ship of China-Canada relations power ahead on the right course.
政治互信是中加友好合作的基石。中方贊賞加拿大新政府積極致力于發展對華關系，愿同加方著眼長遠，本著相互尊重、平等相待、合作共贏的精神，發展長期健康穩定的戰略伙伴關系。中方愿同加方在聯合國、二十國集團、亞太經合組織等框架內加強溝通協調，向國際社會發出共同維護和平與穩定的積極信號，為推動世界經濟復蘇貢獻力量。雙方應尊重彼此重大利益關切和自主選擇發展道路的權利，排除各種干擾，使中加關系這艘巨輪在正確的航道上破浪前行。

Economic cooperation and trade is the driving force of China-Canada relations. Currently, China-Canada trade only accounts for 1.4% of China’s total foreign trade and 8.1% of that of Canada. Canadian investment in China takes up less than 1% of all foreign investment in China, and Chinese investment in Canada is a mere 2.7% of total foreign investment in Canada. This spells out a tremendous potential to develop our trade and economic cooperation.
經貿合作是中加友好合作的動力。目前，中加貿易規模僅占中國外貿總額的1.4%、加拿大外貿總額的8.1%，加拿大對華投資占中國吸收外資總額的比重不到1%，中國對加投資占加拿大吸收外資總額的比重也只有2.7%，雙方經貿合作潛力巨大。

China is willing to open its markets wider and further increase imports of high-quality agricultural and hi-tech products from Canada. We hope the feasibility study on a China-Canada free trade area can be launched expeditiously to lay the institutional foundation for liberalized trade between the two countries. We welcome Canadian companies to make investments and do business in China to share the opportunities that come with China’s economic growth. We encourage competent Chinese companies to invest in Canada to help drive the local economy and create more jobs. It is hoped that the Canadian side will view economic relations and trade with China in an objective and rational way and work to nurture a sound policy environment and favorable public opinion for such cooperation.
中方愿意擴大市場開放，進一步增加加拿大優質農產品、高科技產品進口。中方希望盡早啟動中加自貿區可行性研究，為雙邊貿易自由化奠定制度基礎。中方歡迎加拿大的企業來中國投資興業，分享中國經濟發展機遇。我們鼓勵有實力的企業赴加投資，拉動當地經濟發展，創造更多就業機會。也希望加方客觀理性看待中加經貿關系，為雙邊經貿合作營造良好的政策環境和輿論環境。

People-to-people exchanges are a powerful catalyst for China-Canada friendly cooperation. Amity between the people holds the key to state-to-state relations. In recent years, people-to-people and cultural exchanges have increased between our countries, deepening the bond of friendship between our peoples. Canada has become a key destination for Chinese tourists and students, with the number of Chinese students studying in Canada reaching more than 150,000. Chinese language and culture are getting popular with Canadians and more and more young Canadians take to Chinese calligraphy and Kungfu. Chinese TV programs feature well-known Canadians, and the “Group of Seven” is popular with many Chinese.
人文交流是中加友好合作的橋梁。國之交在民相親、心相通。近年來，兩國人文交流日益加強，人民之間的友誼不斷加深。加拿大已成為中國人旅游和留學的重要目的地，中國在加拿大留學生已超過15萬人。同時，加拿大人掀起學習漢語、研究中國文化的熱潮，越來越多的加拿大年輕人喜歡中國的書法和功夫。中國電視節目中出現不少加拿大人的身影，加拿大“七人畫派”在中國有相當的知名度。

Following the year of cultural exchange 2015-2016, our two countries have dedicated the year 2018 as the year of tourism between China and Canada. We encourage more Chinese to visit Canada and welcome more Canadian friends to come to China and see our country. I will make use of this visit to further boost China-Canada people-to-people and cultural exchange, and encourage exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, tourism, sports, women, youth and local affairs to solidify popular support for China-Canada relations.
繼2015-2016中加文化交流年之后，雙方又宣布2018年為中加旅游年。中方鼓勵更多游客來加拿大觀光，也歡迎更多加拿大朋友到中國走一走、看一看。我愿意通過這次訪問，給人文交流再加一把力，進一步推動兩國教育、文化、旅游、體育、婦女、青年、地方等領域的交流合作，讓兩國關系的民意和社會基礎更加牢固。

This is the season for the fiery maple in Canada, symbolizing the prosperity of China-Canada all-round cooperation. China will work with Canada to enrich our strategic partnership and tap the potential of practical cooperation to bring more benefits to the Chinese and Canadian peoples.
這個季節，加拿大的楓葉漫山紅遍，這象征著中加全面合作的紅火前景。中方愿與加方一道，充實中加戰略伙伴關系內涵，深挖兩國務實合作的潛力，更好造福兩國人民。

語言點：

1. 雙方就中加關系發展達成很多共識
the two sides reached extensive common understanding on the development of China-Canada relations

reach understanding on...就某事達成諒解，前面加了common則表示“共同的諒解”，也就是“共識”；在common understanding前面還可以加各種修飾詞，比如這里的extensive（廣泛的），還可以有important（重要的），等等。

2. 相知無遠近，萬里尚為鄰。
Distance cannot divide true friends who feel close even when thousands of miles apart.

相似的還有一句：

海內存知己，天涯若比鄰。
A bosom friend afar makes distance near.

3. 在全球貿易額大幅下降的背景下，去年兩國貿易額逆勢增長。
Bucking the trend of steep decline in global trade, China-Canada trade continued to rise last year.

buck the trend: 反潮流，逆勢而動

例句：This company is the only one to have bucked the trend of a declining industry.
這是唯一一家在行業衰退大潮下逆勢增長的公司。

4. 國之交在民相親、心相通。
Amity between the people holds the key to state-to-state relations.

hold the key to...掌握...的關鍵，關鍵在于...

例句：Because the two main parties have won almost the same number of votes, the minority group holds the key to the result.
由于兩大政黨獲得的票數差不多一樣，現在選舉結果就掌握在少數族群的手里了。

（文章來源：中國駐加拿大大使館，編輯：馬文英）