Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Message
9 August 2011
新加坡总理李显龙2011年国庆献词
2011年8月9日
The Singapore economy is consolidating its recovery from the 2008 global economic crisis. GDP grew 4.9% in the first half of 2011, while unemployment remains low at 2.1%. Despite some risks on the horizon, we project steady growth of 5-6% for 2011.
亲爱的同胞，我国自从摆脱了2008年的全球经济危机，经济已恢复稳健的增长。今年上半年增长了百分之4.9，失业率也维持在百分之2.1的低水平。尽管前景存有一些风险，我们今年预料能取得介于百分之5到百分之6的增长率。
Our last five years were marked by uncertainty and rapid change. We enjoyed several very good years when our economy boomed, and wages went up. But we also experienced some very worrying moments, especially during the global economic crisis.
过去五年，我们的大环境起落不定，变化快速。我们经历了几个好年头，经济取得可观增长，员工薪金也有上涨。但是我们也曾经历困难时刻，尤其在全球经济陷入危机的时候。
Amidst such unprecedented turbulence, the Government did its utmost to protect Singaporeans from the global crisis. We introduced the Jobs Credit to keep firms viable and save jobs. We formed the Economic Strategies Committee to identify long-term opportunities and map out a pathway for the future.
我们在应付那场前所未见的经济风暴时，政府尽全力保护国人免受冲击。我们推出了雇用补贴计划，协助公司维持运作和保住工作。我们成立了经济战略委员会，寻找长远的发展机会，以及规划未来的发展道路。
This year, with the cost of living rising, we launched the Grow & Share package to help households cope. We continue to retrain workers to become more employable, and to support needy families through many assistance programmes.
自今年年初以来，我们的生活费上涨得快，政府因此推出“增长共享”配套，帮助新加坡家庭减轻生活负担。我们也继续重新培训员工，以提高他们的受雇能力。我们还实施了多项援助贫困家庭的措施。
Overall, Govern-ment policies have worked. Our strong reserves saved up over many years gave us the confidence and the means to move decisively with our Resilience Package. Our growth strategies of upgrading education and skills, and breaking into higher-value sectors have created good new jobs for Singaporeans. Compared to five years ago, most households have seen incomes rise.
总的来说，政府的政策已经奏效。我们向来知道未雨绸缪的重要，积累了相当可观的储备金，因此能够果断地推出一项振兴配套。我们积极提升国人的教育和技能水平，也进军更高增值的经济领域来推动经济的增长，为国人创造新的和良好的就业机会，并且在过去五年逐渐为多数家庭带来更高的收入。
But despite our best efforts, we could not shield Singaporeans fully from external shocks. In a rapidly changing situation, the Government had to address the most urgent problems first – stabilising the economy, saving jobs, helping those who were displaced by the crisis.
然而，虽然政府尽力为人民遮风挡雨，但还是无法完全抵挡外界风雨所带来的冲击。在关键时刻，政府的当务之急是稳定经济、保住工作以及协助失去工作的工友。
Some Government policies did not keep pace, but we have been tackling the problems. We are building more HDB flats, to reduce waiting times and keep prices affordable. We are adding MRT lines and buses, to improve public transport service standards. We are moderating the inflow of foreign workers and immigrants, and making it clearer that Singaporeans come first. We are reviewing our social safety nets to better support Singaporeans in a more volatile environment. The results will not arrive overnight, but we should see improvements over the next few years.
一些政策没跟上急速演变的局势，但我们已经着手处理这些问题了。我们正在建造更多的政府组屋，以缩短购屋等候时间和维持合宜的价格水平。我们将增添地铁线和巴士，以改善公共交通的服务水平。我们放慢了引进外国劳工和移民的速度，也更明确地让新加坡公民享有优先待遇。我们的大环境越来越不稳定，为了确保人民得到应有的帮助，我们正在检讨社会安全网。这不是立竿见影的改变，我们在几年内应能看到成绩。
However, we should be especially careful of one issue. While we will always put Singa-poreans first, let us not turn negative on foreigners. Singapore has prospered because we have been open to the world and alive to economic competition and change. This is how we have attracted investments, created jobs for Singa-poreans, and made ourselves a vibrant city. We cannot afford to close in on ourselves, or attribute all our problems to foreigners. We must stay connected to the world, and continue to welcome talent and ideas, wherever they may come from. Only then can we continue to thrive, and build a better Singapore for all.
我们必须特别谨慎处理一个问题：我们把新加坡人的利益放在第一位的立场，不应该变质成为排斥外国人的心态。新加坡向来对外开放，而且善于顺应国际形势的变化，这为我们带来许多投资和就业机会，使新加坡成为一个朝气蓬勃的城市。我们不能自我封闭，也不应该把所有问题归咎于外国人。我们必须与世界保持联系，继续欢迎来自各地的人才和思想。唯有这样，我们才能持续繁荣昌盛，为人民建造一个更美好的家园。
While addressing pressing concerns at home, we must remain attentive to global trends, and take a longer term view of our future. Asia, led by China and India, is expected to continue growing, but the global outlook remains uncertain. Europe’s debt problems are far from solved, despite the recent bailout of Greece by the EU. The US economy remains sluggish. The US President and Congress have agreed to raise the debt ceiling, but have put off difficult decisions to raise taxes and cut spending. Japan has the added burden of earthquake and tsunami recovery. These three key economies are struggling to find the decisive leadership required to resolve their domestic challenges. This will weigh them down and dampen global prospects.
我们在处理各种紧迫的民生问题时，也必须关注世界的动向以及我们长远的展望。以中国和印度为首的亚洲地区预料将持续增长。不过，全球前景仍然不明朗。欧盟最近通过了拯救希腊的方案，不过欧洲债务危机的化解仍旧遥遥无期。美国经济依然萎靡不振。尽管美国总统和美国国会已经达至提高债务顶限的协议，但是还未作出增税和削减开支的艰难决定。日本在受到地震和海啸的冲击后必须进行重建，这是额外的沉重负担。这三大经济体的的人民，还在等待领导人展现克服困难的决心。这些国家无力振兴经济，影响了全球经济的展望。
The next few years will bring more rapid changes and surprises. We must anticipate and respond to these external events as best as we can, and steer a course that maximises Singa-pore’s chances of success.
未来的几年，我们将面对一个变化多端、充满未知数的世界。我们必须尽力预测和应付外在形势，为新加坡寻找最有保障的发展策略。
We need to keep building for the longer term. We will grow our economy by upgrading ourselves and raising productivity, reducing the need to import so many foreign workers. We will educate our young well, and retrain our older workers effectively. And we will create an outstanding living environment for ourselves: a City in a Garden, and a vibrant, thriving home for all Singaporeans. We have comprehensive plans to achieve these goals.
我们需要进行各种建设，为国家长远的发展做好准备。放眼未来，我们应该强调自我提升和提高生产能力，以减少对外来工人的依赖。我们要好好地培养下一代，并且为年长员工提供有效的培训。我们要建设优良的居住环境：把新加坡打造成一座花园里的城市，以及一个属于全体人民、欣欣向荣的家园。我们已经拟好了周详的计划，准备一一实现这些目标。
Beyond these specific policies, the way we manage our affairs must change. Our society is changing. A new generation of Singapo-reans want more alternative voices, and more debate on issues affecting them. They seek to play a bigger part in co-creating solutions. I welcome this. I invite Singa-poreans with ideas and plans to come forward, and help us get more things done in better ways. The Govern-ment will reach out to all segments of society, to tap your imagination, energy and initiative. This will not only improve policies and results; it will also strengthen our sense of commitment and belonging to this place we call home.
除了拟定明确的发展计划，我们也必须调整我们治理国家的方式。我们的社会在演变。新一代新加坡人希望在谈论切身课题时，能够听到更多不同的声音，能够有更热烈的辩论。他们也争取更多参与决策的机会。我欢迎人民提出这些诉求。我吁请更多有见解，有好主意的人士挺身而出，协助政府解决问题，把事情办得更好。政府也将跟社会各界建立联系，并且将借重人民的力量，想象力和自动自发的精神。这有助于我们改善政策，也可加强人民的社会责任感和归属感。
More diverse views can produce a more vibrant society, but they may also split and weaken us. We need to enlarge our common space, not magnify our differences and become a house divided. By staying united we can respond effectively to major challenges, and continue to outperform other countries.
不同的意见可以增强社会的活力，但也可能分化和削弱我们的社会。我们应该扩大彼此之间的共同点，而不是刻意加大我们之间的分歧；否则，我们的社会将会四分五裂。团结才是力量，才能克服各种挑战和保持我国的竞争优势。
In particular, younger Singaporeans have a major part to play. You are our future. You belong to the age of the Internet and social media. You have different experiences, perspectives, and aspirations from your elders. And you will inherit the country that earlier generations have painstakingly built.
在很大程度上，年轻一代的态度将决定新加坡社会的演变。你们是国家的未来和希望。你们生长在网络和新媒体时代；你们的经历、见解或志向有别于年长一辈。今天的新加坡，是几代先辈辛苦建立起来的国家。在不久的将来，你们将肩负起带领国家前进的重任。
We will do our utmost to help you succeed. Your idealism, passion and commitment will make all the difference. You will have many opportunities to seek your own dreams and fulfil your promise. I am happy that many young Singa-poreans also feel a calling to serve a shared, higher purpose: volunteering for humanitarian relief missions, taking up green causes, and caring for the aged and less fortunate. This Singapore spirit will hold us together as one people.
我们将竭尽所能帮助你们建立成功的人生。你们的理想，热情和信念，将对社会的未来发挥关键的影响。你们会有很多追逐梦想和实现理想的机会。我知道很多年轻国人关怀社会，愿意为社会大众服务和维护公共的利益，这令我感到欣慰。你们自愿参与人道组织的救援任务，为环保的工作尽心尽力，也向老年人和社会里的不幸人士伸出援手。这是新加坡精神的体现，有助于我们团结起来，达到万众一心。
Many years ago, our forefathers pulled together and worked hard to build this nation. Their common goal was to survive, and show the world that we could make it on our own. That powerful drive united and motivated a whole generation of Singaporeans.
多年以前，我们的先辈齐心协力，不畏艰难，因此建立了这个国家。他们的共同目标是让新加坡立足于世界，向世人证明我们可以靠自己的力量创出一片天地。他们的毅力团结了和激励了整个时代的新加坡人。
We are now at a new defining moment in our history. In a globalised world, we can stay competitive by raising our education levels and productivity. We can pull ahead by enlarging our talent pool and remaining an open, vibrant society. Most importantly, we can surmount the never-ending challenges of nation building by looking out for one another and working hand-in-hand to improve all our lives.
现在，我们又到了一个历史的分水岭。在这个全球化的世界里，如果我们能够提高教育水平和生产力，就能保持竞争力；如果我们能够逐步扩大人才资源，保持社会的开放与活力，我们就能保持领先的地位；最重要的是，新加坡人如果能够互相扶持，同舟共济，便能克服建国过程中的种种挑战。
This island is our shared home. Together, we have achieved much in the 46 years since Independence. Let us continue to work together to create a brighter future and a better home for all of us.
这个岛国是我们共同的家园。自独立以来的这46年，我们一起取得了丰硕的成就。让我们继续齐心协力，为全体人民创造一个更光明的前程和更美好的家园。
I wish all Singaporeans a Happy National Day.
让我们祝愿全体新加坡人：国庆日快乐！
实习生：李帅男
