上午10点整，阿罗约总统和刘建超大使在一片热烈掌声中共同为孔子学院揭牌。

　　约瑟夫·安格拉斯校长在致辞中回顾了中菲两国友好往来的历史，盛赞中国为世界文明发展作出的杰出贡献以及改革开放以来所取得的巨大成就。他表示，孔子学院能落户红溪礼示大学是该大学的荣幸，他将在中国合作方福建师范大学的配合下，让孔院成为菲律宾学生学习中国语言和体验中国文化的中心。　　

　　许琳表示，迄今全球88个国家建立了280多所孔子学院和近300所孔子课堂，它们已成为全世界各国人民学习中国语言，了解中华文化的重要窗口，增进相互了解的桥梁。中国汉办将一如既往，为红溪礼示大学孔子学院提供师资和设备等方面的支持。　　

　　刘建超大使对红溪礼示大学孔子学院正式成立表示热烈祝贺。他说，语言是开启智慧的钥匙。学好中文，就掌握了开启中华民族五千年文明和智慧宝库的钥匙，才能更好地认识和理解中国。孔子学院在菲律宾有一个良好的开端。希望通过中国语言文化教学，增进中菲两国人民间的了解与互信，促进两国文化的交流和融通，推动两国战略性合作关系不断向前发展。

　　许琳主任、红溪礼示大学校长约瑟夫·安格拉斯和福建师范大学校长黄汉生也分别致辞。红溪礼示大学师生和中国志愿者老师表演了精彩的文艺节目。　　

　　出席典礼期间，刘建超大使还代表中国驻菲律宾使馆向红溪礼示大学赠送了近300册有关中国的书籍，并同许琳主任、安格拉斯主席一起出席专题新闻发布会。

　　红溪礼示大学孔子学院是在菲开办的第3所孔子学院。该项目于2008年12月由红溪礼示市大学正式向国家汉办提出申请。2009年11月双方签署协议。福建师范大学是该校的中方合作伙伴。　　

　　刘大使致辞全文如下：　　

　　Your Excellency Madam President,　　

　　Your Honorable Dr. Xu Lin,　　

　　Distinguished guests,　　

　　Ladies and Gentlemen,　　　　 

　　Good morning. 　　　　 

　　This is a very festive moment. According to the Chinese tradition and customs, men should be in red, and ladies blue (Laughter). And in the Philippines, I have to wear a red Barong.　　　　 

　　Congratulations to Angeles University for launching the third Confucius Institute in the Philippines. I am really very touched by the gracious presence of Your Excellency President Arroyo. This is really an honor for all of us, and an honor for those who making all their efforts in promoting Chinese learning and teaching in the world.　　　　 

　　Yesterday morning when I was at a forum, I felt somebody patting me on the shoulder. I turned around and saw an old friend who is now the World Bank country director in the Philippines. He is a Dutch. He said he was leaving and wanted to say goodbye to me. He handed over a piece of paper, on which he wrote in Chinese “新年好” which means Happy New Year. I felt touched by the goodwill and friendship he showed to me by using my native language. You can see that language is more than just business opportunities or a communication tool, it is a manifestation of goodwill.　　　　　 

　　Language is also a key to wisdom. By grasping the language of a nation, you are holding the key to wisdom of that civilization. I would have little chance of becoming a qualified ambassador if I couldn’t speak your language. Of course, if I could speak Tagalog, I would be a better ambassador. So learning Tagalog may be my New Year goal. I read extensively about your country and speak to your wonderful people, out of which I’ve gained more power and wisdom to work harder and better for the relations between our two countries. 　　　　 

　　The same thing goes with Chinese. The one who knows Chinese is holding the key to the gate of uninterrupted civilization of 5000 years, its philosophy, values, literature and arts of the Chinese people. For example, H.E. President Hu Jintao proposed the idea of a harmonious society and a harmonious world. In Chinese, the word harmony is a two-character word: 和谐。You know Chinese Characters are pictographic. The character “和” means that every person has food to eat and “谐” means that every person enjoys freedom to speak. Coming together, the two characters embody the idea of harmony. Learning Chinese will help you develop a better understanding about the policies of China and thoughts of the Chinese people. 　　　　　 

　　Speaking more pragmatically, there will be tremendous opportunities for those who know Chinese, no matter what they do. Yesterday, when I read Wall Street Journal, what amazed me was that China was mentioned on every major page. China has become the largest exporter and is becoming the second largest economy in the world shortly. There’s tremendous potential in the bilateral relations and cooperation between China and the Philippines. I am very grateful that Your Excellency President Arroyo shared with President Hu Jintao the idea of a strategic and cooperative relationship which was eventually established in 2005. Also I’d like to say thank you to Your Excellency President Arroyo for your friendship towards China during the past 10 years since you took office. I think there will be more potential for our bilateral relationship and broader space for cooperation. Your Excellency’s China policy has been very much echoed by your possible successors who talked about China-Philippine ties in a very positive way. Therefore, our friendship and strategic relationship will be carried on by the people to come. I’m really optimistic about our future relations, and the profits and advantages that could be brought about by such strategic and strong relations. I am ready to work with our Philippine friends in strengthening our relations.　　　　　 

　　The traditional Chinese New Year is coming and 2010 will be the Year of Tiger. Tiger means strength and power. More power to the Philippines, more power to China, more power to Angeles University, and more power to the Confucius Institute.　　　　 

　　Thank you!