EXCLUSIVE│UNGA President Csaba Korosi's interview with China's Henan Daily

Full transcript of exclusive UNGA President Csaba Korosi interview with China's Henan Daily

Why did you choose to come to Henan Province during your visit to China? What is your impression of Henan Province and Zhengzhou City?

您此次访华为何选择来到河南？您对河南省、对郑州市的印象怎么样？

I was very happy to accept the invitation and the suggestion of the government of China because I was very curious how one of the largest provinces of China looks like, how the birthplace of the ancient civilization of China looks like in the time when it is growing so rapidly. So I was very, very curious, very, very excited. I'm very, very happy I'm here.

我很高兴接受中国政府的邀请访华。河南幅员辽阔，是中华文明的摇篮，所以我选择来河南实地走访，了解河南如何实现快速发展，今天的所见所闻令我非常震撼，很高兴能有机会访问河南。

First, what is very impressive is the size. You call it a province which is bigger than any country in Europe. The capital of your province is bigger than any city in Europe. What is still very impressive is that if you haven't been here for five years, you wouldn't recognize this city. It is growing so rapidly, growing and modernizing so rapidly. While in the same time that below us is the civilization of 5,000 years. This is the most amazing.

首先，河南面积广阔，令我印象深刻。河南比欧洲任何一个城市都要大，但只是你们的一个“省”。省会郑州也十分辽阔，欧洲任何城市都难以比肩。郑州发展日新月异，现代化速度也如此之快，五年后再来郑州，可能就认不出来了。同时，这片土地还承载了五千年历史文明，太了不起了！

The Yellow River is the mother river of Chinese people. China has initiated the strategy of ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. How do you comment on China's achievements in Yellow River basin management?

黄河是中国人的母亲河。当前，黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展已上升为国家战略。您对中国的治黄成果如何评价？

You have vast traditions. This is a place where humanity learned how to live with water first. I would say here are the first water scientists of the history. Here are the first water engineers of the history. And today, we see the results. I saw some very big projects. I think it is a huge enterprise what you are doing here along this river. It's a huge enterprise what you try to use the power of river, and the ecological power over there, for the best of the development of humanity.

中国在水域治理方面成绩斐然。首先，你们的努力充分展示了人类如何与水资源共存。只有历史上最伟大的水资源管理科学家，或者说只有历史上最高超的水域治理工程师，才能完成这样的建设。今天，我们看到了你们一路走来的成果。你们的水利工程规模宏大，蔚为壮观。不仅充分利用了水流的力量，更是发挥了河流的生态效能，才真正体现了人类社会的发展。

The central route of the Water Diversion Project from South to North is a major strategic infrastructure project in China to achieve optimal allocation of water resources, promote sustainable economic and social development, and ensure and improve people's livelihoods. How do you feel after visiting the project? What do you think of the significance of the project?

南水北调中线工程，是实现水资源优化配置、促进经济社会可持续发展、保障和改善民生的重大战略性基础设施。您参观后有何感受？您如何看待这项工程的意义？

First and foremost are very grateful for having the opportunity to visit in it. It's a huge engineering enterprise. I don't think any other country has done anything of this size in any other place in the world. The engineers have done their job. It's seemingly, it's a very good job.

首先，非常感谢有机会参观南水北调中线工程。这是一个非常壮观的建设工程项目，至少在规模上我认为，世界上其他国家或地区无出其右，工程师很好地完成了他们的工作。的确很棒！

Now, the ecologists might come and telling how to make the best use of the water resources in the area where water is starting being abundant. It's up to the economists also to discover the new economy of water altogether if it is done right. It's called sustainable development.

接下来应该是生态学家来告诉我们如何更好地利用水资源，让水资源更加充沛。同时，也应该让经济学家研究如何更好地发展水利经济。通过他们的努力，综合施策，才能更好地体现可持续发展。

 (Web editor: Shen Jianqi, Tong Lin)