China Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom, or CCCUK, on Tuesday, held a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the restoration of the Butterfly Lovers Pavilion, which has stood in Surrey, England for almost two decades.
The traditional Chinese pavilion, built by a Chinese horticulture company from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, was a legacy of the flower show that the Royal Horticultural Society, or RHS, held at Hampton Court Palace in 2005.
At the ceremony, Zhao Fei, minister of China’s Embassy in the UK, told attendees of the ceremony about the Chinese folk story, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, or the “butterfly lovers”, which is behind the name of the pavilion.
“The story is known as Romeo and Juliet in the East, where two young people who truly love each other eventually transformed into butterflies, flying together to pursue eternal love,” he said. “This ending vividly portrays the pursuit of harmony between human nature and the pursuit of perfection by the Chinese people…
“We cherish common aspiration to continue to promote China-UK friendship and to write a new chapter in exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.”
The pavilion has since become a popular attraction at RHS Garden Wisley, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year, but over the years parts of the pavilion started to rot and the roof began to come apart.
When the news came onto the radar of the business group, it started to fundraise for the restoration of the pavilion as part of its charity projects with the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, the official charity of the City of London.
Zhang Huijuan, vice-chair of CCCUK, said that with sponsorship from member companies, including the Bank of China, ICBC UK, and Haier, the pavilion has taken on a new look, displaying unique Chinese charm and symbolizing the continued cultural exchanges between China and the United Kingdom.
Clare Matterson, director-general of the RHS, said the pavilion is a much-loved landmark in the Garden Wisley, and as Chinese horticulture and design have had such influence around the world, the RHS is very happy to celebrate this heritage being restored to its original splendor.
Caroline Wright, CEO of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, also attended the ceremony and introduced the charity projects which it has completed with CCCUK in past years, including building a multimedia classroom for a rural school in Shanxi province, and a clinic in Yunnan province.
During the ceremony, Chinese opera singer Wang Beibei and two Italian musicians, Andrea Granitzio and Giovanni Pasini, performed an excerpt from an opera that they created about the butterfly lovers in the restored pavilion.
Heniretta Rous, one of the guests in the Tuesday event, said she didn’t quite understand the meaning of restoring a Chinese pavilion before coming to the garden and learning about the story of the butterfly lovers.
“But now, having known the story, I’ve got quite involved and I’m very touched by the feeling that’s gone into this pavilion,” said Rous.
【By Xing Yi in Surrey, England | chinadaily.com.cn】April 26, 2023
https://enapp.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202304/26/AP64494144a3108417d547c60a.html
2023年4月25日，英国中国商会在RHS威斯利花园成功举办“中英公益 共筑和谐”系列活动—中英文化保护合作项目暨伦敦威斯利花园中国蝶恋亭修复工程竣工仪式。近百位嘉宾出席了此次活动，包括中国驻英国使馆公使赵飞、中国驻英国使馆文化处公参李立言、英国皇家园艺学会执行主席Clare Matterson CBE、英国中国商会副会长张慧娟、伦敦金融城市长倡议CEO Caroline Wright、威斯利花园园长Matthew Pottage、中国驻伦敦旅游办事处主任薛伶、伦敦金融城市长倡议中国组负责人John McLean OBE，英国中国商会理事单位代表等, 英国中国商会秘书长吴麟主持了当日活动。
修复后的伦敦威斯利花园中国蝶恋亭（图1）
伦敦威斯利花园中国蝶恋亭修复工程是英国中国商会2022年开展的以保护中英历史文化为背景的公益项目，通过“中英公益”倡议凝聚中英双方力量，共同筹款帮助修复英国皇家园艺学会（RHS）伦敦威斯利花园（Wisley Garden）的一处损坏严重、长久失修的中国凉亭。此次蝶恋亭修复工程竣工仪式不仅是纪念中英两国之间的友好关系和文化交流的见证，更强调了两国人民的合作和互信。
中国驻英国使馆公使赵飞发表主旨演讲(图2)
中国驻英国使馆公使赵飞发表主旨演讲，称蝶恋亭象征着中国民间故事《梁祝》，表达了中国人对和谐与完美的向往。他很高兴见证了中英文化保护合作项目，实现了蝶恋亭的修复，使这座具有中国文化背景的亭子以新的面貌亮相，与威斯利花园景致相得益彰。公使介绍了习近平总书记提出的全球文明倡议，向全世界发出深入推动文明交流对话，在包容互鉴中促进人类文明进步的真挚呼吁，为推动更高水平的国际合作再次贡献中国智慧和中国方案。中国愿意与国际社会共同努力，开辟新的前景，加强不同民族之间的交流和理解，促进多元文化的互动和融合，可以一起使世界文明的花园变得多姿多彩、生机勃勃。赵公使在演讲中强调，中英两国之间的交往源远流长，不仅丰富了各自的文明，促进了社会进步，而且为人类社会的发展做出了突出贡献。蝶恋亭的修复是中英两国合作的象征和友谊的见证，希望未来中英可以携手并进，促进文化交流和相互学习，深化两国互利务实合作，推动双边关系稳步发展。
英国皇家园艺学会执行主席Clare Matterson CBE发表欢迎致辞(图3)
英国皇家园艺学会执行主席Clare Matterson CBE热烈欢迎大家来到RHS威斯利花园，并介绍了花园超过100年的历史和重要性。她特别提到了蝶恋亭的修复对花园的重要意义，并感谢英国中国商会和众多赞助伙伴的支持，为这次蝶恋亭修复工程的成功作出了重要的贡献。她表示，中国的园艺和设计对全世界都产生了巨大的影响，特别是在英国，英国皇家园艺学会在其他地方的花园项目也深受英国和中国种植文化的启发和影响。
英国中国商会副会长张慧娟发表欢迎致辞(图4)
英国中国商会副会长张慧娟首先热烈欢迎所有出席蝶恋亭修复工程竣工仪式的嘉宾。她介绍了蝶恋亭的历史以及其象征中英友谊的重要性，并感谢威斯利花园和其他赞助伙伴的支持，特别是感谢中国银行伦敦分行、中国工商银行伦敦分行和海尔英国电器有限公司等六家企业的共同努力。张慧娟提到，英国中国商会一直鼓励企业参与公益事业。未来，英国中国商会将继续鼓励更多会员企业为公益慈善事业和社会福利事业做出贡献，促进中英两国的文化和经济合作。
伦敦金融城市长倡议CEO Caroline Wright发表主旨演讲(图5)
伦敦金融城市长倡议 CEO Caroline Wright 在主旨演讲中高度赞扬了商会在促进中英交流、推动中英公益合作等方面做出的不解努力。2018 年，商会与伦敦金融城联手发起了 “中英公益〞倡议，携手中英两国企业履行社会责任、支持公益事业。她希望商会与伦敦金融城能够继续积极推动公益项目，鼓历更多的企业与个人参与到公益事业中来。
活动中威斯利花园园长Matthew Pottage介绍项目(图6)
威斯利花园园长Matthew Pottage 向嘉宾们详细介绍了伦敦威斯利花园中国蝶恋享修复项目，以及修复工作的历程和成果。他对参与项目的各方机构和个人的努力和贡献表示感谢。他表示，威斯利花园与中国有着深厚的历史渊源，蝶恋亭深受大家喜爱，希望在商会的帮助下，中英友谊能像蝶恋亭一样，常驻在人们的心中。
梁祝歌剧选段演出现场(图7)
梁祝古筝独奏演出现场(图8)
此外，活动现场还进行了梁祝歌剧选段和古筝独奏的精彩文艺演出，让现场的嘉宾们在欣赏文化艺术的同时，更好地感受到了中英文化交流的深厚底蕴。
VIP嘉宾与赞助商及表演嘉宾合影(图9)
活动现场，中国驻英国使馆公使赵飞等颁奖嘉宾宣布了中英公益合作伙伴名单并为获奖企业颁发公益证书及奖杯，其中包括中国银行伦敦分行/中国银行（英国）有限公司、海尔英国电器有限公司、中国工商银行伦敦分行/中国工商银行（伦敦）有限公司、广发金融交易（英国）有限公司、上海环亚保险经纪（英国）有限公司、上海证券交易所伦敦办事处。颁奖结束后,重要嘉宾和中英公益合作伙伴合影留念，并充分交流了中英两国在公益领域和文化艺术领域的经验和成果，为未来的合作和交流奠定了更加坚实的基础。
此次竣工仪式不仅标志着伦敦威斯利花园中国蝶恋亭修复项目的成功完成，也进一步促进了中英两国在公益领域和文化艺术领域的交流与合作。英国中国商会将继续致力于推动中英公益事业的发展，为中英两国的友好合作和交流作出更大的贡献。
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