Each year that passes seems to have its own character. Some leave us with a feeling of satisfaction, others are best forgotten. 2009 was a difficult year for many, in particular those facing the continuing effects of the economic downturn.

過(guò)去每年似乎都各具特點(diǎn)。一些年份讓我們心滿(mǎn)意足，一些年份則最好忘卻。2009年對(duì)很多人來(lái)說(shuō)都不好過(guò)，尤其是那些深受經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退之苦的人們。

I am sure that we have all been affected by events in Afghanistan and saddened by the casualties suffered by our forces serving there. Our thoughts go out to their relations and friends who have shown immense dignity in the face of great personal loss.

我相信，我們所有人都受到阿富汗戰(zhàn)事影響，為英軍士兵傷亡感到悲傷。我們向這些士兵的家人和朋友表示慰問(wèn)，他們面對(duì)巨大個(gè)人損失表現(xiàn)得無(wú)比高尚。

But, we can be proud of the positive contribution that our servicemen and women are making, in conjunction with our allies.

但我們應(yīng)該為我們的士兵與盟友作出的積極貢獻(xiàn)而感到驕傲。

Well over 13,000 soldiers from the United Kingdom, and across the Commonwealth - Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore - are currently serving in Afghanistan.

英國(guó)和包括加拿大、澳大利亞、新西蘭和新加坡在內(nèi)的英聯(lián)邦國(guó)家眼下共有超過(guò)1.3萬(wàn)名士兵在阿富汗服役。

The debt of gratitude owed to these young men and women, and to their predecessors, is indeed profound.

我們對(duì)這些年輕士兵以及先前在阿富汗服役過(guò)的士兵表示深深感激。

It is 60 years since the Commonwealth was created and today, with more than a billion of its members under the age of 25, the organisation remains a strong and practical force for good.

今年是英聯(lián)邦成立60周年，今天其成員國(guó)25歲以下人口超過(guò)10億，為它保持長(zhǎng)久的強(qiáng)大和實(shí)用提供了力量源泉。

Recently I attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago and heard how important the Commonwealth is to young people.

最近我剛剛參加了在特立尼達(dá)和多巴哥舉行的英聯(lián)邦政府首腦會(huì)議，聽(tīng)到聯(lián)邦對(duì)年輕人是多么重要。

New communication technologies allow them to reach out to the wider world and share their experiences and viewpoints. For many, the practical assistance and networks of the Commonwealth can give skills, lend advice and encourage enterprise.

新的通信技術(shù)使他們能夠接觸到更廣闊的世界，分享他們的經(jīng)驗(yàn)和觀(guān)點(diǎn)。對(duì)于許多人來(lái)說(shuō)，英聯(lián)邦的實(shí)際援助與網(wǎng)絡(luò)可以提供技能，給予意見(jiàn)和鼓勵(lì)進(jìn)取。