親愛的朋友們，同事和嘉賓們，
今天是劉曉波先生逝世9週年的日子，作為他的朋友，同事和民主運動的追隨者，我們每年都會在海外舉行追思活動， 而在中國,他的名字，他的思想和作品是禁忌。今天我們在萊比錫舉辦紀念劉曉波的活動,有人卻因為做了同樣的事而入獄。前年今日，浙江省數名獨立中文筆會的會員和同仁在錢塘江邊祭祀曉波，被警方抓捕，訓誡，其中昝愛宗和魏鄒兩位分別被判刑3至3年半刑期。
劉曉波一生追求自由，人權和正義，他的方式和平理性，反對一切暴力。在中國他沒有容身之地，死後骨灰被灑進大海，不被允許有墓地供人們憑弔。但是他的人格、思想和文字卻是留給世界的寶貴遺產。
我們選擇萊比錫作為本次紀念活動的地點，一方面紀念他，一方面頒發首次的「劉曉波人權獎」，萊比錫作為一個在歷史上爭取自由民主的堡壘，它的意義跟劉曉波精神十分契合。
來自澳洲、紐西蘭、美國、香港、台灣和歐洲各國的嘉賓們，我們熱誠歡迎你們的到來。讓我們一同來緬懷曉波、探討研究他的思想和理想。我盼望，也相信有一天，我們能在中國公開、莊嚴地紀念這位將自己生命獻給追求真理、自由、寬容、和平的殉道者。
Dear friends, colleagues, and distingush guests,
Today marks the ninth anniversary of the passing of Mr. Liu Xiaobo. As his friends, colleagues, and fellowers in the democracy movement, we hold annual memorial events for him in overseas. In China, his name, his ideas, and his writings are taboo. While today we hold a commemoration for Liu Xiaobo in Leipzig, others have been imprisoned for doing the very same thing. On July13th last year, seven members of the Independent Chinese PEN Center were arrested and reprimanded by the police for holding a memorial service for Xiaobo by the Qiantang River; among them, Zan Aizong and Wei Zou were sentenced to prison for 3 to three-and-a-half years. Liu Xiaobo spent his life pursuing freedom, human rights, and justice; he advocated for peaceful, rational methods and opposed all forms of violence. He was not tolerated by the government in China; after his death, his ashes were scattered at sea, there is no tomb for him where people could pay their respects. Yet, his ideas, and his writings remain a precious legacy for the world.
We chose Leipzig as the venue for this commemorative event to honor him and to present the inaugural “Liu Xiaobo Human Rights Award”; as a historical bastion of the struggle for freedom and democracy, the city’s significance resonates deeply with the spirit of Liu Xiaobo.
We extend a warm welcome to the guests joining us from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Hong Kong, and across Europe. Let us come together to remember Xiaobo and to explore his ideas and ideals. I hope—and believe—that one day we will be able to commemorate, openly and solemnly within China, this martyr who dedicated his life to the pursuit of truth, freedom, tolerance, and peace.
