导读:作为第一批常驻联合国的工作人员，吴建民大使历任外交部发言人、驻外大使、全国政协外事委员会主任和外交学院院长，为中国外交事业做出卓越贡献。
I was in Vietnam on Friday, and had a chance to meet a senior Filipino diplomat. Talking about how China and the Philippines should improve their strained ties under incoming president Rodrigo Duterte, he suggested inviting one prominent and open-minded Chinese diplomat to give a lecture in Manila later this year.
周五，我在越南有机会会见一位菲律宾高级外交官。当谈论到如何在新任总统Rodrigo Duterte的领导下加强中越紧密关系时，他建议年后邀请一位重要并且开明的中国外交官在马尼拉发表演说。
"Who do you think would be the right one?" I asked.
我问道：“你觉得哪个人合适呢？”
"Ambassador Wu Jianmin," the Filipino replied, without any hesitation.
菲律宾外交官不假思索低说：“吴建民大使。”
"He is a truly respectful diplomat for his exceptional manner, decency, and global view. I’m sure he will be welcomed."
“由于他别具一格的处事方式，耿直和全球视野，他是一位真正获得尊敬的外交官。我确信他会受到欢迎。”
He then asked if I could help. I accepted the request and said I would contact the 77-year-old former Chinese ambassador to France once I was back in the office on Monday.
他之后问我是否可以帮到忙。我接受了这个请求并称，一旦我周一回到办公室，就联系这位77岁的前中国驻法国大使。
But a huge shock came on Saturday morning, when Wu tragically passed away in a fatal car accident in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province, that morning. He was on his way to give a lecture at Wuhan university to share his views of the current international situation.
但是，噩耗却在周六传来，那天清晨，吴大使悲剧般地在中国中部湖北省武汉的一场致命车祸中逝世。那天，他正在前往武汉大学的路上，想分享一些他关于当前国际形势的观点。
I was devastated for I have been a longtime supporter of Wu’s thoughts and views. His sudden death would be a huge loss to China’s diplomacy and the academia of international relations.
很长时间以来，我都是吴的思想和观点的支持者，我崩溃了。他的猝然离世是中国外交和国际关系学界的最大损失。
In China, Wu was known as a hardcore "pigeon", who advocated always using peaceful and diplomatic means, like dialogue, to resolve differences between countries, instead of resorting to hardline ways, like showing muscle.
在中国，吴因铁“鸽子”而闻名，他总是宣扬使用诸如对话的和平和外交手段来解决国家间的差异，而不是诉诸强硬手段，比如展示武力。
He famously argued that "anyone who resorts to war will fall in the current era of peaceand development".
他的著名论断是“任何诉诸战争的人都会落伍于目前和平发展的年代。”
He was even involved in a recent intense debate with major general Luo Yuan, a researcher at the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Military science Academy. The latter,a known hawk, is a solid proponent of hardline diplomacy.
他甚至被卷入了最近和罗援大将的一场激烈争论当中，罗援大将是中国解放军军事科学院的一名研究院。作为鹰牌人物，后者是强硬外交的坚实拥护者。
Wu’s viewpoints left him open to fierce attack by hawkish pundits. Some ultra-nationalists,including many Chinese netizens, even labeled him as a "traitor" to the country.But I would say that Wu’s views should be cherished and appreciated in today’s worldwhen we see the slowdown, even retreat, of globalization.
吴的观点受到鹰派学者的强烈攻击。包括许多中国网民在内的极端民族主义分子甚至称他为“叛徒”。但是我想说，在今日世界里，当我们看到全球化下滑甚至后退时，我们应该珍惜和欣赏吴的观点.
