威尔士首席部长卡文·琼斯2015年圣大卫日致辞

Message from the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales to Mark St David’s Day 2015

Dymuniadau gorau o Gymru i’n ffrindiau ar draws y Byd ar ddiwrnod ein nawdd sant Dewi. May I send my warmest wishes from Wales to our friends across the World this St David’s Day.

Over the past twelve months, Wales has been in the World news more than ever before. We’ve hosted a political summit of global significance; we’ve celebrated the work of one of our most treasured cultural icons; and we’ve welcomed some of the biggest names in sport to Wales. It’s been an eventful year, to say the least.

Last September we saw the largest gathering of Heads of Government ever to take place on British soil, when the NATO Summit came to Newport. We all know how important first impressions are. This was the first time a political event of this scale had ever taken place in Wales, but the delivery of the summit was hailed as an overwhelming success. I was delighted to welcome so many World leaders here to Wales, many of whom were visiting for the first time. There were some memorable quotes from our guests, who were unreserved in their praise for the warmth and hospitality shown to them by the people of Wales.

Last year we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of the poet and playwright Dylan Thomas. Films, television and radio dramas, festivals, even dedicated apps were released to mark the occasion. It was wonderful to see how the influence of this most cherished of Welsh icons could be seen right across the globe, from South Wales as far as New South Wales.

This year we are celebrating another landmark in Welsh history. 150 years ago, after travelling more than 7,000 miles, the first Welsh settlers arrived in Patagonia on board the Mimosa, where a Welsh community has flourished and the Welsh language is spoken to this day. Patagonia is one of many parts of the World where Welsh communities have thrived and the Welsh identity remains strong.

We’ve seen some memorable performances in the international sporting arena. The Welsh team brought home a record 36 medals from last summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with some real individual stars shining through. Wales hosted a major European football trophy for the first time when the UEFA Super Cup Final came to Cardiff, bringing some of football’s biggest stars to Wales.

When it comes to delivering major sporting events, Wales has built a reputation as a world class destination. In recent years we’ve hosted golf’s Ryder Cup, Ashes test cricket and football at the Olympic Games. Over the next few years we will host the World Half Marathon Championships and a stage of the Volvo Ocean Race, the round-the-world sailing race.

It’s no coincidence that we’re seeing more and more events of this calibre being hosted in Wales. One thing that’s been shown over the past year is that when the spotlight is shone on Wales – Wales performs.

In recent years, the effects of the global economic downturn are still being felt across the World. But there is plenty to be encouraged by. The number of visitors to Wales from abroad rose by 14% in the first nine months of last year, and we’ve just posted our best foreign inward investment figures for a quarter of a century. This year again we will be doing all we can to attract investment into Wales and helping Welsh businesses get their goods out to the global market.

In times of economic hardship it’s easy for countries to cocoon themselves from the rest of the World. In Wales, we’re proud to be an outward-looking nation, and I hope we can work together across national boundaries more than ever before.

Wherever you are in the World, have an enjoyable St David’s Day. Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus i chi gyd!