徐学渊临时代办在首届复旦–哈佛中美青年领袖对话最终会议上的主旨演讲

Keynote Address by Chargé d’Affaires Xu Xueyuan at the Final Conference of the First Fudan-Harvard China-U.S. Young Leaders Dialogue

 

2023年3月1日

1 March 2023

 

同学们、朋友们：

Students and Friends,

 

作为复旦校友，我非常高兴出席今天的对话会。这样的活动让我感到年轻，感到青春的活力。

It is a real pleasure for me, a Fudan alumni, to join you at today’s dialogue. Being here makes me feel youthful and vibrant.

 

这两天的对话议程聚焦人工智能、互联网安全、太空政策、生物科技等攸关人类未来的前沿技术问题。发展中美关系也应该面向世界、面向未来。基辛格博士最近出了一本新书《人工智能时代和人类未来》。同样是研究人工智能，别人关心的是应用，他关心的是对人类未来的影响。你们关注的问题，是中美应该共同引领国际社会关注和处理好的全球性问题。

Your dialogue in two days focuses on AI, Internet, Space and biotech. These are important topics critical to the world’s future. This global perspective and future-orientation are required in handling the China-U.S. relationship. Dr. Kissinger has recently published a book – The Age of AI: And Our Human Future. He focuses on AI’s implication for mankind, while most others are looking at its application. Indeed, the topics of your discussion are exactly the global issues that demand joint efforts by China and the United States.

 

同学们、朋友们

Students and Friends,

 

最近发生的中国“流浪气球”飘入美国上空事件，暴露美方对中方战略意图误判之深。这个在错误的时间、错误的地点出现的不速之客，是一艘由中国一家企业拥有的无人飞艇，属民用性质，用于气象科研。受西风带影响，且自身控制能力有限，该飞艇严重偏离预定航线，系因不可抗力导致的意外情况。事实十分清楚，但美方将其定性为“中国人民解放军侦察气球”，动用导弹将其击落，显然有违常理、过度反应，也将自己陷于被动。美方准备将这些气象气球都一一用导弹击落吗？世界气象组织不得不发表声明通告各国，全球每天有近1000个配备无线电探测仪的气象气球收集观测数据，是全球观测系统的重要组成部分。而这些气球飞越空中时，难以分辨它们来自何方，是什么性质。

The recent incident around a wandering Chinese balloon drifted into U.S. airspace epitomizes the U.S. misperception about China. The balloon might be an unwelcome guest, appearing at a wrong time and a wrong place. But it is an unmanned airship, owned by a Chinese company, of civilian nature and for meteorological research. Driven by the Westerlies and limited by its self-steering capability, the airship drifted far away from its planned course. It is an accident caused by force majeure. Despite that we made all these clear to the U.S. side, it still characterized the airship as a “spy balloon” of the PLA and shot it down with missiles. This was over reaction that put the U.S. in an awkward position. Is it going to shoot down all those meteorological balloons? The World Meteorological Organization recently had to issue a statement which says that worldwide, every day, there are nearly 1,000 weather balloons equipped with radio-sondes. They are an important part of the global observing system. When they fly in the sky, it is hard to tell where they are from and for what purpose.

 

可见，美国政客对中国的误判和由此采取的错误政策已经到了荒诞离奇的地步！相应地，这些也促使中国国内一些舆论对美国的认知和评论变得情绪化、简单化。中美关系面临再正常化的重要任务，而首要的是对彼此认知的正常化。

The misperception of some U.S. politicians about China and the policies thus adopted are outrageous. This has, unfortunately, made some Chinese public opinion and narratives about the U.S. more sensational and simplistic. To bring this relationship back to normal, we first need to bring mutual perception back to normal.

 

中美青年是两国的未来所在，也一直是中美人文交流的先锋力量，两国关系的未来很大程度上取决于你们这一代人，需要大家树立全球视野，胸怀天下，面向未来，加深了解，成为伙伴。为此，我提出四个“心”，与大家共勉：

As the young generation, you are the future of the two countries and front runners of bilateral people-to-people exchange. To play your critical role in the future China-U.S. relationship, a global vision and a future-oriented mindset would serve you well. It also means that you need to understand more and partner with each other. With that in mind, I propose four qualities for you to consider: broad-mindedness, curiosity, empathy and aspiration. Let me address each of them:

 

一要有包容心，接纳欣赏彼此的不同。和而不同，既是人类不同文明相处的道德要求，也是人类整体文明长盛不衰的内在条件。一方面，差异是多样性来源，世界正是因为有差异而丰富多彩。中华文明之所以灿烂，很大程度上是兼收并蓄、海纳百川，各民族文化交相辉映、共同繁荣。美国之所以强大，很大程度上是因为吸引了世界各国移民、吸纳了各地人才、吸收了各国文化。另一方面，差异不应成为相互攻讦的理由。哈佛、复旦、北大作为两国顶尖学府，校园里肯定都有豪门富贾之后，也有寒门贫家子弟，但都为追求进步走到一起，不应差别对待。美国教育机构也强调，不得因移民、种族、宗教等差异而区别对待任何一名学生。

First, broad-mindedness. Be willing to recognize and even appreciate mutual difference. Harmony without uniformity has enabled different civilizations to prosper together, and the human civilization as a whole to thrive for millennia. Difference brings diversity. The world is as diverse as it is beautiful. The Chinese civilization is splendid because it is encompassing: cultures of various Chinese ethnic groups reinforce each other. Similarly, the strength of America is attributable to its openness to people coming from all over the world, bringing the best parts of their own cultures. Difference is not the excuse to criticize. Harvard, Fudan and Peking University are top-notch institutions. Students are from rich and humble families, all here to advance themselves and shouldn’t be treated differently. American educational institutions also stress that migration, ethnic or religious background is no excuse for discrimination.

 

对于中美彼此的差异，双方应理性对待，不强求一律。比如，美国有美国的民主，中国有中国式全过程人民民主。双方可以相互学习、相互借鉴，但谁都不应试图垄断民主的定义权，这本身就是不民主的表现。把自己的选择定义为民主，把对方的选择定义为威权，把成功定义为改变对方，既不符合事实，更不现实。我想请问在座美国青年朋友，西方国家媒体和政客诬称中国为专制国家、人民深受压迫。事实是，疫情前中国每年出境游人数达到1.5亿人次，他们在享受了外国的美景后，都回到了中国。如果中国人民深受压迫，他们为何要回来？

In the same vein, China and the U.S. should view their difference with a fair mind, instead of insisting on sameness. For example, the U.S. has the American-style democracy, while China has its whole-process, Chinese democracy. We might learn from each other, rather than monopolize the definition of democracy. That is in itself undemocratic. Calling one’s own choice as democratic and the other’s authoritarian, defining success as remolding the other side – such practices are divorced from the facts and unpractical. Perhaps, I could invite the young American friends to think about this: Western media and politicians paint China as an authoritarian country that oppresses its own people. But the reality is, before the COVID, Chinese people made as many as 150 million overseas travels per year. They all came back after seeing the beauty of foreign countries. If they are truly suppressed, why would they return?

 

二要有好奇心，努力去了解、发现对方。青年朋友求知欲强，思路开阔，不受成见窠臼束缚，愿意了解外面的世界。中美双方应该加强教育交流合作，特别是鼓励美国学生赴华探索古老而年轻的中国。中国目前在美留学生有29万多，而美在华留学生不足1000人，奥巴马政府曾提出派10万美留学生赴华学习交流，但距离目标相去甚远。过去三年，疫情客观上限制了双方人员往来。随着中国调整优化防疫政策，我们欢迎更多美国学生赴华。希望你们不仅去北上广等繁华都市，也深入乡村社区，不仅接触政商学界人士，也要接触工人、农民、快递小哥等普通百姓，不仅去游览风景名胜，也去体验民间传统文化，不仅参观兵马俑等古老文物，也体验高铁、支付宝等现代文明。同样，我们也支持更多中国学生赴美留学，希望美方取消对中国留学生的不合理限制措施。去吧，青年们，去对方国家探索淘宝，去了解一个完整、真实的中国和美国。

Second, curiosity. Be willing to learn more about each other. Young people have an inquisitive, open mind. You refuse to be confined by conventions, and would like to explore new frontiers. It is important that our two countries strengthen educational cooperation, especially to encourage American students to explore China, a country both old and young. As we meet, over 290 thousand Chinese students are in the U.S. but less than a thousand the other way round. The Obama administration set the goal of sending 100,000 American students to China, only to deliver a small part of that. The pandemic has limited two-way visits during the last three years. Now, with China upgrading its COVID policies, more American students are welcome to visit China. I hope you will visit not only Chinese metropolis like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, but also towns and villages. Meet not only government officials, academics and business people, but also workers, peasants and courier boys. Not only see the famous scenic spots, but also experience traditional, local cultures. Feel not only the timeless charm of terracotta warriors, but also the pulse of modern life in China through its bullet trains and apps like the Alipay. Of course, we also encourage more Chinese students to study in the U.S. But we hope those unreasonable restrictions will be lifted by the U.S. side sooner rather than later. My young friends, go to each other’s country, and you will see a true and full picture of China and the U.S.

 

三要有同理心，努力去理解同情对方。和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由是全人类的共同价值，中美也不例外。我们都向往和平与安宁，希望生活在安全、没有战争和冲突的环境里。我们都向往更美好的生活，期盼有更好的教育、更稳定的工作、更满意的收入、更可靠的社会保障、更高水平的医疗卫生服务、更舒适的居住条件、更优美的自然环境。我们都是希望个人的权利得到保护，充分实现自我发展。但因为历史文化、社会传统、发展阶段等不同，我们的理解和实现方式会有所不同。

Third, empathy. Be more understanding toward each other. Peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom – these are shared values of all humanity, including the Chinese and the Americans. We all want peace and tranquility. We all want to live with security and no wars or conflicts. We all want a better life, better jobs, more reliable social welfare, better health care, better living conditions and a beautiful environment. We all want our personal rights to be protected and live our life to its full. But given our differences in history, culture, social traditions and development stage, we won’t perceive and realize all these things in the same way.

 

比如人权问题上，西方强调每个人在上帝面前是一个独立的个体，所以从个人与政府对抗的角度来理解人权。美国枪击案频发表明，当公民个人的持枪自由权和他人的生命权发生冲突的时候，美国注重保护的是个人自由权。中国将人视为处于社会关系中的人，认为人权包括个人权利和集体权利，政府应尊重和保护人权、积极促进人权的实现。西方在形成人权意识过程中经历了扩张和殖民，而在此过程中，被扩张、被殖民地人民的权利遭到严重损害，其惨痛的创伤几个世纪都无法愈合。而这种将本国权利凌驾于别国之上的悲剧仍在当代延续，伊拉克战争、阿富汗战争离我们并不遥远。而中国的人权观是基于美美与共、和谐共生的传统文化，讲究世界大同、四海之内皆兄弟，所以中国从不欺负别国，更没有将战争强加给任何国家。

Take human rights for example, the West stresses that every man and woman is an independent individual in front of the God. So, human rights are usually seen in the prism of individuals vis-à-vis the government. As we have seen in the gun shooting accidents in the U.S., even when citizens’ right to possessing a gun contradicts others’ right to life, the individual freedom often gets more protected. In China, individuals live in the context of the society. We maintain that human rights include both individual and collective rights. The government is duty bound to respect, protect and promote human rights. The formation of human rights concept in the West was accompanied by expansion and colonization. The rights of the people in colonized territories were severely undermined, and the wound cannot heal for centuries. Similar tragedies of asserting one country’s rights at the cost of others’ still occur in our times. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not so distant. In China, the approach to human rights has its origin in the cultural tradition that values prosperity and harmony for all. We believe that all countries can become partners and friends. China does not bully or bring war to others.

 

四要有进取心，主动承担起青年对未来的责任。我的研究生专业是语言学，曾经读过美国语言学家、政治评论家乔姆斯基（Noam Chomsky）的大量著作。他在《知识分子的责任》一文中指出，知识分子的责任就是道出真相、揭露谎言。当有的政客声称应以竞争定义中美关系时，我们要指出中美关系的本质是合作共赢，两国拥有广泛共同利益、肩负重大共同责任。当有的政客声称中美合作共赢是“中国赢两次”时，我们要指出中美建交40多年来双方关系互利共赢的事实。当有的政客试图妖魔化中美人文交流时，我们要大声说出真相，揭批其冷战思维。当有的政客煽动对华开展贸易战、科技战时，我们揭批其违反全球经济和科技合作的基本规律，于中于美于世界有害无利。同时，我们要积极行动，以更大的勇气、更饱满的热情，投入到教育、科技、人文交流之中，带动两国人民更多更广友好往来，加深相互了解、促进交流互鉴、培育民间友谊，厚植中美关系的群众基础。

Fourth, aspiration. It means taking up your responsibilities to humanity’s future. I studied linguistics as a post-graduate. I read Noam Chomsky a lot. In The Responsibility of Intellectuals, he pointed out that intellectuals are responsible to speak the truth and disclose falsehoods. When a few politicians attempt to define China-U.S. relationship by competition, we should speak up about the mutually beneficial nature of such cooperation. After all, our two countries have broad common interests and share major responsibilities. When a few politicians allege that win-win means “China wins twice”, we must refute that claim by displaying the mutual benefits flowing from China-U.S. cooperation over the past four decades. When a few politicians demonize the people-to-people exchange between China and the U.S., we must bring to light their cold-war mentality and let people know the truth. When a few politicians clamor for trade war and tech-war with China, we must reveal that such a war only impedes global economic and science cooperation, hurting China as well as the U.S. and the whole world. In addition, we must take actions, and with greater courage and enthusiasm, promote two-way educational, scientific and cultural interactions. That will bring our peoples closer, enable us to know more about and learn from each other. With the two peoples becoming friends, the bilateral relationship will enjoy a stronger social basis.

 

同学们，朋友们

Students,

Friends,

 

当今世界面临的重要现实是：中美两国都面临经济结构转型、促进社会均衡发展的艰巨任务，世界面临需要各国共同应对的公共卫生、气候变化、和平赤字、发展赤字等重大全球性挑战，国际社会普遍期待中美两国发挥引领作用，承担大国责任，稳定双边关系，推动全球合作。

Both China and the U.S. face the daunting task of economic transition and more balanced development. This is an important reality confronting the world, among many other challenges, from public health, climate change, to peace and development deficits. The world looks to China and the U.S. to step up, shoulder their responsibilities, stabilize the bilateral relationship and advance global cooperation.

 

中美能否处理好彼此关系，攸关世界前途命运，是两国必须回答好的世纪之问。习近平主席对于中美关系提出了许多重要判断，给出了这个世纪之问的答案：第一，历史是公正的，中美关系只能搞好，不能搞砸。这不是一道是否搞好的选择题，而是一道如何搞好的必答题。第二，中美合则两利、兼济天下，斗则俱伤、殃及世界。第三，中美关系不应该是你输我赢、你兴我衰的零和博弈，中美各自取得成功对彼此是机遇而非挑战。第四，宽广的地球完全容得下中美各自发展、共同繁荣。

Whether or not our two countries can properly handle the bilateral relationship bears on the future of our world. It is a question of the century that our two countries must answer well. President Xi Jinping has made many important observations about this relationship, and has provided us the key to handle it well: First, history is a fair judge. China-U.S. relationship must develop well and not be mishandled. This is not an optional choice but a compulsory question. Second, China-U.S. cooperation benefits both sides and beyond; while their confrontation harms both and the rest of the world. Third, China-U.S. relations should not be a zero-sum game where one side out-competes or thrives at the expense of the other. The success of China and the United States are opportunities, not challenges, for each other. Fourth, the world is big enough for the two countries to develop themselves and prosper together.

 

只要我们循着领导人的战略指引，共同努力，相向而行，就能够找到有利于维护世界和平繁荣的正确相处之道。这并非坦途，需要中美两国各界共同不懈努力，更需要年轻一代的积极参与。

When we follow the strategic guidance of our leaders and work together in the same direction, we will find the way to get along and promote world peace and prosperity. This won’t be easy. It requires concerted efforts by all sectors of the two societies, and in particular, the active participation of the young generation.

 

美国诗人艾略特曾写道，终点即是起点，抵达终点意味着新的出发。今天虽然是首届复旦—哈佛中美青年领袖对话的最后一场对话会，但我希望并相信，两国青年学子们一定会继续以这个对话机制为平台，进一步扩大和深化交流，为两国友好交往注入更多源头活水和强大动力。

American poet T.S. Eliot once wrote, “to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” Today’s session is the last of the first Fudan-Harvard China-U.S. Young Leaders’ Dialogue. But I hope and I believe, the students of our two countries can use this platform to expand communication, thus adding more fresh impetus and greater momentum to the friendship between our two nations.

 

谢谢！

Thank you.