驻塞浦路斯大使刘彦涛在“两会与中国式现代化·民主观·文明观”座谈会上的主旨演讲
Keynote Speech by H.E. Liu Yantao Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Cyprus at the Workshop on the Two Sessions: China’s Modernization · View of Democracy · View of Civilization
2023年3月23日
23 March 2023
女士们、先生们：
Ladies and Gentlemen,
（无中文）
Good Morning! Welcome to this Workshop on the Two Sessions: China’s Modernization · View of Democracy · View of Civilization.
3月13日，被中国人民称为“春天里的盛会”的中国两会（中国全国人民代表大会和中国人民政治协商会议）圆满落下帷幕。会议审议通过了政府工作报告、人大常委会工作报告、政协常委会工作报告、最高法院和最高检察院报告等，审议通过了国务院机构改革方案，选举产生了新一届国家机构和中国政协领导人。习近平主席全票再次当选中国国家主席、中央军委主席，充分反映了中国全党全军全国各族人民的共同愿望和心声。
On 13 March, we witnessed the successful conclusion of the Two Sessions, which are the Annual Session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Annual Session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). For the Chinese people, the Two Sessions is a vital meeting in spring. It reviewed and adopted the work reports of the government, the NPC Standing Committee, the CPPCC Standing Committee, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. It also reviewed and adopted the plan of State Council institutional reform, and elected the new leadership of the country. President Xi Jinping was once again unanimously elected President of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. This fully reflects the shared will and aspirations of the whole Party, whole military, and all the Chinese people.
过去的五年，中国经济发展上了一个新台阶，国内生产总值年均增长5.2%。去年，GDP增加到121万亿元，增量相当于一个中等国家全年的GDP。货物进出口总额增长7.7%，突破40万亿元。实际使用外资增长8%，引资规模居全球前列。创新引领发展的作用持续增强，全球创新指数排名提升至第11位。粮食生产“十九连丰”，连续8年稳定在1.3万亿斤以上。今年，中国的经济增长预期目标定在5%左右，这将为动荡不安的世界经济形势注入宝贵的确定性，为全球经济复苏带来无限活力。
In the past five years, China’s economic growth has entered a new stage, with its GDP growing at 5.2% annually on average. Last year, China’s GDP rose to 121 trillion yuan, with the yearly increment equivalent to the annual GDP of a medium-sized economy. Import and export of goods grew by 7.7%, exceeding 40 trillion yuan. The real use of foreign investment grew by 8%, making China one of the most popular destinations of FDI. Innovation has become one of the most important drivers of development. China’s ranking in the global innovation index is now Number 11. We have also secured bumper harvest for 19 years in a row, with annual grain output remaining steady at over 650 million metric tons for eight years in a row. This year, China’s economic growth target is set at around 5%. This will inject valuable certainty into the volatile world economy, and bring robust energy into global economic recovery.
（无中文）
Ladies and Gentlemen,
今年的中国两会是中共二十大后召开的第一次两会。中共二十大擘画了全面建设社会主义现代化国家、以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的宏伟蓝图。刚刚闭幕的中国两会，把中共二十大集全党全民族智慧作出的战略部署通过法定程序转化为国家意志，勾画了建设中国式现代化阶段性施工图，加快推进中国式现代化建设已成为14亿中国人民的共同行动纲领。
In October last year, the 20th CPC National Congress was successfully held. It drew up the blueprint for building a modern socialist country in all respects, and promoting national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization. This year’s Two Sessions is the first of its kind after the 20th CPC National Congress. It has turned the latter’s strategic decisions into the State will through statutory procedures. It has presented a roadmap for advancing Chinese modernization for the current stage. For the 1.4 billion Chinese people, speeding up Chinese modernization has become a shared commitment.
要理解当代中国，就必须要理解中国式现代化。近代以来，现代化是世界发展的历史潮流，实现现代化是各国人民的共同向往。但各国的现代化道路不尽相同，世界上既不存在定于一尊的现代化模式，也不存在放之四海而皆准的现代化标准。即使在西方国家，也存在英美模式、北欧模式、德国模式等实现现代化的不同模式。中国式现代化既遵循现代化一般规律，更立足本国国情，具有本国特色，是人口规模巨大的现代化，是全体人民共同富裕的现代化，是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化，是人与自然和谐共生的现代化，是走和平发展道路的现代化。中国式现代化既创造了人类文明新形态，也给世界各国特别是广大发展中国家带来重要启示。至少体现在五个方面：
To understand today’s China, it is important to understand the Chinese modernization. Over the years, modernization has become the common aspirations for people around the world. But different countries have different paths to modernization. There is no single fixed model, nor is there any modernization standard that applies to all countries. Even in Western countries, there are different modernization models, such as the American model, the British model, the Nordic model and the German model. Importantly, the Chinese modernization is consistent with the normal pattern of the international community. Meanwhile, it is rooted in our domestic conditions and carries our own characteristics. Our modernization features a huge population, common prosperity for all, material and cultural-ethical advancement, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development. The Chinese modernization has created a new form of human advancement, and presented at least five important inspirations for countries around the world, including developing countries.
一是人民性。现代化道路要由人民决定，由人民实践，并惠及人民，体现以人民为中心。中国式现代化是推动14亿多人口整体迈进现代化社会、使全体人民朝着共同富裕方向稳步前进的现代化。当前，中国已历史性解决了绝对贫困问题，近1亿农村贫困人口实现脱贫。近10年来，中国已建成世界上规模最大的教育、社会保障、医疗卫生体系，居民收入增长与经济增长基本同步。中国人民共建共享现代化发展成果的基础越来越深厚。
First, the Chinese modernization is people-centered. The modernization path of a country needs to be decided by its people, practiced by its people, and bring benefits to its people. The Chinese modernization takes our 1.4 billion population into a modern society and toward common prosperity. So far, China has put an end to absolute poverty by lifting nearly 100 million rural people out of poverty. This is a historic feat. In the past decade, China has built the world’s biggest education, social security and public health systems. The Chinese people’s income has grown basically in step with economic growth. On such a solid basis, the Chinese people are jointly advancing modernization and sharing its outcomes.
二是自主性。什么样的现代化最适合自己，本国人民最有发言权。任何国家都不应将其喜好、模式强加于人，任何国家的现代化进程都应由本国人民自主决定，不能搞简单的千篇一律、“复制粘贴”。一百年多来，中共团结带领中国人民所进行的一切奋斗，就是为了把中国建设成为现代化强国，实现中华民族伟大复兴。为此，中国始终把国家和民族发展放在自己力量的基点上，把中国发展进步的命运牢牢掌握在自己手中，根据中国自己的实际情况和自己的现实条件，确立适合自己的发展政策和策略，探索具有中国特色的现代化道路。
Second, the Chinese modernization is independent. It is up to the people to decide whether their country’s modernization path fits or not. No country should impose its will or model on others. There is no once-size-fits-all solution. For more than 100 years, the CPC has led the Chinese people to build China into a strong modernized country, and to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. For our country and our nation, we have mainly relied on ourselves to pursue development, and taken our destiny firmly in our own hands. We have set development policies in light of our own conditions. And we have explored a modernization path with Chinese features.
三是创新性。不断实现理论和实践上的创新突破，才能为现代化进程注入源源不断的强大活力。为实现全面建设社会主义现代化国家目标，中国提出并统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局（经济建设、政治建设、文化建设、社会建设、生态文明建设）和“四个全面”战略布局（全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面深化改革、全面依法治国、全面从严治党），坚定不移贯彻创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的新发展理念，积极构建以国内大循环为主体、国内国际双循环相互促进的新发展格局，加快实现高水平科技自立自强，推动实现高质量发展。
Third, the Chinese modernization is innovative. We have constantly pursued innovation and breakthroughs in theories and practice. Only with this, can we inject continued strong impetus to modernization. To achieve the target of building a modern socialist country in all respects, we have adopted the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan, that is to promote coordinated progress in the economic, political, cultural, social and environmental fields. We have also adopted the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, that is to deepen reform across the board, fully advance law-based governance, strengthen Party discipline in an all-round way, and finish the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. In addition, we have followed a new development philosophy featuring innovative, coordinated, green, and open development for all. We have fostered a new pattern of development that is focused on the domestic economy and features positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows. We have quickened steps to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and worked hard to achieve high-quality development.
四是开放性。中国的发展离不开世界，世界的发展也离不开中国。任何国家追求现代化，都应该秉持团结合作、共同发展的理念，走共建共享共赢之路。中国式现代化坚持共享机遇、共创未来，致力于共同做大人类社会现代化的“蛋糕”。2013年至2021年，中国对世界经济增长的平均贡献率达38.6%，超过七国集团国家贡献率的总和（25.7%）。2022年，中国对外贸易规模再创历史新高，连续6年保持世界第一货物贸易国地位，中国当前是140多个国家和地区的主要贸易伙伴。同时，中国将推进规则、规制、标准和管理等制度性开放，进一步提高对外开放水平。
Fourth, the Chinese modernization is open. China cannot develop without the world and the world needs China for its prosperity. In pursuing modernization, all countries need to uphold unity, cooperation and common development, and take a path of joint contribution, shared benefits, and win-win cooperation. In advancing the Chinese modernization, we have shared opportunities and created the future together with other countries. We have been committed to making the pie of humanity’s modernization bigger. From 2013 to 2021, China on average contributed 38.6% to world GDP growth, exceeding the combined volume of G7 countries, which is 25.7%. In 2022, China’s foreign trade hit a record high. China has remained the world’s biggest trader in goods for six years in a row. China is a major trading partner for over 140 countries and regions. Going forward, China will open itself even wider to the outside world by promoting institutional opening-up of rules, regulations, standards and management.
五是和平性。中国式现代化一不靠战争，二不靠殖民，三不靠掠夺，而是坚持和平、发展、合作、共赢。新中国自成立以来，从未主动挑起过一场战争，从未侵占过别国一寸土地。中国始终维护以联合国为核心的国际体系和以国际法为基础的国际秩序，坚持真正的多边主义，是联合国第二大会费与维和摊款国，是安理会常任理事国第一大维和出兵国，是名副其实的“和平缔造者”。中国的发展是世界和平力量的增长，无论发展到什么程度，中国永远不称霸、永远不搞扩张。
Fifth, the Chinese modernization is peaceful. We have never resorted to war, colonization or plunder. Instead, we have all along promoted peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit. Since the founding of New China in 1949, we have never provoked a war or taken an inch of other’s land. Instead, we have all along upheld the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law. We have safeguarded true multilateralism. We are the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and the peacekeeping budget. In this way, we are a veritable peace-maker. Our development strengthens the forces for peace in the world. No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion.
纵观世界近代史现代史，现代化总是与民主相伴相生。现代化为民主提供物质、精神等基础保障，民主则直接影响现代化的前进方向和实现程度，二者齐头并进、不可偏废。中国式现代化同样蕴含着深刻的民主观。在中国的制度设计中，人民代表大会和人民政协是实践中国式民主的重要制度载体。从中国两会的实践机制中，我们可以读懂中国式民主为什么行得通、很管用。
A review of world modern history shows that modernization always comes together with democracy. Modernization provides the material and cultural basis for democracy. And democracy directly affects the direction and degree of modernization. These two aspects are mutually reinforcing. The Chinese modernization also carries important features of democracy. In our institutional design, the NPC and the CPPCC are both significant carriers of the Chinese democracy. From the Two Sessions, we can understand why the Chinese democracy has worked well.
一是中国式民主的起点是全过程以民为本。民主不是装饰品，不是用来做摆设的，而是用来解决人民需要解决的问题。中国的人大代表，无论是全国人大代表还是基层人大代表，都来自人民、扎根人民。中国的人大代表当选以后，都不脱离原工作岗位，始终生活在人民当中。这样的制度安排，决定了中国的人大代表不是职业政客，不代表任何特殊利益，他们能够真实、直接地感受人民的所思所盼，并且通过国家权力机关反映人民的意见建议。
First, the Chinese democracy puts people first throughout its process. Democracy is not for decoration or for show. It must address people’s needs. Deputies of people’s congress in China, from the national level to the primary level, come from the people and are rooted in the people. After being elected, these deputies do not leave their posts. They always stay in touch with the people. Such an institutional design means that the deputies are not professional politicians or represent any special interests. They can truly and directly understand people’s aspirations and present people’s views and suggestions through the body of State power.
二是中国式民主的内核是全过程民主参与。2022年6月底，中国县乡两级人大换届选举全面完成，共涉及10.64亿选民，是世界上规模最大的民主选举。中国的人大代表具有广泛的代表性，每一个地区、每一个行业、每一个领域、每一个民族都有人大代表。今年的两会共收到代表议案271件、建议8000多件，上至国家政策，下至民生“小事”，都通过两会代表传达到了中国的最高决策层。
Second, the Chinese democracy features whole-process democratic participation. At the end of June 2022, elections for deputies to people’s congress at the county and township levels had been completed, covering over one billion voters. It is the biggest democratic election in the world. The deputies are highly representative. All regions, industries, sectors and ethnic groups have their deputies. During the Two Sessions this year, the deputies made 271 proposals and over 8,000 suggestions. Our people’s views on various matters, from the government policy to their everyday lives, have all been channeled to the decision-makers of our country through the deputies.
三是中国式民主的形式是全过程民主协商。遇事多商量，有事好商量，众人事众人商量，是中国式民主的真谛。政协是专门的协商机构，本届政协委员有2100多人，涉及34个界别，有效组织了各党派团体和各族各界人士共商国是、建言资政。中国坚持协商于决策之前和决策之中，且在决策实施之中也要协商。中国所有的重大立法决策都是依照程序，经过民主酝酿、科学决策、民主协商产生的。这与有的国家只有在投票时唤醒人民、投票后就进入休眠期的做法有根本区别。
Third, the Chinese democracy takes the form of whole-process democratic consultation. The essence of the Chinese democracy is extensive and friendly consultation on public affairs. The CPPCC is a specialized consultation body. It has over 2,100 members from 34 sectors. Through it, people from various political parties, social groups, ethnic groups and sectors are effectively organized to discuss state affairs and provide suggestions. Consultations are carried out both before and after decision-making, as well as during the implementation of the decision. All of China’s legislative decisions are made through democratic deliberation, well-conceived decision-making, and democratic consultation. This stands in sharp contrast with some country, where people are only awakened for vote and then put to dormancy after vote.
四是中国式民主的保障是全过程民主监督。没有监督就没有民主。中国式民主既使人民能够有效行使权力、表达诉求，又保障人民的监督权，确保国家政策能够准确代表人民利益。人大监督是民主监督的一个重要抓手，中国的行政机关、监察机关、审判机关、检察机关都由人大产生，对它负责，受它监督，体现了国家一切权力属于人民的宪法原则。
Fourth, the Chinese democracy is underpinned by whole-process democratic oversight. Without oversight, there is no democracy. The Chinese democracy enables people to effectively exercise their power and express their will, and at the same time, protects people’s right of supervision, and ensures that State policies can accurately represent people’s interests. Oversight by the people’s congress is an important part of democratic oversight. China’s administrative body, supervision body, court and procuratorate are all produced by, accountable to, and under the oversight of people’s congress. This gives testimony to the constitutional principle that all powers of the State belong to the people.
民主是全人类共同价值。各国民主模式都是绚烂多彩的人类政治文明所不可或缺的底色。一个国家的民主发展，固然要借鉴其他文明的优秀成果，但更重要的是与本国国情和民族文化相结合。任何国家都无资格充当民主“教师爷”，对其他民主模式指手画脚，更不可强制输出民主。任何国家都无资格充当世界“民主灯塔”，自己灯下黑，却热衷于编造和渲染“民主对抗威权”虚假叙事，以民主为借口，在全世界制造阵营对立。
It needs to be stressed that democracy is the common value of humanity. The democratic models of different countries are all vital to the political advancement of humanity. In pursuing democratic development, one country naturally needs to learn from others. But more importantly, it needs to take account of their own conditions and culture. No country is in a position to lecture others on democracy or point fingers at others’ democratic models. No country may impose democracy on others. If one country ignores the serious challenges to democracy at home, but focuses on hyping up a false narrative of democracy versus authoritarianism, then this country can hardly be called a “lighthouse of democracy”. What this country has done is just to create bloc confrontation across the world under the excuse of democracy.
中国有句古话，叫“自知者明”。有的国家似乎“能见百步之外而不能自见其睫”。这样的国家要么是无视自身的问题，有意妄自尊大，要么感到自身无药可救，就拼命转移矛盾，嫁祸他人。譬如某个国家，两党争斗加剧政治极化，在选民基础、意识形态、身份认同等方面日益泾渭分明，被称为“两国之国”；金钱政治愈演愈烈，一次中期选举两党耗资超过167亿美元，刷新了2018年140亿美元的纪录，超过全球70多个国家2021年全年的国民生产总值；言论自由徒有虚名，只要是不利于政府和资本利益的言论，都会受到严格限制。据当地媒体联合调查显示，该国人民对民主的自豪感急剧下降，该国总统的支持率只有42%。
An old Chinese saying goes, “one who knows himself well is a wise person.” But there is some country that tends to ignore its own problems while always pointing fingers at others. This is simply aimed at distracting attention and shifting troubles. Let’s look at what is happening in a country, which is called “a binational state” by its own media. In this country, fighting between the two parties has intensified, and politics has become increasingly polarized in many aspects, such as voter base, ideology and identity. In this country, money politics is prevalent. One mid-term election cost over 16.7 billion US dollars, surpassing the record of 14 billion US dollars in 2018, and more than the GDP of over 70 countries in 2021. In this country, freedom of expression is an empty slogan. Any speech that does not meet government or capital interests would be strictly limited. Local media survey shows that its people’s sense of satisfaction in its democracy has dropped significantly. The current approval rate of its president is 42%.
与之形成鲜明对比，哈佛大学肯尼迪学院连续10年在中国开展的民调，结果显示中国民众对政府满意度连年都保持在90%以上。《华盛顿邮报》2021年5月发布的民意调查显示，中国公民对本国政府信任度达98%。近日，国际知名民调机构益普索集团（Ipsos）发布了一份有关全球幸福指数的调查报告。结果显示，在32个国家中，幸福感指数最高的国家是中国（91%）。一个人民信赖政府、深感幸福的国家被称为所谓“不民主”，一个内斗不断、乱象丛生的国家自诩“民主灯塔”，这不是闹剧是什么？该国在民主问题上的迷思，归根结底不是源于对民主的自信，而是在于维护霸权的心态在作祟，这只会加剧国际社会分裂和阵营对抗，无益于人类的和平与进步事业。
In contrast, according to a poll by Harvard Kennedy School, the Chinese people’s satisfaction rate of the government has remained ready at over 90% for 10 years. A poll of Washington Post in May 2021 shows that over 98% of Chinese people trust the government. According to a recent poll of Ipsos on global happiness index, China ranks Number 1 among 32 countries. A country where its people trust the government and feel happy are called undemocratic, while another country with rife infighting and troubles calls itself a “lighthouse of democracy”. If this is not a farce, then what it is? This so-called “lighthouse of democracy” talks about democracy all the time, not because it is confident in its democracy, but because it is obsessed with hegemonism. What it has done only aggravates division and confrontation of the international community, without doing any good to peace and progress of humanity.
当今世界不同国家、不同地区各具特色的现代化道路和民主模式，都根植于丰富多样、源远流长的文明传承。人类社会创造的各种文明，都闪烁着璀璨光芒，为各国现代化积蓄了厚重底蕴、赋予了鲜明特质，并跨越时空、超越国界，共同为人类社会现代化进程作出了重要贡献。为推动文明交流互鉴、促进人类文明进步，3月15日，习近平主席在中国共产党与世界政党高层对话会上提出了全球文明倡议。
In today’s world, different countries and regions have their distinct path of modernization and model of democracy, which are rooted in their diverse and long civilizations. The civilizations created by humanity are all splendid. They have driven the modernization of their own countries. They transcend time and borders, and have jointly contributed to the modernization of humanity. In order to promote inter-civilization exchanges and progress of humanity, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting on March 15. The main proposals of GCI are as follows:
一是共同倡导尊重世界文明多样性，坚持文明平等、互鉴、对话、包容，以文明交流超越文明隔阂、文明互鉴超越文明冲突、文明包容超越文明优越；二是共同倡导弘扬全人类共同价值，和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由是各国人民的共同追求，要以宽广胸怀理解不同文明对价值内涵的认识，不将自己的价值观和模式强加于人，不搞意识形态对抗；三是共同倡导重视文明传承和创新，充分挖掘各国历史文化的时代价值，推动各国优秀传统文化在现代化进程中实现创造性转化、创新性发展；四是共同倡导加强国际人文交流合作，探讨构建全球文明对话合作网络，丰富交流内容，拓展合作渠道，促进各国人民相知相亲，共同推动人类文明发展进步。
First, we advocate the respect for the diversity of civilizations. Countries need to uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and let cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and coexistence transcend feelings of superiority. Second, we advocate the common values of humanity. Peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom are the common aspirations of all peoples. Countries need to keep an open mind in appreciating the perceptions of values by different civilizations, and refrain from imposing their own values or models on others and from stoking ideological confrontation. Third, we advocate the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations. Countries need to fully harness the relevance of their histories and cultures to the present times, and push for creative transformation and innovative development of their fine traditional cultures. Fourth, we advocate robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. Countries need to explore the building of a global network for inter-civilization dialogue and cooperation, enrich the contents of exchanges and expand avenues of cooperation to promote mutual understanding and friendship among people of all countries and jointly advance the progress of human civilizations.
当今世界，挑战丛生，全球人类命运与共。全球文明倡议是继全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议之后，中国发出的又一个重大全球倡议，进一步回答了“世界怎么了，我们怎么办”的时代之问，是中国向世界提供的又一重要公共产品。中塞都是古老文明的传承者。2000多年前，中华文明和古希腊文明在亚欧大陆两端交相辉映，为人类文明演进作出了奠基性的重大贡献。当前，面对世界和平、发展、安全、治理四大赤字，中国愿与包括塞浦路斯在内的各国一道，做世界和平建设的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者、人类文明的促进者。未来，中国式现代化作为人类文明新形态，与全球其他文明相互借鉴，必将极大丰富世界文明百花园。也期待中塞两国携手促进全球文明倡议，进一步加强文明交流互鉴，共同为促进人类和平与发展事业、推动构建人类命运共同体贡献力量。
Amid global challenges, we humanity have a shared future. The GCI is China’s another major global initiative following the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI). The GCI has given further answers to the question of the times: what is happening to the world, and what to do about it? It is another important public good provided by China to the world. Over 2,000 years ago, the Chinese civilization and the ancient Greek civilization were both shining on the Eurasian continent, making contributions of fundamental importance to the progress of human civilization. Today, facing the deficits of peace, development, security and governance in the world, China is ready to work with Cyprus and other countries to be a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of international order, and promoter of the progress of human civilizations. Going forward, in promoting the Chinese modernization as a new form of human advancement, we are ready to enhance mutual learning with other countries, and jointly enrich the civilizations of humanity. It is also hoped that Cyprus will work with China to promote the GCI, further strengthen mutual learning between our cultures, and jointly contribute to human peace and development, and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
谢谢大家
Thank you.