驻芝加哥总领事赵建在史蒂文森民主中心发表线上讲话
Address by Consul General Zhao Jian at the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy
2021年5月16日
16 May 2021
尊敬的史蒂文森参议员和夫人，
各位嘉宾，女士们、先生们：
The Honorable Sen. Adlai Stevenson and Mrs. Stevenson,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon!
大家好！首先，感谢史蒂文森参议员的诚挚邀请和热情介绍，感谢阿德莱·史蒂文森民主中心为筹备本次活动所付出的辛劳。很高兴在线上与大家相会，一起探讨中美关系的过去、现在和未来。
Let me start by thanking Sen. Stevenson for kindly inviting me to today’s event and for his warm introductory remarks. I would also like to thank the Stevenson Center for its effort in organizing this event so that we can have the opportunity to meet each other online and discuss the past, present and future of China-U.S. relations.
史蒂文森议员是我们的老朋友。早在上个世纪70年代，他就作为美国国会议员代表团成员首次访华，当时中美关系刚刚破冰不久。1979年，中美正式建交。40多年来，中美关系历经风雨不断向前，取得历史性成就，不仅给两国和两国人民带来了实实在在的利益，也有力促进了世界的和平、稳定与繁荣。但最近几年，中美关系遭遇了建交以来最严峻的困难。
Sen. Stevenson is an old friend of China. He was a member of the first U.S. congressional delegation that visited China in the early 1970s, not long after our two countries broke the ice in bilateral relations. In 1979, China and the U.S. formally established diplomatic ties. Ever since then, bilateral relations had kept moving forward against all odds and scored historical achievements, bringing enormous benefits to the two countries and peoples and contributing significantly to world peace, stability and prosperity. However, in the past few years, China-U.S. relations experienced the worst setbacks since 1979.
当前，中美关系正处于一个重要关口。今年2月，中美两国元首的重要通话为两国关系指明了大方向，3月安克雷奇中美高层战略对话开启了疫情背景下两国高层面对面互动。但我们也注意到，美国新政府把中国定位为“最严峻的竞争者”，美方仍在涉台、涉疆、涉港等问题上粗暴干涉中国内政。坦率地讲，美国的对华政策并没有走出上届政府的阴影，还没有找到与中国打交道的正确路径。我们到底应该塑造什么样的中美关系，怎样塑造健康稳定的中美关系？我想谈三点看法：
We are now at a critical juncture in this relationship. Our two presidents had an important phone conversation in February charting the course for the relationship, and we had the Anchorage dialogue in March which kicked off our face-to-face high-level talks in the COVID-19 era. But we have noted that the new U.S. administration has described China as its “most serious competitor”, and the U.S. continues to interfere in China’s internal affairs, including Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong-related matters. To be frank, the current U.S. government has not stepped out of the shadow of the previous administration in shaping its China policy, and has not found the right way to engage with China. Hence the questions: what kind of Sino-U.S. relationship we should build going forward, and how to make it sound and stable. With these questions in mind, I’d like to make the following points:
第一，双方要对中美关系的重要性有正确认识。史蒂文森参议员指出，现在的中美关系比以往任何时候都更加重要。的确，中美是世界上最大的两个经济体，都是联合国安理会常任理事国，中美合作可以办成许多有利于两国和世界的大事，中美对抗冲突对两国和世界肯定是一场灾难。中美在经济上加强合作，可以给世界创造更多发展机遇。中美加强沟通协调，对国际社会更好地应对气候变化、传染病、恐怖主义、跨国犯罪等各种全球性挑战至关重要。6年前，中美携手推动达成气候变化《巴黎协定》。上个月，两国就应对气候危机发表联合声明，习近平主席应拜登总统邀请出席领导人气候峰会，展现了中美携手应对全球性挑战的担当。
First, we need to have correct understanding of the importance of Sino-U.S. relations. Sen. Stevenson told us that China-U.S. relationship is more important now than ever. Indeed, as the world’s two largest economies and the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China and the United States, working together, can make great things happen for the good of the two countries and the world; when they are locked in disputes, however, it will definitely spell disasters for both sides and the larger world. Closer economic cooperation between China and the United States will create more development opportunities for the world. And the world will be in a better position to more effectively deal with global challenges like climate change, transmissible diseases, terrorism and transnational crimes if our two countries step up communication and coordination. Six years ago, China and the U.S., working jointly, helped conclude the Paris climate agreement. Last month, our two countries issued a Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis, and President Xi Jinping attended the Leaders Summit on Climate at the invitation of President Joe Biden. All this has demonstrated the joint commitment of our two countries to meeting global challenges together.
第二，双方要相互尊重，求同存异，和平共处。1972年发表的“上海公报”中明确指出，中美两国社会制度和外交政策有着本质的区别，同意各国不论社会制度如何，都应根据尊重各国主权和领土完整、不侵犯别国、不干涉别国内政、平等互利、和平共处的原则来处理国与国之间的关系。中国从不对外输出发展模式，不搞意识形态对抗，从不寻求挑战或取代美国的地位。中国不是美国的敌人，也不是美国的安全威胁，中国的发展并不意味着美国的衰落。如果说中美之间存在竞争，那也应该是竞相为世界的发展与繁荣作出更多贡献。两国在市场经济环境下存在一定竞争关系，这种竞争应该是你追我赶、相互激励促进的田径赛，而不是你死我活的角斗赛。中美关系的未来取决于美国能否接受一个社会制度、历史文化不同的大国和平崛起，取决于美国是否承认中国人民也有谋求发展、追求更美好生活的权利。我们相信，只要我们尊重彼此历史文化传统，尊重彼此核心利益和重大关切，尊重各自选择的政治制度和发展道路，两国完全可以和平共存，共同繁荣发展。
Second, we need to respect each other, seek common ground while shelving differences, and achieve peaceful coexistence. The Shanghai Communiqué of 1972 explicitly stated that “there are essential differences between China and the United States in their social systems and foreign policies. Yet, the two sides agreed that countries, regardless of their social systems, should conduct their relations on the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, non-aggression against other states, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence”. China never exports its development model or seeks ideological confrontation. Nor does it ever seek to challenge or displace the United States. China is not the U.S. enemy, nor its security threat. The development of China does not mean the fall of the U.S. In the context of market economy, there are some competitive aspects to China-U.S. relations. But it should be a healthy competition for excellence and greater contribution to world development and prosperity, rather than a wrestling to beat each. The future of China-U.S. relations hinges on whether the United States can accept the peaceful rise of a major country that is different from it in social system, history and culture, and whether it can truly respect the Chinese people’s right to pursue development and a better life. We believe that so long as we respect each other’s history and cultural traditions, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, as well as each other’s choice of political system and development path, it is absolutely possible for our two countries to coexist in peace and prosper side by side.
第三，双方要加强对话，深化合作，促进互利双赢。中国的发展得益于过去40多年对包括美国在内世界各国的开放合作，而中国的发展也为美国和世界提供了持续发展的强劲动力和巨大市场空间。中美经贸合作长期是双向互惠的。尽管遭遇新冠疫情，去年两国货物贸易额逆势增长8.3%，达5800多亿美元。今年第一季度，中美贸易额同比增长61.3%。今年3月我出席了中美农业圆桌论坛，参加论坛线上开幕式的中美省州官员、商界代表一致认为，中美农业合作、经贸往来是互利双赢的，有利于地方经济和社会发展。上个月，中国企业中车四方美国工厂制造的8节地铁车厢在芝加哥开始载客试运行。这些“芝加哥制造”的车厢，为当地提供了数百个工作岗位，时隔50多年后，芝加哥又有了轨道车辆制造业。再如，目前通用汽车的最大市场是中国，其在华销量连续10年超过美本土。预计到2035年中国汽车市场规模将超过欧洲和北美的总和，潜力十分巨大。中美在教育、人文等领域的交流也加深了两国相互理解和友谊，促进了两国人民共同利益和中美关系健康发展。中美要把合作搞起来，在共同应对气候变化、合力防控疫情、深化经贸交流等诸多方面一起努力。
Third, we need to strengthen dialogue and enhance cooperation to achieve more mutually beneficial results. While China’s development has benefited from its more than four decades of opening up and cooperation with other countries including the Unites States, it has provided the U.S. and other countries with an impetus for sustained growth and a huge market space. On balance, the trade and economic cooperation between China and the U.S. over the years are mutually beneficial. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral trade in goods grew by 8.3 percent last year to exceed US$580 billion. In the first quarter of this year, two-way trade surged by 61.3 percent year-on-year. At the China-U.S. Agriculture Roundtable which I attended this March, the participating government officials and business representatives from both sides agreed that the economic cooperation between the two sides including that in the agricultural sector are win-win and conducive to local economic and social development. Last month, eight railcars assembled by Chinese company CRRC Sifang America kicked off the in-service test run in Chicago. These are Chicago-made railcars that have created hundreds of jobs for local communities, and represent the return of railcar manufacturing to Chicago after more than five decades of absence. GM is another good example. Its sales in China, which is now its single largest market in the world, has exceeded that in the U.S. for 10 straight years. It is projected that China’s auto market will be larger than Europe and North America combined in 2035 with huge potential. On top of these, our educational and cultural exchanges as well as people-to-people contacts have further deepened mutual understanding and friendship and expanded common interests between our two peoples, contributing to the sound development of bilateral relations. All in all, exchanges and cooperation are an essential part of our relationship. There are more we can do together in curbing climate change, fighting pandemics and expanding trade and economic exchanges.
女士们、先生们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
中美要做到相互尊重、和平共处、互利共赢，也应客观认识和理性对待以下几个问题：
To achieve mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between China and the United States, we also need to take an objective and rational view of the following issues:
一是关于“民主”。美国朋友们对自己国家的民主制度引以为傲。实际上，我们对自己的政治制度也深感自豪。有人说中国是“威权国家”，认为中国没有民主。但事实上，早在100多年前，中国共产党的创始人之一陈独秀就响亮提出了“德先生”与“赛先生”的口号。其中，“德先生”指的就是“民主”。自成立之日起，中国共产党就以实现人民当家作主和民族伟大复兴为己任。中国实行的社会主义民主政治是一种全过程民主，体现人民意志，符合中国国情，得到人民拥护。比如，中国政府在制定“十四五”规划时，会事先通过各种渠道在各个层面广泛征求各界意见，仅网上就收集到100多万条意见建议。哈佛大学近年来连续发布的调查报告显示，中国共产党和中国政府得到中国绝大多数百姓支持，满意度超过90%。我们认为，实现民主的形式丰富多彩，没有固定模式，也不存在标准答案。关键是要让政府的施政反映民众呼声和愿望，代表最广大人民的利益。仅仅因为实行民主的形式跟美方不一样，就给中国扣上“威权”甚至“专制”的帽子，这本身就是不民主的表现。
First on “democracy”. We Chinese are proud of our political system, just as the Americans are proud of your own. Some have labeled China as “authoritarian”, saying that there is no democracy in China. This is not true. In fact, Mr. Chen Duxiu, one of the founders of the Communist Party of China, loudly pushed for the promotion of democracy and science in China, or Messrs. democracy and science as he called them, as early as more than a century ago. The CPC, since day one, has taken upon itself the mission of making the Chinese people the masters of the country and achieving the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. What we have in China is socialist democracy, a whole-process democracy that embodies the will of the people, suits the country’s realities, and is endorsed by the people. For instance, when the Chinese government formulated the 14th Five-Year Plan, public opinions were solicited from all quarters and through various channels. More than 1 million suggestions were collected on the Internet alone. The surveys the Harvard University has conducted for several years running have shown that the CPC and the Chinese government have the support of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people with an approval rating of over 90%. We believe that democracy takes diverse forms, and there is no one-size-fits-all format. What matters most is whether the government’s polices embody the will and wish of the people and represent the interests of the overwhelming majority of the people. It is undemocratic to label China as “authoritarian” or “dictatorship” simply because its democracy takes a form different than that of the United States.
二是关于“人权”。作为世界上最大的发展中国家，中国奉行以人民为中心的理念，将生存权、发展权作为首要的基本人权，努力促进经济、社会、文化权利和公民政治权利全面协调发展。新中国成立70多年来，中国人均国内生产总值从不到30美元提升到超过1万美元，8亿以上人口实现脱贫，在中华民族几千年历史上首次消灭了绝对贫困。新疆、西藏等少数民族聚居地区更是中国人权进步的典范。自1990年至2016年间，新疆发生了数千起暴恐事件，戕害无辜并造成巨大损失。由于中国政府采取了正确有力的治疆政策，如今新疆又重现稳定发展的好光景，已经连续4年多未发生暴恐案件。过去60多年来，新疆经济总量增长了200多倍，人均生产总值增长了近40倍，人均预期寿命由30岁提高到72岁。最近一些美西方政客、媒体炒作所谓新疆“种族灭绝”。这真是弥天大谎。过去40多年来，中国新疆维吾尔族人口从555万增长到1200多万，翻了一番。仅仅2010年至2018年的8年中，新疆的维吾尔族人口增幅达25%，这个数字高于全疆人口的增幅，更是同期新疆汉族人口增幅的10倍还多。试问，世上有这样的“种族灭绝”吗？
Second on “human rights”. As the largest developing country in the world, China takes a people-centered approach to human rights, giving priority to ensuring people’s most fundamental rights to subsistence and development while striving for all-round and coordinated development of their economic, social, cultural as well as civil and political rights. Over the past 70-plus years since the founding of the People’s Republic, we have raised China’s per capita GDP from less than US$30 to over US$10,000, lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, and eliminated extreme poverty for the first time in China’s thousands years of history. Places inhabited by ethnic minorities, such as Xinjiang and Tibet, have stood out as shining examples of China’s human rights progress. Between 1990 and 2016, Xinjiang was hit by thousands of terror attacks, killing many innocent people and causing heavy property losses. Thanks to the strong and proper policies adopted by the Chinese government, the region has been free from violent terrorist attacks for more than four years and regained the momentum of steady and sound development. In recent time, some Western politicians and media outlets have been playing up the so called “genocide” in Xinjiang. This is pure fabrication. In the past more than 60 years, Xinjiang’s economy has expanded by over 200 times, with per capita GDP growing nearly by 40 times, and its average life expectancy has risen from 30 to 72 years. In the past 40 years, the Uyghur population in Xinjiang has more than doubled from 5.55 million to over 12 million. During the eight years between 2010 and 2018, it grew by 25 per cent which was not only higher than the overall population growth in the region, but also more than 10 times higher than that of the Han people in Xinjiang during the same period of time. We could not but ask, is there any genocide like this in the world?
三是关于“霸权”。有人指责中国寻求霸权、对外扩张。实际上，中国坚持走和平发展道路，坚持同世界各国和平相处、合作共赢。中国数千年积累的历史智慧是“国霸必衰”，而不是“国强必霸”。中国发展振兴靠的是自身努力，而非侵略扩张。过去70多年，我们从未主动挑起过一场战争，从未侵占过别国一寸土地，一贯倡导对话弥合分歧，谈判化解争端。我们无意输出意识形态，也从不做颠覆别国政权的事情。过去几年，在单边主义、保护主义肆虐之时，中国毫不犹豫地站出来予以抵制，以实际行动维护以联合国为核心的国际体系、以国际法为基础的国际秩序。联合国秘书长古特雷斯表示，中国已成为多边主义的最重要支柱和促进世界和平与发展不可或缺、值得信赖的重要力量。
Third on “hegemony”. Some accused China of seeking hegemony and expansion. In fact, China is committed to a path of peaceful development that underlines peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. China’s conventional wisdom, gained from its millennia of history, has it that “hegemony leads to failure” and “a strong country should not seek hegemony”. We rely on our own effort of hard work to achieve development and national rejuvenation rather than aggression or expansion. In the past more than 70 years, there is not a single instance of China provoking a war with another country or occupying any inch of foreign land. Instead, we advocate bridging differences through dialogue and defusing disputes through negotiation. We never export ideology or seek regime change in other countries. When unilateralism and protectionism ran rampant in the past few years, China stepped forward to resist the tendency without any hesitation and took concrete actions to uphold the U.N.-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law. As U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres put it, China has become a backbone of multilateralism and an indispensable and trustworthy force for world peace and development.
女士们、先生们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
今年恰逢中美“乒乓外交”50周年。尼克松总统当年在欢迎中国乒乓球队回访美国时曾表示，乒乓球比赛会有输赢，但最大赢家是中美两国人民的友谊。中国开展“乒乓外交”时也提出“友谊第一，比赛第二”。或许今天的中美两国也需要秉持同样的精神开创未来。
This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-U.S. Ping-Pong diplomacy. At the reception to welcome the Chinese table tennis team on their return visit to the U.S., President Nixon said that “despite there being winners and losers in their table tennis tournament, the real winner will be the friendship between the people of the United States and the people of the People’s Republic of China.” When conducting the Ping-Pong diplomacy 50 years ago, the Chinese side emphasized the spirit of “friendship first, competition second”. Maybe today, we need the same spirit to guide us into the future.
中美关系的未来归根结底取决于两国人民，中美关系的发展也始终离不开两国各界的支持推动。中国驻芝加哥总领馆愿继续同中西部地区各界一道，为增进中美两国的相互了解、交流与合作作出不懈努力，共同创造美好未来。
The future of Sino-U.S. relations, in the final analysis, hinges upon the people of the two countries, because without their support and contribution no progress could be made in bilateral relations. The Chinese Consulate General in Chicago will continue to work with people of all sectors in the Midwest to further enhance mutual understanding, exchanges and cooperation between our two sides to jointly create a brighter future for us all.
谢谢大家！
Thank you.