Speech of H.E Ambassador Xu Erwen at the Annual Meeting of Croatian-Chinese Friendship Society Rijeka
驻克罗地亚大使许尔文对克在华友好协会年会上的在线演讲
31 August 2021
2021年8月31日
Your Excellency, former Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, President of Croatian-Chinese Friendship Society Rijeka (HKDPR), Mr. Simonić,
尊敬的克罗地亚前副总理、克对华友好协会（里耶卡）主席司马安先生，
Dear Friends of Croatian-Chinese Friendship Society Rijeka (HKDPR),
尊敬的克罗地亚对华友好协会（里耶卡）的朋友们，
Good afternoon!
大家下午好！
It gives me great pleasure to attend the annual meeting of the Croatian-Chinese Friendship Society Rijeka via video. First of all, I would like to thank former Deputy Prime Minister Simonić and friends of the Croatian-Chinese Friendship Society Rijeka for your long-time and strenuous efforts in promotion of the friendly cooperation and mutual understanding of our two countries and two peoples. I know you all care about the development of China, and China and Croatia cooperation. Today, I would like to take this opportunity to give a brief introduction on China’s development, its domestic and foreign policy as well as our bilateral relations. I also look forward to exchanging views with you and expecting your valuable opinions and suggestions to China’s development and further upgrading China-Croatia cooperation.
很高兴以视频方式出席克罗地亚对华友好协会（里耶卡）年会。首先，我要感谢司马安前副总理以及克罗地亚对华友好协会（里耶卡）的朋友们长期以来为促进中克互信和友好合作所作的积极努力。我知道各位都很关注中国发展及其内外政策和中克关系，今天我愿借此机会向大家作简要介绍，并同各位朋友坦诚交流，期待大家为中国发展和提升中克合作水平贡献宝贵意见建议。
Dear Friends,
朋友们，
This year is a very special and significant year for China. It is the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), and the first year for China to start its 14th five year plan. This year is also the converging year for China to reach its first centenary goal by accomplishing the comprehensive better-off society and step into the second centenary goal which is to build a fully modernized socialist country by the middle of this century. We have a staunch task ahead of us and have to work hard to satisfy the people’s high expectation for better life and solve the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development.
2021年对中国来说是一个特殊而具有重要意义的年份。今年是中国共产党成立100周年和“十四五”规划开局之年，也是中国实现第一个百年奋斗目标全面建成小康社会，并朝着实现第二个百年奋斗目标全面建成社会主义现代化强国迈进的交汇之年。新的征程上，我们必须着力解决发展不平衡不充分问题，为实现人民对美好生活的向往不懈努力。
Facing the severe challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and world economic recession, the Chinese people, under the strong leadership of the CPC, have gone all out and become a leading country to have strategically controlled the Pandemic. The latest data shows the Delta variant in China is basically under control. Chinese economy has realized positive growth from negative and become the only major economy in the world to enjoy positive growth last year. I am proud to say that China’s economy has maintained steady growth and it has achieved 12.7% increase by the first half of this year. Recently many world organizations such as the world Bank and UNDP etc. have adjusted their prediction of China’s economy and predict that China will enjoy 8.5% of growth this year. I believe the whole world can feel the great potential of Chinese market and benefit of China’s new round high level opening up and reform. Along with its fast growing China’s foreign policy also draws great attention of the whole world.
面对新冠疫情肆虐和世界经济衰退的严峻挑战，在中国共产党的坚强领导下，中国人民全力以赴，率先控制住疫情。最新数据显示，目前中国境内已基本控制住了德尔塔变异株病毒的传播。去年，中国经济增长由负转正，成为全球唯一实现经济正增长的主要经济体。今年上半年，中国经济继续稳健前行，同比增长12.7%。近期，包括世界银行、联合国开发计划署在内的多家国际组织发布报告，将中国2021年经济增长预期调高至8.5%。相信全世界都能感受到中国市场的巨大潜力和新一轮高水平开放带来的红利。随着中国的快速发展，其内外政策走向也引发全球更大关注。
Dear Friends,
朋友们，
The combined forces of changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century have brought the world into a phase of fluidity and transformation. Change means challenges. It also means opportunities. China’s foreign policy has been clear and consistent. Not long ago, in his speech in celebration of the centenary of the CPC, President Xi Jinping declared that China will remain committed to promoting peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, to an independent foreign policy of peace, and to the path of peaceful development. We will work hard to build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative through joint efforts, and use China’s new achievements in development to provide the world with new opportunities.
当前百年变局和世纪疫情交织叠加，世界进入动荡变革期。变革带来考验，同时也蕴含机遇。中国的外交政策是明确和一贯的。不久前，习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上指出，中国必须高举和平、发展、合作、共赢旗帜，奉行独立自主的和平外交政策，坚持走和平发展道路，推动建设新型国际关系，推动构建人类命运共同体，推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展，以中国的新发展为世界提供新机遇。
China has always been and will continue to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order. At this new historical starting point, China will continue to firmly pursue peaceful development, expand opening-up, and deepen cooperation with all countries, including Croatia, towards shared development and prosperity. China’s destiny is closely linked to that of the world, and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is closely related to the dream of community with a shared future for mankind.
中国始终是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者。站在新的历史起点上，中国将继续坚定不移走和平发展道路，坚定不移扩大对外开放，坚定不移同包括克罗地亚在内的各国深化全方位合作，实现共同发展、共同繁荣。中国的命运与世界的命运紧密相联，中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦与人类命运共同体的梦想息息相通，中国牢牢把握自身发展进步的命运同时，也将为人类进步的共同命运作出更大贡献。
China will continue to work with all peace-loving countries and peoples to promote the shared human values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. We will continue to champion cooperation over confrontation, and to focus on mutual benefits instead of zero-sum games. We oppose hegemony and power politics. The Chinese People have never bullied, oppressed and enslaved the peoples of other countries, at same time we will never allow other forces to do the same to us. China’s determination to defend its sovereignty, national security and development is firm, steadfast and solid as rockets. Non-interference in the internal affairs of other country is both an important element of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence put forward by China and a basic norm of international relations. Interfering in the internal affairs of other countries or forcing one’s own development model and values upon other countries with very different histories, cultures and circumstances will end up in failure. A government cannot stand without the support of its people. Solving problems with power and military means can only lead to even more problems, lessons of the failure of Afghanistan war have proved that once again.
中国将继续同一切爱好和平的国家和人民一道，弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值，坚持合作、不搞对抗，坚持互利共赢、不搞零和博弈，反对霸权主义和强权政治。中国人民从来没有欺负、压迫、奴役过其他国家人民，中国人民也绝不允许任何外来势力欺负、压迫、奴役我们。中国捍卫国家主权、安全、发展利益的决心坚定不移、坚如磐石。中国不向其他国家输出自己的意识形态，但将坚定不移地走中国特色社会主义道路，因为它是中国人民的正确选择。不干涉别国内政原则既是中国提出的和平共处五项原则重要内容，也是国际关系基本准则。强行干预别国内政，并把自身发展模式和价值观强加于历史文化及国情截然不同的国家必将遭遇水土不服。一个政权没有人民支持是立不住脚的；用强权及军事手段处理问题只会使问题越来越多，阿富汗战争失败的教训再次证明了这一点。
Dear Friends,
朋友们，
China always views its relations with Croatia from a strategic and long-term perspective and cherishes its traditional friendship with Croatia. Our two countries have established a comprehensive strategic partnership. Friendly exchanges and cooperation have always been the main theme of our bilateral relations. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Croatia have supported each other in times of difficulty. The traditional friendship between the two countries has stood the test and opened up new opportunities. The leaders of our two countries have kept close communication and contacts. and reached broad consensus on strengthening China-Croatia and China-EU relations and promoting cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries . China and Croatia’s cooperation is faced with great new opportunities. China’s new development concept featuring innovation, coordination, openness, greenness and shared development is very much in line with Croatia and EU’s development concept. China, with a population of 1.4 billion and 400 million middle-income people, has maintained to be the biggest contributor to the global economic growth at over 30% for many years. The high quality “the Belt and Road Initiative” has created the world’s largest open and cooperation platform and 140 countries, including Croatia, and 32 international organizations have signed the document on “the Belt and Road Initiative” cooperation. The construction of “six corridors, six connectivity routes and multiple countries and ports” has been steadily progressing. China is also the first country in the world to host an international import Expo to share development opportunities with other countries, including Croatia, with a shorter negative list, a better business environment and a higher level of openness.
中方始终从战略高度和长远角度看待中克关系，珍视同克方传统友谊。中克建立了全面合作伙伴关系交流，两国友好交流与合作始终是双边关系的主旋律。新冠肺炎疫情暴发以来，中克守望相助、共克时艰，两国传统友好历经考验，焕发新机。两国领导人保持密切交往，就中克关系、中欧关系、中国—中东欧国家合作等达成广泛共识。中克合作面临新的巨大机遇。中国创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的新发展理念与克罗地亚及欧盟的发展理念高度契合。中国是世界第二大经济体、货物贸易第一大国、商品消费第二大国，拥有14亿人口、4亿中等收入人群，连续多年对全球经济增长贡献率保持在30%以上。高质量共建“一带一路”倡议打造了世界上最大的开放合作平台。中国已同包括克罗地亚在内的140个国家和32个国际组织签署共建“一带一路”合作文件，“六廊六路多国多港”建设稳步推进。中国还在全球率先举办国际进口博览会，以更短的负面清单、更好的营商环境、更高的开放水平同包括克罗地亚在内的各国分享发展机遇。
Croatia is ideally located in the European precision manufacturing belt and directly in the Central European hinterland, with a high quality of personnel. As a European Union country, Croatia is backed by a large EU market of more than 400 million people, sound laws and regulations, excellent infrastructure and a stable social order. Our two countries have great potential and bright prospects for cooperation in infrastructure construction, scientific and technological innovation, green energy, medical and health care and other fields. Croatia’s high quality agricultural products such as diary, wine, olive oil and truffle etc. become well known to Chinese market. I am confident more and more Croatia food products will be served on the tables of the Chinese consumers. Croatia is also rich in tourism resources, Many Chinese tourists want to come to beautiful Croatia, the pearl of the Adriatic sea for travel. Recently, the Pelješac Bridge, flagship project of tripartite cooperation of China, Croatia and EU, just accomplished its smooth closure. It is not only the long-cherished wish of the Croatian people to connect the north and south of Croatia has finally come true, but also sets a new benchmark for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. The Pelješac Bridge, will be one of the magnificent tourist attractions as well, I believe.
克罗地亚位于欧洲精密制造带并直通中欧腹地，地理位置优越，人员素质高。作为欧盟国家，克背靠4亿多人口的欧盟大市场，法律法规健全，基础设施完善，社会秩序安定。双方在基础设施建设、科技创新、绿色能源、医疗卫生等领域合作潜力巨大，前景广阔。乳制品、葡萄酒、橄榄油、松露等克罗地亚优质农产品正逐步被中国市场所熟知，相信越来越多的克罗地亚食品将出现在中国消费者的餐桌上。克罗地亚还拥有丰富的旅游资源，被誉为亚得里亚海上的明珠，对中国游客有很大吸引力。近期，中克欧三方合作旗舰项目佩列沙茨大桥顺利合龙，不仅使克民众期待多年连接克南北国土的夙愿终得实现，也为两国互利合作树立了新的标杆。我相信，这座大桥也将作为中克中欧友好象征成为克著名旅游景点之一。
Sports cooperation has always been one of the highlights of China-Croatia cooperation. At the recently concluded Tokyo Olympic Games, Chinese and Croatian athletes fought hard and both delivered outstanding results. Croatia gained excellent results with 3 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze. “Together” was added to the Olympic motto in Tokyo, which reflects the common voice of the International Olympic family and the people of the world in the face of the pandemic. In less than six months, China will host the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are confident that, together with the IOC and the international community, we will carry forward the Olympic spirit, uphold the spirit of peace, unity and friendship, and deliver a simple, safe and wonderful Olympic Games. However, a “pan-political” trend is witnessed frequently in the international community recently as some even attempt to “politicize” sports and hype up “boycotting” the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which is a serious violation of the Olympic Charter and athletes’ rights. Sport is a common language that transcends national boundaries. China and Croatia should jointly resist “politicizing” sports. At the same time, both sides should also seize the opportunity to deepen cooperation in winter sports, create a new growth point for the “white economy” and promote practical cooperation between China and Croatia.
体育合作也是中克合作的亮点。在前不久闭幕的东京奥运会上，中国和克罗地亚体育健儿奋勇拼搏，都交出了亮眼的成绩单，特别是克罗地亚取得3金3银2铜的优异成绩。在这届奥运会上，“更团结”被写入奥林匹克格言，反映了国际奥林匹克大家庭乃至全世界民众，在面对新冠肺炎疫情挑战下的共同心声。再过不到半年，中国将举办北京冬奥会、冬残奥会。我们有信心同国际奥委会和国际社会一道，传承和发扬奥林匹克精神，秉持和平、团结、友谊的精神，办好一届简约、安全、精彩的奥运盛会。然而，一段时间以来，国际社会频现“泛政治化”倾向。有人甚至将体育“政治化”，鼓噪“抵制”北京冬奥会，这严重违反奥林匹克宪章和运动员权益。体育是超越国界的人类共同语言，中克双方应共同抵制将体育政治化的作法。同时，双方还应抓住机遇，不断深化两国冬季运动合作，打造新的“白色经济”，推动中克务实合作走深走实。
Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Croatia. The Chinese side expects to move forward together with the Croatian side, to make top-level design for bilateral relations, continuously exploring and expanding converging interests between the two countries, to promoting the pragmatic cooperation in all areas to a new level, and let the people of both countries to live a better life.
明年中克将迎来建交30周年。中方期待与克方携手同行，做好两国关系顶层设计，不断探索、扩大两国利益交汇点，推动各领域务实合作迈上新台阶，让两国人民过上更加美好的生活。
Dear Friends,
朋友们，
The pandemic is still raging around the world, with the Delta variants on the rise and Europe is facing a fourth wave. Vaccine is the most powerful weapon in the fight against the pandemic. In international vaccine cooperation, China is the first to share the full-length genetic sequence of the novel corona-virus with the world, China is the first to conduct phase III clinical trials of the inactivated vaccine overseas, to provide vaccines to developing countries in need, and to cooperate with other developing countries in vaccine production. China has been and is donating vaccines to more than 100 countries, and has exported vaccines to more than 60 countries, with a total exceeding 770 million doses, ranking the world’s first. China has no political purpose in or does not seek any economic interests from its international cooperation in vaccines. And, there have never been any political conditions attached to such cooperation. Our only goal is to make vaccines a global public good and those for the people of the world in the real sense.
当前，新冠肺炎疫情仍在全球肆虐，德尔塔毒株来势汹汹，欧洲正面临第四轮冲击。疫苗是战胜疫情最有力的武器。中国在疫苗国际合作中率先向全球分享新冠病毒全基因序列，率先在海外开展新冠灭活疫苗Ⅲ期临床试验，率先向有需要的发展中国家提供疫苗，率先同发展中国家开展疫苗合作生产。中国已经并正在向100多个国家捐助疫苗，同时向60多个国家出口疫苗，总量居全球首位。中国开展疫苗国际合作，不谋求任何政治目的，没有任何经济利益盘算，也从不附加任何政治条件。我们唯一的目标，就是让疫苗成为全球公共产品，真正成为世界人民的疫苗。
The origins tracing is a serious and scientific issue that requires international cooperation on a global scale, based on facts and respect for science. China also took the lead in carrying out origins tracing cooperation with the WHO, China has twice invited WHO experts to China for joint research on tracing the source of the outbreak and has published detailed report on the study. Regrettably, in the face of the authoritative WHO report, some people choose to turn a blind eye and see without believing it. The U.S. is trying to blame China in order to shift its responsibility for failure in fighting the pandemic at home. In particular, its intelligence community has recently compiled a so-called report on the origins of COVID-19 in a bid to pin the blame on China. It is a mendacious report made up for political purposes without scientific basis or credibility to which the Chinese side firmly opposed. Politicizing origins tracing is a political burden left by the former U.S. government. The sooner the U.S. side unloads this burden, the easier it will be to get out of the current predicament. China urges the United States to stop politicizing the COVID-19 origins tracing, stop putting pressure on the World Health Organization, and stop interfering with and undermining the international community’s solidarity against the pandemic and the global scientific cooperation on origins tracing. We believe that the international community, will see through the nature of this move, continue to take an objective and just position, clearly oppose the malicious attempt to politicize COVID-19 origins tracing, and jointly maintain the sound momentum of international solidarity against the pandemic.
病毒溯源是严肃的科学问题，需要在基于事实、尊重科学基础上，在全球范围内进行国际合作。中国率先同世卫组织合作，两次邀请其专家来华开展溯源联合研究，并公布了详细的研究报告。令人遗憾的是，在世卫组织权威报告面前，有人选择视而不见、见而不信。美国为转移其国内抗疫失败的责任，极力抹黑中国，其情报部门更是炮制出台了栽赃中国的所谓溯源问题调查报告。这份所谓报告是一份彻头彻尾的政治报告、虚假报告，毫无科学性和可信度，中方对此坚决反对。政治溯源是美前政府留下的政治包袱，美方越早卸下这个包袱，越有助于走出目前困境。中方再次敦促美方停止将溯源问题政治化的做法，停止向世卫组织施压，停止干扰破坏国际社会团结抗疫和全球溯源科学合作。相信包括克罗地亚在内的国际社会都会看透这一行径的本质，继续秉持客观公正立场，明确反对病毒溯源政治化的不良图谋，共同维护好国际团结抗疫的良好势头。
Dear Friends,
朋友们，
I have been working in Croatia for over 2 years. During this period of time, I am so blessed to have friends like you. I am always overwhelmed by the friendship of the Croatian people towards China and the Chinese people. I have full confidence in the future development of China-Croatia relations and the Chinese Embassy in Croatia is willing to continue to build the bridge for friendly cooperation between the two countries. Let us join hands and make persistent efforts to write an even more brilliant new chapter for China-Croatia relations. Finally, I wish your annual meeting a complete success!
我在克罗地亚有幸结识了在座的各位好朋友，深切感受到克罗地亚人民对中国和中国人民的友好情谊。我对中克关系未来发展充满信心，中国驻克罗地亚使馆愿继续为两国友好合作搭建桥梁。让我们携手并肩，再接再厉，共同谱写中克关系更加辉煌的新篇章！最后，预祝此次克中友协年会圆满成功。
Thank you!
谢谢大家！