Multilateralism: Still the Key to a Prosperous East Asia
维护践行多边主义，开创东亚合作未来
Ambassador to ASEAN Deng Xijun Published a Signed Article
中国驻东盟大使邓锡军发表署名文章
18 February 2022
2022年2月18日
Recently, the still-raging Omicron variant has led to a sharp surge of infections in East Asia, further distancing a future free of COVID-19. Slowed economic growth has made it harder to keep up people’s living standard. The big picture gets gloomier. Traditional security issues are complicated by the new ones, giving rise to more uncertainties. Perhaps it has to be admitted that East Asian cooperation has again come to a crossroad amidst the complex regional and international landscape.
当前，伴随着奥密克戎变异毒株在全球肆虐传播，东亚地区新冠疫情出现大幅反弹，形势不容乐观。同时，地区各国经济增长放缓，民生压力增大。新旧安全问题交织，不确定因素有所上升。在国际和地区形势深刻复杂变化的背景下，东亚合作站在新的十字路口。
Yet solutions offered by various countries differ. As for China, it firmly believes that multilateralism remains the “master key” to challenges faced by East Asia as well as the anchor for regional peace and prosperity.
面对层出不穷的问题与挑战，各方给出的解决方案不尽相同。中方始终坚定认为，维护和践行多边主义、坚定推进区域合作，是解决当前东亚问题和实现东亚和平安全与发展繁荣的“总钥匙”。
Peace and security, a must for development and prosperity, remain the shared aspiration of people in the region. Then what shall and could be done? For instance, we regional countries need to serve as the builders and guardians of peace in the region. We need to pursue dialogue instead of confrontation, build partnerships instead of alliances, and make concerted efforts to address the various negative factors that might threaten or undermine peace. Moreover, we need to champion sincere dialogue, practical cooperation, openness and inclusiveness. We need to fend off security risks and actively explore a regional security architecture. Having stood against power politics and hegemony all along, China is steadfast as always to safeguard the enduring peace of the region together with our neighbors. China will never seek hegemony or a sphere of influence, still less will it bully other countries.
和平与安全是东亚繁荣的前提与保障，是地区人民最大的共同期盼。各方要做地区和平的建设者和守护者，坚持对话不对抗、结伴不结盟，携手应对威胁破坏和平稳定的各种负面因素。要加强坦诚对话和务实合作，强调开放包容，积极应对各类安全风险并探讨构建区域安全机制。中方坚决反对霸权主义和强权政治，愿同周边国家共同维护地区持久和平。我们绝不寻求所谓“势力范围”和“霸权”，更不会以大欺小。
As victory over COVID-19 and economic recovery remain the common priorities for regional countries, there is much more we could do together. For instance, it is of paramount importance to stand in solidarity, share information and strengthen joint prevention and control. The strategic significance of vaccines cannot be over emphasized. Cooperation in vaccine R&D, production and distribution requires our concerted endeavors, so as to make vaccines truly accessible and affordable for everyone.
抗击疫情和复苏经济是地区国家面临的两大共同任务。我们要深化团结合作，加强信息共享和联防联控，坚决打赢全球疫情阻击战。特别是要加强疫苗研发、生产、分配合作，让疫苗真正成为各国人民用得上、用得起的公共产品。
Openness is the sure way for the sustained East Asia cooperation. Open regionalism and free trade are conducive to the next phase of regional economic integration. And true multilateralism means inclusiveness rather than exclusion, integration rather than decoupling. The sheer obsession with high standards and pursuit of dominance in regional economic agenda, in disregard of openness and inclusiveness, would lead the region nowhere. Free trade prevails when it fits the situation on the ground in East Asia.
开放是东亚合作的法宝和生命线。要坚持开放的地区主义，捍卫自由贸易原则，坚定推进区域经济一体化。要践行真正的多边主义，坚持包容而不排他、融合而不脱钩。片面追求高标准、主导权，而不注重开放性和普惠性的地区经济议程，缺乏基础、脱离实际、制造分裂，必将行而不远。
Diversity and inclusiveness are embedded in East Asia’s DNA. Be it the political systems, religions, cultures or models of development, East Asia has been well known for its immense diversity, even since the ancient times. It has been openness that guides the regional economic integration. It has been coordination and consultation on an equal footing that drives the ASEAN-led regional cooperation. And it has been inclusiveness that underpins an open and non-exclusive East Asia family.
多元包容是东亚文化的共同基因。东亚地区在政治制度、宗教文化和发展模式上，都是多样化的调色板。我们从东亚文明中汲取智慧，以开放理念引领地区经济一体化，以平等协商推进东盟主导的地区合作，以包容心态构建开放而非排他的朋友圈。
Those who are preoccupied with an ideology-driven and value-oriented mindset risk of severely undermining the foundation of cooperation in East Asia and would perhaps find themselves the least wanted by regional countries. Unfortunately, the self-claimed “beacon” would eventually find itself unnecessary and unhelpful in this part of the world, as each and every nation here has its own way of shining.
那种以意识形态划线、以价值观确定关系亲疏远近的做法损及东亚合作基础，实不可取。我们不需要任何国家自诩的“灯塔”照亮，因为东亚每个国家和民族都自带光芒。
When it comes to East Asian cooperation, China and ASEAN have been the backbone. China unswervingly supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture and unswervingly supports ASEAN in playing a leading role in regional affairs. China is proud to have made significant contributions to East Asian cooperation. The development of China, a major opportunity for the region, is in no way a “challenge” as painted by some other countries.
中国和东盟是推动东亚合作的中坚力量。中方坚定不移支持东盟在区域架构中的中心地位，支持东盟在地区事务中发挥领导作用。中方也以自身方式为东亚区域合作作出了巨大努力和贡献。中国的发展对地区而言是重大机遇，绝不是一些国家肆意渲染的“挑战”。
East Asian cooperation has been inexhaustibly powered by the steady and sound growth of China-ASEAN relations. China will, as always, unswervingly take ASEAN as a high priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and unswervingly support ASEAN unity and community building. Last year, President Xi Jinping and leaders of ASEAN Member States jointly announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN, identifying fields and measures of cooperation and thus charting the course forward. The new milestone will inject strong impetus to China-ASEAN ties.
中国东盟关系健康稳定发展为东亚合作提供了强劲动力。中方将坚定不移以东盟为周边外交优先方向，坚定不移支持东盟团结和东盟共同体建设。2021年，习近平主席同东盟领导人共同宣布建立中国东盟全面战略伙伴关系，明确了诸多具体合作领域与举措，为双方下一阶段深化务实合作指明了方向。这是双方关系史上新的里程碑，将为东亚区域合作注入新的动力。
The tremendous progress of cooperation between China and ASEAN speaks for themselves. For instance, our 878.2 billion US dollars of two way trade in 2021, with a growth rate of 28.1 percent, enables us to remain as each other’s largest trading partner. RCEP that came into effect on the very first day of 2022 ushers the regional free trade into a new era. Major infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative are delivering real dividends to local people. The China-Laos railway that started operation at the end of last year is serving as a fresh channel of transport between China and ASEAN.
在中国和东盟共同努力下，2021年双方货物贸易额达8782亿美元，同比逆势增长28.1%，双方继续保持互为第一大贸易伙伴地位。《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》也已于今年1月1日正式生效，区域自贸进程迈出重要步伐。中国东盟在“一带一路”框架下的合作正在“开花结果”，中老铁路于去年12月正式通车，加速形成中国与东盟间物流便捷新通道。
Yet against the prevailing trend of cooperation regionwide, an updated Indo-Pacific Strategy has caught our attention in recent days. Dominated by the Cold-War mentality, it has an easy excuse of “China threat” and is in pursuit of geopolitical rivalry. Be it the five objectives or the action plan, people don’t need to make an effort to find out its hidden agenda of containing China and defending hegemony. On the paper, the “strategy” is about a free and open region. In reality, it is busy with building regional blocs such as AUKUS and QUAD. On the one hand, it talks about bolstered regional security. On the other hand, it is about to reinforce deterrence by helping an ally with nuclear submarines and risking the region of potential nuclear proliferation. On the one hand, it looks to regional prosperity. Yet on the other hand, it undermines the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture by driving a wedge among regional countries with the attempt of instigating confrontation, thus seriously threatening the fruits and prospect of regional cooperation.
我们注意到个别国家近期发布所谓“印太战略”。这是一份散布“中国威胁”和充满冷战思维的地缘博弈战略，其中所谓“目标”和“行动计划”听起来冠冕堂皇，但无法掩藏遏制中国发展、维护自身霸权的险恶用心。“战略”声称要推进地区自由开放，实际上却通过三边安全伙伴关系、四边机制构建封闭排他的小圈子；声称要强化地区安全，但同时大谈“强化威慑”，并帮助盟友建造核潜艇，制造严重核扩散风险，破坏地区和平稳定；声称要促进地区繁荣，实际上却挑动地区国家间对立对抗，冲击地区多年来形成的以东盟为中心的区域合作架构，对地区合作成果和未来发展前景构成严重威胁。
At the crossroad, it is worth pondering, more than ever, the course and direction ahead. And one thing is for sure. China will continue to keep up with the trend of the times, remain focused on improving people’s livelihoods and safeguarding regional peace and development. Guided by the spirit of building a global community with a shared future, China will remain as steadfast as ever to champion multilateralism and work together with ASEAN toward an even-brighter future of East Asian cooperation!
物竞天择，适者生存。在时代问卷面前，只有顺应时代潮流、提高人民福祉、真正有利于维护地区和平发展的主张才能得到地区国家的欢迎和拥护。中国将继续高举人类命运共同体旗帜，坚定不移地维护和践行多边主义，与东盟等地区国家一道共同开创东亚合作的美好未来！