守正不移，與時俱進
維護中美關系的正確方向
——王毅國務委員在中美智庫媒體論壇上的致辭
Stay on the Right Track
and Keep Pace with the Times to
Ensure the Right Direction for China-US Relations
--Remarks by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the China-US Think Tanks Media Forum
各位來賓，各位朋友：
Distinguished Guests, Friends,
大家好！
Greetings to you all.
首先，我謹對本次論壇的召開表示熱烈祝賀，并愿向長期致力于中美關系的各界人士表示敬意和感謝。我還要感謝基辛格博士對此次論壇的支持，每次同他對話，都讓我感受到他對這個世界以及中美關系深入的戰略思考。
At the outset, I would like to congratulate you on the opening of the Forum. I also wish to use this opportunity to thank and pay tribute to the people from all sectors who have long been committed to China-US relations. I want to thank Dr. Kissinger for supporting this Forum. Every time I talked with him, I was most impressed by his profound, strategic thinking on the world and on China-US relations.
Today's Forum is highly important. As we speak, COVID-19 is raging across the globe. People's lives are under grave threat. The world economy is in deep recession. The undercurrent against international cooperation is gathering momentum. Unilateralism and bullying are forcing their way in the world. An international disorder is more possible than ever.
More alarmingly, China-US relations, one of the most consequential bilateral relationships in the world, is faced with the most severe challenge since the establishment of diplomatic ties. Some in the US with ideological biases are resorting to all possible means to portray China as an adversary, and even an enemy. They seek relentlessly to frustrate and contain China's development, and to impede interactions between China and the US.
下一步，中美關系這艘已經航行了四十多年的巨輪能否繼續保持正確航向，不僅與兩國人民利益密切相連，也關乎世界與人類的共同未來。
Will the giant ship of China-US relations be able to stay on the right course in the future after more than four decades of voyage? The question matters not only to the interests of the Chinese and American peoples, but also to the future of the world and humanity.
中美關系如何才能撥亂反正、重回正軌，真正實現長期健康穩定發展？我想重點談三點意見：
How to set things right and get China-US relations back on track toward long-term, sound and steady development? I would like to offer three observations.
First, China and the US should not seek to remodel each other. Instead, they must work together to find ways to peaceful coexistence of different systems and civilizations.
每個國家所走的道路，都基于各自文化傳統和歷史積淀。中國堅持的中國特色社會主義道路，符合中國的國情需要，是中國人民自己的選擇。實踐已經證明，這條道路不僅使14億中國人民擺脫了貧困落后，也讓中華民族再次為人類進步事業作出了重大貢獻。國際民調機構多次民意測驗顯示，中國人民對中國黨和政府的支持都高居全球榜首。任何勢力都沒有資格去否定其他國家選擇的道路，任何國家也都不會按照別人的好惡來改造自己的制度。歸根到底，制度和道路是對還是錯，應該由本國人民來決定。
Every country takes its development path on the basis of its cultural and historic traditions. China's path of socialism with Chinese characteristics suits its own national conditions, and it is the choice of the Chinese people. Facts have proved that this has been the way out of poverty and backwardness for the 1.4 billion Chinese people, and that it has enabled the Chinese nation to make important contribution again to the progress of mankind. International public opinion surveys have indicated over and again that Chinese people's approval ratings of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government rank the highest worldwide. No one has the right to rebuff the development path of other countries. And no country will remold its own system to the liking of other countries. After all, it should be the people of the country concerned to adjudicate whether their country's choice of system and path is right or not.
近年來有種論調，稱中國道路的成功將對西方造成沖擊和威脅。這一說法既不是事實，我們也不認同。因為5000年文明孕育的中國從來沒有侵略擴張的基因，我們不照搬外國模式，也不輸出中國模式，從不要求別國復制中國的做法。2500年前的中國圣賢就主張：“萬物并育而不相害，道并行而不相悖”。這是東方人的處世哲學，至今仍給世人以啟迪。美國人民也歷來把平等、包容、多元作為不懈追求。這個世界不應非黑即白，制度差異也不應導致零和。中國不會也不可能變成另一個美國。正確的態度是，彼此相互尊重、相互欣賞、相互借鑒、相互成就。改革開放以來，中國從發達國家學到了很多有益經驗。同樣，中國的一些成功做法也對許多國家解決當下的問題不無啟發。在這個豐富多彩的世界中，中美雖然社會制度不同，但完全可以并行不悖，和平共存。
One particular view has been floating around in recent years, alleging that the success of China's path will be a blow and threat to the Western system and path. This claim is inconsistent with facts, and we do not agree with it. Aggression and expansion are never in the genes of the Chinese nation throughout its 5,000 years of history. China does not replicate any model of other countries, nor does it export its own to others. We never ask other countries to copy what we do. More than 2,500 years ago, our forefathers advocated that "All living things can grow in harmony without hurting one another, and different ways can run in parallel without interfering with one another". This is part of the Oriental philosophy, which remains highly relevant today. The American people have long pursued equality, inclusiveness and diversity. The world should not be viewed in binary thinking, and differences in systems should not lead to a zero-sum game. China will not, and cannot, be another US. The right approach should be to respect, appreciate, learn from, and reinforce each other. In its reform and opening-up, China has learned a lot of useful experience from developed countries. Likewise, some of China's successful experiences have also been quite relevant for some countries in tackling their current challenges. In this diverse world, China and the US, despite their different social systems, have much to offer each other and could well co-exist peacefully.
Second, China's US policy remains unchanged. We are still willing to grow China-US relations with goodwill and sincerity.
隨著中國的發展，有些美國朋友對中國懷有越來越多的疑慮甚至戒懼。在此我愿重申，中國從來無意挑戰或取代美國，無意與美國全面對抗。我們最關心的是提高本國人民的福祉，最重視的是實現中華民族的復興，最期待的是世界的和平穩定。為此，中國的對美政策保持著高度穩定性和連續性，愿意與美不沖突不對抗、相互尊重、合作共贏，構建以協調、合作、穩定為基調的中美關系。
Some friends in the US might have become suspicious or even wary of a growing China. I'd like to stress here again that China never intends to challenge or replace the US, or have full confrontation with the US. What we care most about is to improve the livelihood of our people. What we deem as the most important is to realize national renewal of the Chinese nation. And what we hope for most is to maintain peace and stability of the world. To this end, China has maintained a highly stable and consistent policy toward the US. And China stands ready to develop a China-US relationship featuring no conflict and confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation based on coordination, cooperation and stability.
To achieve that goal, China and the US must work in the same direction, respect international law and international rules, and engage in equal dialogue and consultation. While the US unscrupulously encircles and smears China around the world, and meddles in China's domestic affairs, it should not demand unrealistically that China show understanding and support to the US in bilateral and global affairs. As an independent sovereign country, China has every right to uphold its sovereignty, security and development interests, safeguard the achievements that the Chinese people have made through hard work, and reject any bullying and injustice imposed on it.
Third, it is important to have a correct view of the historical experience of China-US relations, and stay the course of dialogue and cooperation.
近來，美國國內有人提出，過去幾十年的對華接觸政策是失敗了，美國在對華合作中吃虧了。這種說法既不尊重歷史，也不符合事實。
Some in the US have claimed that the engagement policy over the past decades has been a failure, and that the US has been ripped off in its cooperation with China. That is a comment that disrespects history and conflicts with the fact.
中美兩國二戰時曾是并肩作戰的盟友。上世紀70年代，雙方在尊重彼此不同制度的前提下重新打開建交大門。兩國對話合作走到今天，凝聚著幾代人的政治智慧和不懈努力，也反映了兩國關系發展的內在規律和必然趨勢。
China and the US were allies who fought side by side during WWII. In the 1970s, the two sides reopened the door toward establishing diplomatic ties on the basis of respecting the different systems of each other. That our dialogue and cooperation have come a long way is attributable to the political wisdom and strenuous efforts by one generation after another. It reveals the inherent law of China-US relations, and also represents the trend of the times.
In the past 40 years and more since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and the US have made the best use of their complementarity, and their interests have become highly integrated. China's success is attributable to its opening-up to and cooperation with the US and the world. And China's development has provided the US with sustained growth impetus and a huge market. From regional hotspots to counter-terrorism and nonproliferation, from international financial crisis to disease prevention and control, China and the US have jointly accomplished many great things to the benefit of not only the two countries but also the world.
Some say that China-US relations will not be able to return to its past. But that should not mean ignoring the history altogether and starting all over again, let alone impractical decoupling. It should mean building on past achievements and keeping pace with the times. As you may have noted, despite the impact of COVID-19, 74 percent of US businesses in China said they plan to make more investment here. Recently, 191 agricultural organizations sent a joint letter to President Donald J. Trump, calling for continued implementation of the phase one trade agreement. Many US universities have openly expressed their support for closer China-US educational exchanges. And many global leaders have called on China and the US to increase dialogue and cooperation and avoid confrontation and decoupling. These are the advice we must heed. More important, they are also the goals we must work for.
Friends,
習近平主席多次強調：我們有一千條理由把中美關系搞好，沒有一條理由把中美關系搞壞。只要雙方都有改善和發展中美關系的積極意愿，我們就能夠推動中美關系走出困境，重回正軌。我在這里提出三點建議，供大家參考：
President Xi Jinping has underlined on many occasions that we have a thousand reasons to make the China-US relationship a success, and none whatsoever to wreck it. As long as both sides have the positive will to improve and grow this relationship, we will find ways to steer this relationship out of the difficulties and bring it back to the right track. To that end, I want to make three suggestions for you to discuss:
First, activate and open all the channels of dialogue. The current China policy of the US is based on ill-informed strategic miscalculation, and is fraught with emotions and whims and McCarthyist bigotry. Its suspicion about China, totally uncalled-for, has reached a point of paranoia. It seems as if every Chinese investment is politically driven, every Chinese student is a spy, and every cooperation initiative is a scheme with hidden agenda. If the US lacks confidence, openness and inclusiveness to such an extent, and chooses to conjure up "China Threats" of various kinds, its paranoia may turn into self-fulfilling prophecies at the end of the day.
Only communication can dispel falsehoods. Only dialogue can prevent miscalculation. Slandering others does not clear one's own name, and finger-pointing cannot resolve any problems. Let me reaffirm that China's door to dialogue remains open. As long as the US is ready, we can restore and restart the dialogue mechanisms at all levels and in all areas. All issues can be put on the table. And all differences can be addressed properly through dialogue. In the meantime, as long as the US does not set restrictions, we are also ready to promote exchanges and interactions between government departments, localities and social sectors, so as to enable the two peoples to know and understand more of each other.
Second, review and agree on the lists of interactions. Given the inter-connectedness and complexity of issues, it is useful for the two sides to sit down together, run over them, and draw up the following three lists:
第一份是合作清單，把中美在雙邊領域及全球事務中需要而且能夠合作的事項明確下來，這份單子越長越好，而且不應受到其他問題的干擾；
The first is a list of cooperation areas. It should specify all areas, bilateral and global, where China and the US need to and can work together. The longer this list goes, the better. Cooperation on this list should be immune to the impact of other issues.
第二份是對話清單，把雙方盡管存在分歧但有望通過對話尋求解決的問題列出來，盡快納入現存的對話機制和平臺；
The second is a list of dialogues. It should itemize the issues of differences that could be solved through dialogues. They should be designated to the existing dialogue mechanisms and platforms as soon as possible.
第三份是管控清單，把少數難以達成一致的難題找出來，本著求同存異的精神擱置并管控好，盡可能減少對兩國關系的沖擊和破壞。對于這三份清單，兩國的智庫可以先行研究。
The third is a list of issues that need proper management. It should identify the few tough issues that the two countries have little chance to agree on in the near future. The two sides should manage them well in the spirit of seeking common ground while putting aside differences, so as to minimize their impact on and harm to the overall China-US relations. I encourage the think tanks of the two countries to start exploring the three lists ahead of others.
Third, focus and cooperate on COVID-19 response. Nothing is more precious than human lives. Nothing is more pressing than saving lives. We have deep sympathies for the American people for their unfortunate experiences, and have provided the US an enormous amount of badly-needed medical supplies. In the face of the virus, cooperation should be the first-order priority. China is ready to share with the US information about COVID-19 prevention and containment as well as our response experience. And we are also ready to have closer exchanges with the US on diagnostics and therapeutics, vaccines, and economic recovery.
而美方應當立即停止將疫情政治化、把病毒標簽化，并與中方一道推動全球抗疫合作，共同挽救這個世界上更多的生命，共同擔負起兩個主要大國應當承擔的國際責任。
The US, for its part, should immediately stop its acts of politicization and stigmatization. It should work with China to promote a global response to save more lives and live up to our international responsibility as two major countries.
Friends,
中國有句古話，“行之力則知愈進，知之深則行愈達”。
There is an ancient Chinese axiom, which says, "Practice enriches knowledge, and more knowledge leads to better practice."
作為世界上至關重要的一組雙邊關系，中美關系有待發出更多的積極信息，釋放更多的正能量。希望美方構建更為客觀冷靜的對華認知，制定更為理性務實的對華政策。這樣做，既符合中美兩國人民的根本利益，也順應世界各國對中美雙方的期待。
The China-US relationship is one of the world's most important bilateral relations. There needs to be more positive messages and energy from this relationship. I hope the US will develop more objective and cool-headed perceptions about China, and a more rational and pragmatic China policy. This is in the fundamental interests of the Chinese and American peoples. It is also what the world expects from the two countries.
謝謝大家！
Thank you.
