崔天凯大使在蓝厅论坛上的讲话

Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai at Lanting Forum

尊敬的王毅国务委员，

女士们，先生们：

State Councilor Wang Yi,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

首先给大家拜个晚年。我们在中国牛年伊始共同探讨中美关系的未来正当其时，中美关系亟待矫枉纠偏，处在重整出发的关口。

First, I would like to extend New Year’s greetings to you all. Standing at the beginning of the Year of the Ox, it is most relevant for us to explore the future of China-U.S. relations together. At this critical juncture, it is high time for us to recalibrate the direction of the China-U.S. relationship, so that it will be better prepared for a new start.

习近平主席同拜登总统在中国农历除夕通电话，为中美关系发展指明了方向。王毅国务委员刚才就如何认识中国、如何推动中美关系重回正轨做了进一步阐述，给我们带来重要启示。中美双方嘉宾也发表了高见。我想重点谈三点。

President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had a phone call on the eve of the Chinese New Year, which has pointed the way forward for China-U.S. relations. Just now, State Councilor Wang Yi gave enlightening elaborations on how to understand China and how to take the relations back to the right track, and other Chinese and American speakers also shared their valuable views. Here I wish to stress the following three points.

首先，中美双方要准确理解和把握彼此战略意图。中国发展的根本目的是满足人民对美好生活的向往。无论是脱贫攻坚、保护环境，还是贯彻新发展理念、构建新发展格局，提高人民福祉是我们每一分奋斗的心之所系，也必将贯穿中国新发展阶段、中华民族复兴的全过程。在国际上，中国坚持走和平发展道路，推动构建人类命运共同体，为的是全人类共同利益。中国从来无意挑战或取代任何国家，更遑论将其定为战略目标了。

First, China and the United States need to have an accurate understanding of each other’s strategic intentions. China’s development is to meet the people’s aspiration for a better life. From our programs on poverty alleviation and environment protection to our endeavor to implement the new development philosophy and foster a new development paradigm, a better life for the people is at the heart and center of everything we do, and it will be guiding us through the new development stage in pursuit of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. On the international front, China is committed to following a path of peaceful development and building a community with a shared future for mankind. We do this for the common interests of mankind. China has had no intention whatsoever to challenge or displace any country, let alone make it its strategic goal.

心病还需心药医，美方一些人在看中国时恐怕要去一去心魔，从黑暗的屋子走出来见见阳光。不要臆测假想敌，制造“自我实现的预言”；不要抱守零和博弈的旧思维，沉溺修昔底德陷阱的“宿命”；更不能揣着明白装糊涂，将国内政治争斗甚至一己私利置于中美和平相处、世界共同发展的“大义”、“大利”之上。总之，战略认知要正确，否则只会是用一个错误替代另一个错误。

When the problem is with the mindset, the cure cannot be sought elsewhere. In terms of China-U.S. relations, some people in the U.S. may need to get rid of their paranoia about China and walk out of darkness to greet the sun. It is time for them to stop creating an imaginary enemy out of China and making any self-fulfilling prophecy. It is time for them to abandon the antiquated mindset of zero-sum game and obsession with the Thucydides’ trap. And it is time for them to ditch the habit of playing dumb and stop putting domestic political strife and even their selfish interests above the lofty cause of peaceful coexistence between China and the U.S. and of common development of the whole world. In short, there must be a correct strategic perception; otherwise, one mistake would only be replaced by another.

其次，要真正了解并尊重彼此的历史文化和发展道路。了解中国这样一个文明古国的钥匙自然是历史文化，包括她“和”的基因、达己达人的传统等。今年是中国共产党成立100周年。认识这一百年对于读懂中国的过去、现在和未来至关重要。这段百年史印证了中国共产党为中国确立的道路集合了中华文明精髓、适应中国国情且契合时代潮流，行之有效、广受拥戴，也真正解释了为什么中国现在所走的道路是历史和人民的选择。

Second, China and the United States need to have a real knowledge and respect of each other’s history, culture and development path. A key to understanding an ancient civilization as China is its history and culture, including its deep-rooted belief in “harmony” and its tradition of establishing both oneself and others. This year marks the centenary of the Communist Party of China. Knowing about these 100 years is essential to knowing about China’s past, present and future. Knowing about these 100 years, you will know why the path chosen by the Party, one reflecting China’s culture and suiting its conditions, would meet the trend of the times and prove to be effective and widely supported, and you will know why it is also the choice of history and the people.

美国常说以价值观立国，主张“人生而平等”。但美国有些人总是以自己定义的“民主”等价值观划线，凭自己的好恶和标准肆意给别国贴标签，甚至抱守“非我族类，其心必异”的心态去党同伐异、动辄制裁对抗，这恰恰是最典型的不民主。如果走向极端，势必成为种族主义和“丛林法则”。希望美国能端正心态，在国际上奉行各国“生而平等”的理念，学会同历史文化和道路制度与己不同的国家和平共处。

America talks a great deal about its founding values and about “all men are created equal”. But some people in the U.S. are inclined to use their own definition of “democracy” and other values to draw the line, and label other countries according to their own preference and standards. Worse still, when faced with countries differing from them, they would naturally have a bias, and would close ranks with the West to take on the rest with sanctions and confrontation. This is undemocratic in the most typical sense. If such a tendency is allowed to go extreme, it would develop into racism and manifestations of “the law of the jungle”. It is hoped that America will have a correct mindset, live up to the principle that all countries “are created equal”, and learn to peacefully coexist with those who have a different history, culture, development path and system.

最后，双方要坦诚沟通，明确政策边界，从而有效管控分歧，聚焦合作。有问题可以拿到桌面上来谈。首先是问题性质要分清，政策边界要明确，红线要划出来。在台湾、涉港、涉疆、涉藏等涉及中国主权和领土完整的问题上，中方没有退让余地，必须坚守红线。在尊重彼此核心利益的基础上，对于一时解决不了的分歧，要以建设性方式妥善管控、避免对抗。两国在各领域都要开展深入坦诚的对话，并在应对全球性挑战和国际地区问题上加强协调合作。像今天这种交流就多多益善，智库、媒体都应该扮演积极角色。

Third, China and the United States need to have candid communication and clearly define their policy boundaries, so as to effectively manage differences and focus on cooperation. Any problem can be put on the table. The nature of the problems must be unequivocally identified, policy boundaries distinctly marked, and the red line clearly set. On matters concerning China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Xizang, China will never back down, and the red line must be followed. On the basis of respecting each other’s core interests, it is necessary to constructively and properly manage the issues where differences cannot be resolved for the moment, so as to avoid confrontation. The two sides need to have in-depth and candid dialogue in various fields, and strengthen coordination and cooperation in addressing global challenges as well as regional and international hotspots. Today’s forum is a good example of such communication, and think tanks and the media should all play a positive role.

今年是基辛格博士首次访华50周年。历史已经证明，一个健康稳定的中美关系符合两国人民和整个国际社会的共同利益。今后的历史如何书写，取决于我们今天怎么选择。

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Henry Kissinger’s first visit to China. History has proved that a sound and stable China-U.S. relationship serves the common interests of the two peoples and the entire international community. Our path onwards will depend on our choice today.

预祝本次论坛成功。谢谢。

I wish the forum a complete success. Thank you.