王東華總領事在中美建交40週年招待會致詞

今晚,中國駐舊金山總領館舉行招待會,慶祝中美建交40週年。首先,我代表中國駐舊金山總領館並以我個人名義,對大家前來出席表示熱烈歡迎。

40年前,中美兩國老一代領導人以非凡的戰略眼光和卓越的政治智慧,打破隔絕中美多年的堅冰,做出中美建交的歷史性決定,揭開了中美關係史上嶄新一頁。中美建交對發展兩國關係和維護世界和平都產生著重大而深刻的影響。

40年來,在兩國幾代領導人親自推動和各界人士共同努力下,中美關係歷經風雨,取得歷史性發展,為兩國人民帶來了巨大利益,為世界和平、穩定、繁榮做出了重要貢獻。

中美貿易迅速發展。雙邊貨物貿易額建交時僅為24.5億美元,2018年達到6335億美元,是建交時的260倍。服務貿易建交時幾乎為零,2017年為750多億美元,其中美國對華出口為576億多美元。

中美投資持續擴大。雙向投資建交時幾乎為零,2017年時累計超過2300億美元。約有68000家美資公司在華經營,2016年實現銷售收入6068億美元,比中國在美企業銷售多出4000億美元。

人員往來逐年增多。中美人員往來建交初期每年約幾千人,2017年超過530萬人次。其中來美旅遊中國人為300多萬人,在美消費330億美元。目前,美在華留學生增加到2萬,中國在美留學生超過40萬,為美大學帶來180億美元收入。

雙邊交流豐富多彩。高層交往常態頻繁,特別是元首互動對兩國關係發展提供了重要引領。此外,兩國建立起了外交安全對話、全面經濟對話、執法及網絡安全對話、社會和人文對話等四個高級別對話機制,省州長、省州立法機關交流機制,50對友好省州和227對姐妹城市。

國際合作富有成效。兩國在共同關切的國際和地區問題上合作日益密切,從處理地區熱點問題到反恐、防擴散,從應對國際金融危機、疾病防控、環境保護到月球探測,雙方合作清單越來越長。沒有中美之間的協調合作,很多問題都難以得到很好解決。

40年兩國關係發展歷程表明,中美是重要夥伴,而不是戰略對手;中美合作是互利雙贏,而不是零和遊戲。中美關係取得的成績來之不易,凝聚著兩國幾代領導人和各界人士的智慧和心血,需要倍加珍惜和精心呵護。在此,我代表中國駐舊金山總領館向所有關心支持中美關係發展的兩國各界人士、特別是領區各界人士致以崇高敬意和衷心感謝!

女士們、先生們,
當前,中美關係已成為當今世界最具潛力、最有重要影響的雙邊關係之一。未來怎樣推動中美關係取得更好發展,取決於我們今天做出怎樣的判斷和選擇。中國古語說,以史為鑑,可以知興替。同樣,以史為鑑,可以更好地把握國與國關係的未來。回顧中美關係40年發展的歷程,我覺著既有經驗值得認真總結,也有教訓需要切實汲取。

第一,合則兩利、鬥則兩傷,是中美交往的重要啟示。 40年來,中美各自國情和處境都發生了巨大變化,但兩國合作的互利本質沒有變化。隨著全球化深入發展,中美經濟依存不斷提高,利益融合日益緊密,聚焦共同利益拓展互利合作,有力地促進了各自發展。當前,世界正經歷新一輪重大變革和調整,兩國作為世界上兩個最大經濟體,共同利益不是減少了而是增多了,比以往任何時候都更需要加強合作,實現進一步發展和應對新的挑戰。合作最符合兩國和兩國人民根本利益,是兩國最好選擇。任何一方都難以承受與對方脫鉤或對抗的代價。任何一方損害對方的舉動最終會傷及自己,損人越重害己也越深。

第二,相互尊重、求同存異,是兩國相處的正確之道。兄弟之間也會有矛盾,五個手指尚不一般齊。國與國之間有分歧很自然,和而不同也是常識。中美關係發展告訴我們,雙方只要相互尊重、真誠合作、求同存異,就沒有解不開的疙瘩、過不去的溝坎。中美合作成功應對2008國際金融危機證明,兩國可以超越差異和分歧,發揮各自優勢,攜手應對共同面臨的風險和挑戰。中美貿易摩擦在一個時期不斷升級則警示,言而無信、隔空喊話、無端指責不能解決問題,反會加劇分歧和對立。關鍵時刻,兩國元首力挽狂瀾,達成重要共識,避免了貿易摩擦進一步升級,並為兩國關係發展指明了方向。兩國團隊正加緊落實兩國元首重要共識,為解決雙方經貿合作問題奠定了基礎。這也證明,合作是解決問題的最有效方式,雙方只要坐在一起、平等相待、真誠談判、互諒互讓,就能找到解決問題的辦法。

第三,相互理解相互信任,是中美關係健康發展的基礎。沒有相互理解就沒有互信,沒有互信就不會有互利合作。缺乏信任,必然導致相互猜疑、甚至戰略誤判,難以有效管理危機、應對挑戰,會使小問題變成大問題,使問題的解決更加困難而不是更為容易。當前中美關係遇到一些困難,一個重要原因就是有些人對中國疑慮加重。中國無意挑戰或取代美國,堅定走和平發展道路,堅持通過發展讓中國人民過上更美好生活,無論將來發展到什麼程度都永遠不擴張、不稱霸、不謀求勢力範圍。中國將繼續全面深化改革、進一步擴大開放,與其他國家分享發展利益,絕不以犧牲別國利益為代價來發展自己。在當前新形勢下,中美更應加強交往,清晰了解彼此戰略意圖,增進雙方戰略互信,防止發生戰略誤判,為中美關係健康發展提供肥沃土壤、奠定紮實基礎。

第四,重視彼此重要利益,是中美關係健康發展的前提。各國都有各自的重要利益,中美也不例外。國與國交往,最重要的利益莫過於維護主權和領土完整,確保國家安全和製度安全,這是不能觸碰的紅線。從中美建交以來交往情況來看,只要雙方恪守《中美建交公報》等三個聯合公報,堅持一個中國原則,尊重彼此重要利益,照顧彼此重要關切,兩國關係和互利合作就會順利發展,共同關心的重大問題就更容易解決。而不斷挑戰對方的重要利益,也終將損害自身重要利益。我們願與美方一道,準確把握、充分尊重彼此重要利益,慎重對待、妥善處理涉及彼此重要利益的問題,確保中美關係始終沿著正確方向發展。

女士們、先生們,
當前,中美關係正處於一個重要階段。中國孔聖人說“四十不惑”,意思是人到40歲就應篤定沉穩,對人生不再疑惑。中美關係已年過40,雙方理應多一些理解,少一些隔閡;多一些信任,少一些猜疑;多一些理性,少一些衝動。這樣,兩國關係就會多一些穩健,少一些磕絆;兩國合作就會多一些收穫,少一些消耗;兩國人民就會多一些受益,少一些損失。

中方高度重視中美關係。美國發展得好,中國才會發展得好,反之亦然;唯有加強合作,兩國才會發展得更好。習近平主席指出,中美雙方有一千條理由把中美關係搞好,沒有一條理由把中美關係搞壞。近期,他同特朗普總統多次互動,指出雙方要共同推進以協調、合作、穩定為基調的中美關係,更好地造福兩國人民和世界各國人民。特朗普總統強調,發展合作和建設性的美中關係是他的優先事項。中方願與美方一道落實兩國元首共識,推動中美關係在下一個40年健康穩定發展。

世界高度關注中美關係。中美關係好,世界才會好,才更有利於維護國際和平、促進共同發展。發展好中美關係,事關我們人人,我們人人有責。中國駐舊金山總領館願與領區各界人士攜手努力,為中美兩國人民世代友好、為中美關係長期健康穩定發展做出新的貢獻!

最後,請大家共同舉杯,為中美關係更加美好、中美友誼萬古長青,為各位身體健康、事業興旺、生活幸福,乾杯!
謝謝大家!

(左二) 王東華總領事

(右) 方李邦琴女士

老中廣播電台台長汮汮女士

 

 

Tonight, we are hosting a reception at the Chinese Consulate General in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. First of all, on behalf of the Consulate General, and in my own name, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all and profound gratitude to you for joining us in the celebration.

40 years ago, the older generation of leaders of China and the United States broke the ice of isolation between the two countries with extraordinary strategic vision and political wisdom, and made a historic decision to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries, which ushered in a new era in the history of China-US relations. The establishment of China-US diplomatic relations has been having a huge and profound impact on the development of our bilateral relations and the maintenance of world peace.

Over the past 40 years, under the guidance of successive leaders and thanks to joint efforts of people from all walks of life of both countries, China-US relations have achieved historic development despite ups and downs, delivering great benefits to the two peoples, and making significant contribution to world peace, stability and prosperity.

Trade between China and the United States has been growing rapidly. The bilateral trade in goods surged to 633.5 billion US dollars in 2018 from merely 2.45 billion US dollars in the early days of our relations, an increase of 260 times. The bilateral trade in services was almost zero then, and in 2017, it grew to 75 billion US dollars, among which US exports to China were more than 57.6 billion US dollars.

Investment between China and the United States has been expanding. Two-way investment which was insignificant in the early days of our relations exceeded 230 billion dollars in cumulative terms in 2017. About 68,000 US-funded companies have been operating in China, and they achieved a sales volume of 606.8 billion US dollars in 2016, 400 billion US dollars more than the sales volume of Chinese companies in the United States.

Personnel exchanges have been increasing year by year. In the early days, only several thousand Chinese and Americans visited the other country. In 2017, the number was over 5.3 million. Among them, more than 3 million were Chinese tourists, who  spent as much as 33 billion dollars while traveling in the US. At present, the number of US students studying in China has increased to 20,000. And there are over 400,000 Chinese students studying in the US, contributing some $180 billion to local revenues.

Bilateral interactions take different forms. High-level exchanges are frequent, in particular, the interactions of our heads of state provide an important guide to the development of the bilateral relations. In addition, the two countries have established four high-level dialogue mechanisms, including the Diplomatic Security Dialogue, the Comprehensive Economic Dialogue, the Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Dialogue, and the Social and Cultural Dialogue. We have also established exchange mechanisms like governors forum and sub-national legislatures cooperation forum of the two countries. 50 pairs of provinces and states, and 227 pairs of cities have established sister relationship.

The cooperation between our two countries on international issues are fruitful. We are having increasingly close cooperation on international and regional issues of common concern. From dealing with regional hot-spot issues to anti-terrorism and non-proliferation, from coping with international financial crisis, disease control and prevention, environmental protection to lunar exploration, the list of cooperation between us is growing. Without coordination and cooperation between China and the US, the proper resolution of many issues would not have been possible.

The development of relations between our two countries over the past 40 years shows that China and the United States are important partners rather than strategic adversaries. China-US cooperation is mutually beneficial instead of a zero-sum game. The hard-won progress achieved in the China-US relations comes from the wisdom and hard work of generations of leaders and people of both countries, and needs to be cherished and carefully nourished. Here, on behalf of the Consulate General, I would like to extend my highest respect and heartfelt thanks to all the people, especially those from our consular district, for all they have done to support the development of China-US relations.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

China-US relations have become one of the bilateral relations with greatest potential and influence in the world today. How to better develop China-US relations in the future depends on what judgments and choices we make today. An ancient Chinese saying goes that by taking history as a mirror, you can understand the reasons for the rise and fall of one country. Similarly, taking history as a mirror, we can take better hold of the future relationship between countries. Looking back at the past 40 years, I think that we have both experience to review, and lessons to learn.

First, great inspiration from China-US exchanges is that cooperation benefits the two sides, while conflict can only hurt both. Over the past 40 years, China and the United States have both undergone tremendous changes in their respective national conditions and external environment, but the mutually beneficial nature of cooperation between the two countries remains unchanged. With the deepening of globalization, the economic interdependence between China and the US has been increasing, the convergence of interests has been expanding. By focusing on common interests and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, we have effectively promoted our respective development. Now, the world is undergoing a new round of profound changes and adjustments. As the two largest economies in the world, the two countries have more common interests instead of less, and need to strengthen cooperation more than ever to achieve further development and respond to new challenges. Cooperation is in the best interests of the two countries and the two peoples, and is the best choice for both countries. Neither party can afford the cost of disengagement or confrontation. Any move that harms the other party will eventually come back to haunt oneself, and the more one hurts the other, the deeper he hurts himself.

Second, the right way for the two countries to get along is seeking common ground while putting aside differences with mutual respect. Even brothers fight, and the five fingers of the same hand are of different lengths. It is only natural for countries to disagree, and harmony does not mean uniformity. The development of China-US relations tells us that as long as the two sides respect each other, cooperate in good faith, and seek common ground while putting aside differences, there will be no knots that cannot be untied and no hurdles that cannot be cleared. The successful cooperation between China and the US in responding to the 2008 international financial crisis proves that the two countries can transcend differences and disagreements, fully leverage our respective advantages, and work together to address common risks and challenges. The escalation of China-US trade friction in the recent past warns that the failure to keep promises, pointing fingers and groundless accusations do not help solve the problem, but give rise to more differences and confrontations. At the crucial moment, the two presidents turned the tide and reached important consensus to avoid further escalation of trade frictions, pointing the direction for the development of our bilateral relations. Teams of the two countries are intensifying their efforts to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, which laid the foundation for resolving economic and trade cooperation issues between the two sides. This is another proof that cooperation is the most effective way to solve problems. As long as the two sides sit together, treat each other as equals, negotiate sincerely, and understand each other, we can always find a solution.

Third, the foundation for the healthy development of China-US relations is mutual understanding and mutual trust. Without mutual understanding, there is no mutual trust. And without mutual trust, there will be no mutually beneficial cooperation. A lack of trust will inevitably lead to mutual suspicion, even strategic misjudgment, make it difficult to manage crisis and cope with challenges effectively, thus create a big problem out of a small one and make the resolution of a problem harder than easier. At present, China-US relations have encountered some difficulties. One important reason is the rising doubts over China (on the US side). China does not intend to challenge or replace the United States. We are firmly committed to the path of peaceful development, and to the pursuit of a better life for the Chinese people through development. No matter how much stronger it may become, China will never seek expansion, hegemony, and spheres of influence. China will continue to deepen reform in a comprehensive manner, further open up, share development fruits with other countries, and never pursue its own development at the expense of others. Under the current new circumstances, it is all the more important for China and the United States to strengthen exchanges, clearly understand each others’ strategic intentions, enhance strategic mutual trust, and avoid strategic misjudgment, so as to lay a solid foundation for the healthy development of China-US relations.

Fourth, a prerequisite for the healthy development of China-US relations is respecting each other’s critical interests. Every country has its own critical interests, and China and the United States are no exception. In state-to-state relations, the most important interests are sovereignty and territorial integrity and national and institutional security. Those are red lines that cannot be crossed. From our exchanges since the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations, we see that as long as the two sides abide by the three China-US joint communiqués including the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, adhere to the one China principle, respect each others’ important interests and concerns, our bilateral relations and mutually beneficial cooperation will develop smoothly, and major issues of common concern will be easier to resolve. On the other hand, constantly challenging the other’s important interests will ultimately harm one’s own important interests. We are willing to work with the US to accurately grasp and fully respect each others’ important interests, properly handle issues concerning each others’ important interests, and ensure that China-US relations will always develop in the right direction.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

At present, China-US relations are at a crucial stage. Confucius said that “when reaching forty, one should no longer have any doubts”, meaning that when people reach the age of 40, they should be sure and calm, and no longer feel confused about their lives. China-US relationship is over 40 years old. The two sides should have more understanding and less misunderstanding, more trust and less doubts, and act more with reason and less on impulse. In this way, the relations between the two countries will be more stable, the cooperation more rewarding, and the two peoples more prosperous.

China attaches great importance to China-US relations. China can develop well only when the United States develops well, and vice versa. Only by strengthening cooperation will the two countries enjoy better development. President Xi Jinping said that there are a thousand reasons for China and the US to maintain a good relationship and there is no reason to ruin it. Recently, in his multiple interactions with President Donald Trump, President Xi pointed out that the two sides should jointly promote a relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability, so as to better benefit people of the two countries and beyond. President Trump stressed that developing cooperative and constructive US-China relations is one of his priorities. China is ready to work with the US to implement the consensus of the two presidents and promote the healthy and stable development of China-US relations in the next 40 years.

The world pays great attention to China-US relations. A sound China-US relationship makes the world a better one for us, and contributes more to the world peace and common development. Developing good China-US relations has a bearing on everyone, and we all have a part to play for it.

The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco will work together with everyone to make new contributions to the everlasting friendship between the people of our two countries, and to the long-term, healthy and stable development of China-US relations!

 

Now, please join me in a toast, to the better China-US relations, to the everlasting friendship between our two countries, and to everyone’s health, prosperity, and happiness. Cheers!

 

Thank you all!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.