Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai at the 2018 Annual Gala Dinner of the China General Chamber of Commerce

Ladies and Gentlemen,

女士们、先生们：

Good evening. Let me first thank the China General Chamber of Commerce (CGCC) for giving me the honor to speak tonight. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Chairman C.H. Tung for coming all the way from Hong Kong and giving us a most inspiring keynote speech just now. Please allow me to congratulate Mr. Stephen Schwartzman and others awarded tonight. You have made tremendous contribution to the China-US relationship.

非常感谢苏世民先生热情洋溢的介绍，非常感谢美国中国总商会今晚给我同大家一起交流的机会。我要特别感谢全国政协董建华副主席，他今天专程从香港赶来参加这场活动，他的演讲让我们很受启发。我也要祝贺苏世民先生、海航集团以及今晚获奖的其他各位嘉宾，感谢你们为中美关系发展作出的积极贡献。

When we gathered in New York last January, there were significant uncertainties regarding the future of China-US relations. Looking back, we are now pleased to see that this important bilateral relationship has maintained overall stability and made important progress in the last year, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides. This shows that there are growing important common interests between our two countries that have helped to keep the relationship on the right track. This also shows that our two countries are capable of making right choices at critical junctures. Now we are at the beginning of a new year and again faced with new opportunities and challenges. How do we respond to the profound changes going on in the world? What kind of vision shall we have for our two countries and for our relationship? What kind of goals shall we set for ourselves and what roadmap shall we follow? So again, we have to make the right choices. The choices we make today not only have a direct bearing for this year, but also make a big impact on the long-term evolution of our relations and the evolution of the world order.

去年1月，我们在这里参加美国中国总商会2017年年度晚宴的时候，中美关系还面临着诸多不确定性。回顾过去一年，在双方共同努力下，中美关系总体保持稳定并取得重要进展。这说明中美两国的共同利益进一步增多，从而推动中美关系在正确的轨道上继续向前发展。这也证明，我们两国有能力在关键时刻作出正确选择。新年伊始，我们又面临新的机遇和挑战：如何应对当今世界变局？如何看待中美两国以及双边关系的未来？双方应设立什么目标？应为此制定什么样的路线图？我们必须再次作出正确的选择。这不仅事关今年中美关系的稳定，也将对其长远发展和世界未来格局产生重要影响。

China has made its own choice – a very clear choice. The 19th Party Congress held last October drew a new blueprint for China's development for the decades to come. China will continue to follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. China's development has entered a new era with the main task of addressing imbalances and inadequacies of our development, in order to meet growing needs of our people for a better life. China will pursue a people-centered development, with a comprehensive strategy encompassing economic, political, social, cultural and environmental aspects. China will continue to maintain a strong economic growth, guided by the new vision with greater emphasis on innovation, coordination, green growth, openness and inclusiveness. China will continue to pursue and deepen reform, opening its door even wider to the world.

中国已经作出了明确的选择。去年10月召开的中国共产党第十九次全国代表大会，为中国未来几十年的发展绘制了新的蓝图，我们将继续走中国特色社会主义道路。中国的发展进入了新时代，面临的主要任务是解决发展的不平衡、不充分问题，满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要。我们将坚持以人民为中心的发展，协调推进 “四个全面”战略布局，统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局，推动经济、政治、社会、文化和环境的全面协调发展。我们将秉持创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的新理念，继续提高经济增长质量和可持续性。

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. As President Xi Jinping emphasized time and again when he met with the press at the conclusion of the party congress and when he delivered the New Year message, the reform and opening-up will continue to be the key to China's development and modernization. New measures for reform and opening-up will be implemented this year, including China's first International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai later this year. I'm very proud that my hometown is hosting this Expo. All in all, we are confident that our country is on the right track. We will be able to achieve our two centennial goals, and the Chinese dream will come true.

2018年是中国改革开放40周年。我们将继续坚持深化改革和扩大开放。习近平主席多次指出，改革开放是实现中华民族伟大复兴的必由之路，中华民族伟大复兴必将在改革开放的进程中得以实现。今年，我们将继续推出一系列改革开放新举措。例如，下半年我们将在上海举办首届中国国际进口博览会，欢迎美方积极参展。总之，中国正在正确的轨道上向前发展，我们有信心实现“两个一百年”奋斗目标，有信心实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦。

At the same time, we fully recognize that China cannot achieve its goals in isolation from the world. China's development needs a stable, peaceful and prosperous world. A stronger and more confident China will be able to make even greater contribution to the international community, and together with other countries, make this world a much better place for all. Therefore, China will continue to follow the path of peaceful development, implement a strategy of opening for mutual benefit and win-win outcome. What China seeks in the world is global partnership, not global dominance. Our focus is not on a transfer of dominance from one power to another. Our aim is to build a new model of international relations and a community of shared future for mankind. Therefore, China will continue to seek cooperation with other countries to improve global governance, maintain international order, build peace and stability, and promote common development. A good example will be the Belt and Road Initiative, with the intention to build connectivity across the continent so that more countries will be able to participate in development and benefit from economic globalization. Getting closer to the center of the world stage, China wants to play in a symphony, not a solo.

与此同时，我们始终认为，中国不可能在孤立中发展，中国的发展需要和平稳定的国际环境。一个更加强大、更加自信的中国将为国际社会作出更大的贡献。中国将坚持走和平发展道路，坚持对外开放战略。中国寻求的是全球伙伴关系，不是全球霸权；我们坚定致力于构建新型国际关系和人类命运共同体，而不是把全球主导权从一国转交给另一国。中国愿同世界各国一道，改善全球治理和国际秩序，维护世界和平与稳定，促进共同发展。中国提出的“一带一路”倡议就是最好的例证。“一带一路”将给更多的国家带来新的发展机遇，使他们从经济全球化中更多获益。中国正日益接近世界舞台的中央，但我们追求的不是中国一家“独角戏”，我们愿同世界各国共奏协奏曲。

Of all the partnerships we are building across the world, relations with the United States are the most significant and consequential. In close to half a century, since Nixon/Kissinger's first visit to China, China-US relations have withstood numerous tests presented by profound changes in the world and have maintained overall stability. Despite all the differences between us, despite all the ups and downs, our cooperation has been deepening and broadening, bringing real benefits for peoples of both countries. This is quite evident in the history of the last three decades.

我们致力于同所有合作伙伴实现共同发展。中美关系非常重要，影响深远。自基辛格博士首次访华以来，中美关系虽然历经风雨，但总体保持稳定发展势头。虽然中美之间存在分歧，两国关系时有起伏，但双方合作不断扩大和深化，为两国和两国人民带来了实实在在的好处。这在两国关系过去40多年的发展进程中是显而易见的。

But more recently, I have noticed some voices of doubt on the wisdom of building this relationship. There are even attempts to question the value of people-to-people exchanges. There are people who are trying to raise political obstacles to cultural exchanges between our two countries. I wonder if their next step is to shut down all the Chinese restaurants in the United States, because Chinese cuisine is an essential ingredient of the Chinese culture. Nothing is sillier than questioning one's own success. Nothing is more harmful than denying the huge potential and great prospects of building a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between China and the United States. As for the so-called Thucydides Trap, we will only be trapped if we allow ourselves to fall into the narrow and short-sighted mindset of zero-sum game. We have to guard against the resurgence of cold war mentality as of the 1950s, and we should never allow anyone to stop our people from building friendship and better mutual understanding between them.

然而，最近我注意到一些质疑中美关系发展的噪音。有人对中美人文交流的重要意义提出质疑，甚至为两国人文交流制造政治障碍。他们的下一步是不是要关闭美国所有的中餐馆呢，因为中餐是中国文化的基本要素之一。质疑自己取得的成绩实属愚蠢至极；否认发展强劲互利的中美关系存在巨大潜力和广阔前景，实属贻害无穷。不摒弃狭隘的冷战思维和短视的“零和”博弈，就会掉进“修昔底德陷阱”。所以，中美双方应高度警惕上世纪五十年代以来的“冷战”思维和“零和”博弈再度回潮，决不允许其干扰我们增进相互了解和友谊的努力。

As for the economic and trade relationship, Mr. Tung made a very convincing case for stronger economic and trade relations between our two countries. Such relations have always been mutually beneficial. Both countries are much better off with growing trade and two-way investment between us. Of course, we are both faced with challenges, such as uncertainties in global economic growth, international financial turbulences, the rapid development and application of new technologies and the stress such technologies are putting on our social fabrics. It's hard to convince the international community that the largest and most advanced economy in the world has been the main victim of economic globalization. I believe both Chinese and American companies have to enhance their competitiveness in the global market. Both Chinese and American workers have the right to ask for greater job stability, higher income and better lives. Both Chinese and American economies need open, inclusive, more balanced and sustainable economic globalization, with benefits more equitably shared by all countries. China and the United States, as the two largest economies in the world, share the responsibility to improve global economic governance, and maintain and strengthen multilateral regimes. If we can do these together, we will be able to do a much better job.

中美经贸关系的本质是互利共赢，两国从不断增长的双边贸易和双向投资中获益。同时，世界经济增长的不确定性以及新技术的迅速发展和应用也给中美带来共同挑战。有人声称，世界上最大、最发达的经济体是经济全球化的主要受害者，这很难让国际社会信服。中美两国企业必须提高全球竞争力，中美两国工人都有权追求更稳定的工作、更高的收入和更美好的生活。中美两国经济发展需要更开放、更包容、更平衡和可持续的经济全球化环境，并让所有国家平等地分享全球化带来的红利。中美两国有责任加强全球经济治理合作，维护并改善现有国际体系。如果我们能够共同做好这些事，就能更好地实现各自的发展。

As for economic imbalances, I think such imbalances do exist between countries in terms of international trade. They also exist within national borders in terms of income disparities. Domestic imbalances will not disappear by putting the blame on other countries. Ask not what others can do for you to solve your problems. Ask what we can do together to respond to the common challenges. The belief that protectionism will bring economic security is as false as the belief that nuclear weapons will bring better security for the DPRK. Protectionist measures under political and national security excuses will only lead to market distortion, missed opportunities, and weakened competitiveness. We must reject such a trend.

国与国之间的确存在贸易不平衡，同时一国内部也会有不平衡，例如收入上的不平衡。指责他国无助于解决本国内部的不平衡问题。不要问别人能为解决你的问题做些什么，而要问我们能为应对共同挑战一起做些什么。认为贸易保护主义能够带来经济安全，就如同认为核武器将给朝鲜带来安全一样荒谬。以政治和国家安全为名，行保护主义之实，只会扭曲市场，错失商机，削弱自身竞争力。这一势头必须予以遏制。

Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two great countries. As Confucius used to say, at the age of 40, one never suffers from perplexities. So, as we approach this important anniversary, I hope we could keep in mind how the last 40 years have served our fundamental interests, and we should keep a clear vision of what we should do together for the next 40 years to build an even stronger relationship for the benefit of our two peoples and the entire world. In this regard, I hope and I am convinced that the business communities of both countries, and in particular the CGCC, will continue to play a leading role.

明年是中美建交40周年。孔子说，四十不惑。展望未来，我们要以中美关系过去40年的发展为基础，始终坚持正确方向，构建更加牢固的双边关系，造福两国和世界人民。我希望并相信中美两国工商界，特别是美国中国总商会会员企业，继续利用自身影响，为中美关系健康稳定发展进一步发挥积极作用。