在新的起点上，向着旧金山愿景携手前行

Jointly move forward to realize the San Francisco vision from a new starting point

——谢锋大使在美国中国总商会芝加哥分会年会上的主旨演讲

Keynote Speech by H.E. Ambassador Xie Feng at the China General Chamber of Commerce — Chicago 2023 Annual Gala

尊敬的倪频会长，胡威会长，博卡斯大使，布兰斯塔德大使，各位议员、州市长，女士们，先生们，朋友们，

Chairman Ni Pin and Chairman Hu Wei,

Ambassador Baucus,

Ambassador Branstad,

Governors and mayors,

Senators, congressmen and congresswomen,

Ladies and gentlemen,

很高兴来到“美国的动脉”芝加哥，与各位新老朋友共话中美前行之路和两国正确相处之道。今年恰逢美国中国总商会“成人礼”，成立18年来总商会为中美企业家交流沟通搭建了重要平台，为促进两国经贸合作发挥了积极作用。芝加哥分会积极开展活动，有力促进了美国中西部地区对华经贸文化往来。首先，我要向长期关心支持中美投资合作、致力于中美关系发展的朋友们表示诚挚问候和衷心感谢！

It is a great pleasure to be in Chicago, the hub of the United States, to join friends old and new in exploring the right way forward for China and the United States. This year marks the coming-of-age of the China General Chamber of Commerce (CGCC). Over the past 18 years, the CGCC has provided an important platform for exchanges between entrepreneurs of our two countries, and played a positive role in promoting bilateral economic cooperation. CGCC Chicago has been actively involved, giving a strong boost to investment, trade and cultural exchanges between China and the American Midwest. Let me first express my warm greetings and heartfelt thanks to all those who have long supported bilateral investment and cooperation and the development of China-U.S. relations!

我刚刚从旧金山中美元首会晤和亚太经合组织领导人非正式会议现场而来。几天前，习近平主席与拜登总统旧金山会晤举世瞩目、成果丰硕、意义重大，既是今年中美关系的高光时刻，更是中美关系史上的里程碑，也是国际关系中的大事件。几天来，我亲眼见证了两国元首在关键历史当口为中美关系把舵定向，亲身感受到两国人民对交流合作的热切期待，也更真切体会到中美存在广泛共同利益，中美友好拥有深厚民意基础。

I just came back from San Francisco, where I had the privilege to participate in the summit meeting between our two Presidents and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. The summit meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden in San Francisco a few days ago is of special significance, producing fruitful outcomes and attracting worldwide attention. It is a highlight in the China-U.S. relationship this year, a milestone in the history of bilateral relations, and also a major event in international relations. During the visit, I witnessed how the two Presidents set the direction for China-U.S. relations at this critical moment, sensed the eagerness of both peoples for greater exchanges and cooperation, and also felt more acutely the extensive common interests between our two countries and the profound public support for China-U.S. friendship.

第一，搭建中美关系的“四梁八柱”。两国元首就战略性、全局性、方向性问题坦诚、全面、深入交换意见，长谈达4个小时。习近平主席指出，中美不打交道是不行的，想改变对方是不切实际的，冲突对抗的后果是谁都不能承受的。相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢，应该是中美共同努力的方向。中方致力于构建稳定、健康、可持续的中美关系，愿同美国做伙伴、做朋友，同时有必须维护的正当利益、必须捍卫的原则立场、必须坚守的红线底线，特别是美方应停止武装台湾，支持中国和平统一。

The visit helped to put in place the pillars for China-U.S. relations. The two Presidents had a four-hour-long candid, comprehensive and in-depth exchange of views on strategic and overarching issues critical to the direction of China-U.S. relations. President Xi pointed out that for China and the United States, turning our back on each other is not an option. It is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other. Any conflict and confrontation would have unbearable consequences for both sides. The right approach is to respect each other, coexist in peace and pursue win-win cooperation. China is committed to having a stable, healthy and sustainable relationship with the United States. We are willing to be its partner and friend. At the same time, we have interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed. In particular, the U.S. side should stop arming Taiwan, and support China’s peaceful reunification.

第二，开辟面向未来的“旧金山愿景”。通往旧金山殊为不易，但旧金山不是终点站。习近平主席强调，中美要共同树立正确认知，回答好中美是对手还是伙伴，这个根本的、管总的问题；共同有效管控分歧，不折腾、不挑事、不越界；共同推进互利合作，在禁毒、执法、人工智能等领域开展合作；共同承担大国责任，协调对接彼此提出的倡议；共同促进人文交流，鼓励支持两国人民多来往、多沟通。这“五个共同”浇筑起五根支柱，为中美关系健康、稳定、可持续发展规划了路线图。

The visit fostered a future-oriented San Francisco vision. The journey from Bali to San Francisco has not been an easy one. But San Francisco should not be the finish line. President Xi emphasized that China and the United States need to jointly develop a right perception toward each other, and find the right answer to the fundamental and overarching question as to whether we are adversaries or partners; jointly manage disagreements effectively, and refrain from flip-flopping, being provocative, or crossing the lines; jointly advance mutually beneficial cooperation, including in such areas as counternarcotics, law enforcement and AI; jointly shoulder responsibilities as major countries, and coordinate and connect our initiatives; and jointly promote people-to-people exchanges, and support greater interactions and communication between our peoples. These are the five pillars that have laid out a roadmap for the sound, steady and sustained growth of China-U.S. relations.

第三，达成多领域多方面重要成果。会晤达成了20多项共识，包括建立人工智能政府间对话，启动中美“21世纪20年代强化气候行动工作组”；在解除对中方有关机构制裁前提下，成立中美禁毒合作工作组，开展禁毒合作；明年早些时候大幅增加直航航班，加强文化、体育、青年、工商界交流；在中美关系指导原则上，强调要相互尊重、和平共处、保持沟通、防止冲突、恪守《联合国宪章》，在有共同利益领域开展合作，负责任地管控双边关系中的竞争因素，为推动中美关系重回正轨提供了遵循。

The visit reached more than 20 important deliverables in multiple areas, including: establishing government talks on AI and launching the Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s; setting up a working group on counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S. side lifting its sanction on relevant Chinese institutions; agreeing to work toward a significant further increase in scheduled passenger flights early next year, and expanding cultural, sports, youth and business exchanges; in terms of principles related to China-U.S. relations, stressing the importance of all countries treating each other with respect and finding a way to live alongside each other peacefully, and of maintaining open lines of communication, preventing conflict, upholding the U.N. Charter, cooperating in areas of shared interest, and responsibly managing competitive aspects of the relationship, so as to provide guidelines for bringing China-U.S. relations back to the right track.

第四，续写新时代中美人民友好故事。习近平主席应邀出席美友好团体联合举办的欢迎宴会，深情讲述和美国民众的友好故事，强调越是困难的时候，越需要拉紧人民的纽带，表示愿继续同美开展大熊猫保护合作，未来5年邀请5万名美青少年来华交流学习。与习近平主席保持40年友谊的艾奥瓦州友人、103岁飞虎队老队员、史迪威将军后人、“鼓岭之友”、华盛顿州等美国老朋友不远千里齐聚旧金山，与习近平主席重逢相聚；有美国民众举家身着汉服，高举手绘的“欢迎习主席，我们爱您”的标语，热烈欢迎习近平主席到访。这些温暖瞬间让我们相信，中美人民友谊一定能经风历雨、接续传承。

The visit also renewed the goodwill between the two peoples. At the welcome dinner hosted by friendly organizations in the United States, President Xi fondly recounted his friendship with the American people, stressing that the more difficulties there are, the greater the need for us to forge a closer bond between our peoples. President Xi also expressed China’s readiness to continue cooperation with the United States on panda conservation, and to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years. 

President Xi’s old friends in the United States, including those from Iowa who have known him for more than four decades, a 103-year-old Flying Tigers veteran, the descendants of General Joseph Stilwell, Kuliang Friends and those from the Washington state, joined him in San Francisco for a heartwarming reunion. Also, an American family, dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, warmly welcomed President Xi, holding up a board with handwritten Chinese characters “Welcome, President Xi! We love you!” All these touching episodes have made us even more confident that the friendship between our peoples will surely weather wind and rain and continue to thrive.

各位朋友，

Dear friends,

我们身处的是一个变乱交织、充满挑战的时代，乌克兰危机战火未停、中东地区硝烟又起，经济复苏动力不足、全球产供链又受到新的干扰，中美关系的发展和世界的未来都离不开中美合作。中美关系发展从来不是一帆风顺的，我们仍然面临不少困难挑战。本次论坛以“携手前行”为主题，反映了双方落实两国元首重要共识的共同心声，展现了从旧金山再出发的热切期盼。

We are living in a time of changes and chaos, when challenges abound. The crisis in Ukraine is lingering on. The Middle East is again engulfed in conflicts. The recovery of the world economy remains sluggish. And global production and supply chains are facing new disruptions. China-U.S. cooperation is indispensable for both developing bilateral relations and creating a better future for the entire world. The China-U.S. relationship has never been smooth sailing, and we are still facing many difficulties and challenges. The theme of this annual gala, “Let’s Move Forward”, reflects the readiness of both sides to implement our Presidents’ important common understandings, and also our aspiration to embark on a new journey from San Francisco onward.

要迎难而上，落实旧金山会晤重要共识。开展任何一项工作，首先看态度，关键看行动，最终看效果。拜登总统表示，一个稳定和发展的中国符合美国和世界的利益，重申美国不支持“台湾独立”、不寻求新冷战、不寻求同中国脱钩、不寻求打压遏制中国发展。双方要相向而行，跟进落实两国元首达成的重要共识，将积极承诺转化为具体政策和实质行动，防止走一步、退半步，更不能说一套、做一套，坚持相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢，让“旧金山愿景”照进现实，推动中美关系持续改善发展。

The two sides need to rise to the challenges, and act on the important common understandings reached in San Francisco. To do anything, attitude comes first, action is the key, and real effect is what matters most. At the summit meeting, President Biden noted that a stable and growing China is good for the United States and the whole world, and reiterated that the United States does not support “Taiwan independence”, does not seek a new Cold War, and does not seek to contain or suppress China’s development or to decouple with China. It is important to move in the same direction, follow up on the important common understandings reached between the two Presidents, and translate the commitments into concrete policies and real actions. It is important to avoid backpedaling, still less saying one thing but doing another. The two sides need to respect each other, coexist in peace and pursue win-win cooperation, so as to turn the San Francisco vision into reality and further improve China-U.S. relations.

要遵守规则，推动中美经贸关系重回正轨。近期IMF上调中国经济增长预期至5.4%，充分展现了国际社会对中国经济发展前景的信心。在美中资企业7000多家，仅总商会中资会员企业对美累计投资额就超过1370亿美元，直接拉动就业超过23万。在座不少嘉宾参加了第六届进博会，美国230多家企业共赴“进博之约”，连续6届展览面积最大。中国的发展是世界的福音，中美各自的成功是彼此的机遇。制裁不仅不能解决问题，只会制造更多新问题。要遵从两国人民的意愿，尊重市场经济规律和自由贸易规则，坚决抵制把经济问题泛安全化、泛政治化。

The two sides need to follow the rules and bring bilateral economic relations back to the right track. Earlier this month, IMF upgraded China’s GDP growth forecasts for this year to 5.4%, speaking volumes about the confidence of the international community in the Chinese economy. Right now, more than 7,000 Chinese companies are doing business in the United States. The Chinese-funded members of the CGCC alone have invested a total of over US$137 billion in the United States, creating over 230,000 jobs directly. Many of you attended the sixth China International Import Expo a few weeks ago. Altogether, over 230 American businesses participated in the event, taking up the largest exhibition area for six years in a row. China’s development is a blessing for the world, and the success of China and the United States is an opportunity for each other.

Sanction is never a solution, and will only create more problems. It is important to follow the will of our peoples, respect market rules and uphold free trade, and resolutely say no to any attempt to politicize economic issues on the pretext of security.

要激发活力，拉紧民间友好和地方交往纽带。美国中西部地区被誉为“美国的粮仓”“工业的心脏”，美500强企业30%坐落于此，粮食和大豆出口额占世界70%。中西部地区也是中美经贸合作和人文交流的热土，江苏省南京市和密苏里州圣路易斯市结成中美第一对友好城市，万向、福耀等中资投资项目落地生根，不断讲述着中美互利合作的生动故事。希望美方为中国企业投资兴业提供公平、公正、非歧视的环境，期待芝加哥分会继续为会员企业牵线搭桥、排忧解难，汇聚两国人民的力量，做大互利合作的蛋糕，为中美关系增添稳定性，为当今世界注入正能量。

The two sides need to bring out the vitality, and foster closer ties between the peoples and at the subnational level. The Midwest is known as the granary and the industrial heartland of America. It is home to 30% of American companies on the Fortune Global 500, and it exports 70% of the world’s grains and soybeans. The Midwest is also a promising land for China-U.S. economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. The first pair of sister cities between our two countries was between Nanjing, Jiangsu province and St. Louis, Missouri. Chinese companies including Wanxiang and Fuyao have invested in projects here, writing more stories of China-U.S. mutually beneficial cooperation.

It is hoped that the U.S. side will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies. And I count on CGCC Chicago to continue building bridges and providing solutions for its members, pool the strength of our two peoples, and make the pie of win-win cooperation bigger, so as to inject more stability into China-U.S. relations and positive energy into the world.

各位朋友，

Dear friends,

马丁•路德•金先生在芝加哥说过，做对的事，任何时机都是好时机。让我们从旧金山再出发，携手前行，开创中美关系更加光明的前途，两国人民更加美好的未来！谢谢大家。

Martin Luther King once said in Chicago, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Let’s embark on a new journey starting from San Francisco, move forward with no delay, and jointly usher in a better future for China-U.S. relations and our two peoples!

Thank you.