谢锋大使在卡特中心纪念中美建交45周年研讨会上的演讲

Speech by H.E. Ambassador Xie Feng at the Carter Center Forum commemorating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. relations

尊敬的亚历山大首席执行官，

伯恩斯大使，

欧伦斯会长，

艾伦大使，

女士们，先生们，

大家上午好！

Chief Executive Officer Alexander,

Ambassador Burns,

President Orlins,

Ambassador Allen,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

今年1月1日，是中华人民共和国和美利坚合众国建立外交关系45周年。习近平主席和拜登总统互致贺信，高度评价中美建交的历史意义，充分肯定45年来中美关系取得的历史性成就，表达了共同引领中美关系继续向前发展的积极态度。

January 1 this year marked the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America. President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden exchanged congratulatory letters, speaking highly of the historical significance of the event, recognizing the historic achievements in China-U.S. relations over the past 45 years, and expressing readiness to jointly steer the relationship forward.

此刻我正在从北京飞往华盛顿途中，只能以视频致辞方式与大家在亚特兰大“云相聚”。这里是卡特总统的故乡，是45年前中美建交后当月邓小平副总理访美时重要一站。卡特总统曾表示，与中国建交是他一生最英明正确的决定之一。此时此地卡特中心、美中关系全国委员会、美中贸易全国委员会和复旦大学美国研究中心举办研讨会，纪念中美建交45周年，具有特殊意义。

As you gather in Atlanta, I am on the flight from Beijing to D.C., so please allow me to join you virtually through this video speech. Atlanta is the hometown of President Jimmy Carter, and was also an important stop in Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping’s visit to the United States in January, 1979 shortly after the establishment of diplomatic relations. President Carter sees establishing diplomatic relations with China as one of the most correct decisions he has ever made in his life. It is therefore of special significance that the Carter Center, the National Committee on US-China Relations, the US-China Business Council and the Center for American Studies at Fudan University are co-hosting this forum at this moment in Atlanta to commemorate the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic ties.

首先我提议，为45年前邓小平先生和卡特总统等两国老一辈领导人以非凡的政治勇气和远见卓识作出中美建交的历史性抉择表示崇高敬意，向长期关心和支持中美关系发展的两国各界人士表示衷心感谢，衷心祝愿卡特总统健康长寿。

I would like to propose that we first pay tribute to the older generation of Chinese and American leaders, including Mr. Deng Xiaoping and President Carter, who made the historic decision to establish diplomatic relations with extraordinary political courage and vision. Our heartfelt thanks also go to all friends in both countries who have long cared for and supported the development of the relationship. May President Carter enjoy good health and every happiness.

45年来，中美关系历经风雨，砥砺前行，成长为当今世界最重要的双边关系，既增进了两国人民福祉，也促进了亚太乃至世界和平、稳定和繁荣。回顾这45年，最根本的经验是中美合则两利、斗则俱伤，合作是双方唯一正确选择。最广泛的共识是中美关系只能搞好，不能搞坏，这也是国际社会的共同期待。唯一正确的相处之道是相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢。

Over the past 45 years, the China-U.S. relationship has kept forging ahead despite twists and turns, growing into the most important bilateral relationship in the world today. It has boosted the well-being of the two peoples, and also contributed to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and the world. Taking stock of the past 45 years, we believe that the most important inspiration is that China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation, and working together is our only correct choice. The broadest consensus is that we should make the China-U.S. relationship work and not mess it up, which is also a shared expectation of the international community. The only right way to get along is mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

女士们，先生们，

Ladies and Gentlemen,

过去几年，中美关系遭遇了前所未有的困难。令人欣慰的是，两个月前，习近平主席同拜登总统在旧金山举行历史性会晤，不仅推动双边关系止跌企稳，而且开辟了面向未来的“旧金山愿景”，为中美关系在新时期健康、稳定、可持续发展指明了方向。我们要从旧金山再出发，从一点一滴的具体事情做起，把两国元首达成的重要共识不折不扣地落到实处。

In the recent years, the China-U.S. relationship has run into unprecedented difficulties. But to our encouragement, President Xi and President Biden held a historic summit meeting in San Francisco two months ago. It has not only helped to restore stability to the bilateral relationship, but also fostered a future-oriented San Francisco vision, charting the course for the sound, stable and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations in the new era. We need to embark on a new journey from San Francisco onward, start with concrete steps, and faithfully deliver on the important common understandings reached between our Presidents.

要摒弃冷战思维，树立正确相互认知。认知决定政策，政策导致行动，行动产生结果。做对手还是伙伴，是管总、管根本的问题。如果执意把对方视作最大竞争对手、步步紧逼的威胁和遏制打压的对象，双边关系就难以真正改善和稳定。

It is important to reject the Cold War mentality, and develop a right perception toward each other. Policymaking is based on how we perceive each other, which will then lead to actions with results. Are we adversaries, or partners? This is the fundamental and overarching question we need to answer. If one sees the other side as a primary competitor, a pacing threat and a target for containment, improving and stabilizing bilateral relations would be out of the question.

中国的内外政策公开透明，战略意图光明磊落，发展方向清晰明确。我们的中心任务是以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴，让14亿中国人民工作得更好，生活得更好，孩子们成长得更好。

China’s domestic and foreign policies are open and transparent, with clearly stated strategic intentions and development goals. Our central task is to advance national rejuvenation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization, so as to deliver better jobs and better lives to the 1.4 billion people, and ensure every child receives good education.

我们的庄严承诺是坚持走和平发展道路，同世界各国一道构建人类命运共同体，不会走国强必霸的歪路，更没有挑战或取代美国的计划。我们的真挚愿望是同美国做伙伴、朋友，始终认为宽广的地球完全容得下中美各自发展、共同繁荣，中美各自的成功是彼此的机遇而非挑战，双方应该相互成就而不是相互消耗，要坚决防止世界重回阵营对立、分裂对抗。当然中国有必须维护的利益、必须捍卫的原则和必须坚守的底线。

Following the path of peaceful development is China’s solemn commitment. We aspire to build a community with a shared future for mankind with other countries. We will never seek hegemony with growing strength. Still less do we plan to challenge or unseat the United States. It is our sincere hope to be partners and friends with the United States. We are convinced that the Earth is big enough for China and the United States to develop respectively and prosper together, that our success is each other’s opportunity rather than challenge, that the two sides need to help each other succeed instead of undercutting one another, and that the world should not be thrust back into division and bloc confrontation. At the same time, China has interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed.

要管控矛盾分歧，把握中美关系的正确方向。中美关系从来就是建立在承认彼此不同和尊重彼此核心利益的基础上。美国同自己的盟国不也存在这样那样的分歧吗？中美历史文化、社会制度、发展阶段不同，当然会存在分歧矛盾，但这不意味着双方注定迎头相撞。45年前，分歧差异没有阻碍中美建立和发展关系，45年后，分歧差异更不应该成为阻隔中美交流合作的拦路虎。

It is important to manage differences and disagreements, and keep to the right direction of China-U.S. relations. This relationship has always been based on recognizing differences and respecting each other’s core interests. Differences abound even between the United States and its allies, not to mention between China and the United States, two countries different in history, culture, social system and stage of development. But this does not mean that we are bound to collide head-on. Differences did not prevent us from establishing and developing relations 45 years ago. There is even less reason why they should block our exchanges and cooperation now.  

美方经常谈的一个词是“竞争”。现代社会竞争普遍存在，但竞争应该是讲规则的公平竞争，是你追我赶、共同进步的良性竞争，而不能是你死我活、零和博弈的恶性竞争，更不能以竞争为名剥夺他国正当发展权益。国家与国家的竞争应该是田径赛，而不是拳击赛。如果要竞争，那就正向比，看谁能把各自国家治理得更好，谁能为地区和世界贡献稳定与繁荣。

Some people in the United States often talk about “competition”. Indeed, competition is commonplace in the modern world. But it should be fair competition that abides by rules and a healthy race to the top, not a zero-sum game, still less a pretext for depriving others of their legitimate development rights and interests. Competition between countries should be like competing with each other for excellence in a racing field, not beating one another in a wrestling ring. If we do need to compete, then let’s compete to do a better job in running our country and contribute more to the stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

台湾问题是中美关系中最重要最敏感的问题。没有人比中方更珍视台海和平稳定，但“台独”与台海和平水火不容，对于那些数典忘祖、不承认自己是中国人的“台独”分子，中国政府没有妥协的余地。

The Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive question in China-U.S. relations. No one cherishes more than the Chinese side peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. But separatism for “Taiwan independence” is as incompatible with peace of the Strait as fire with water. When it comes to “Taiwan independence” separatists who betray their motherland and refuse to identify themselves as Chinese, the Chinese government simply has no room for compromise.

美方应该以实际行动遵守一个中国原则和中美三个联合公报规定，将美国领导人不支持“台独”、不寻求把台湾问题作为遏制中国工具的表态落到实处，与中方一道维护台海和平稳定和中美关系大局。

The U.S. side should abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques with concrete actions, earnestly deliver on the statements by American leaders that the United States does not support “Taiwan independence” and has no intention to use Taiwan as a tool to contain China, and work with China to maintain peace and stability across the Strait and the overall China-U.S. relations.

要聚焦共同利益，让对话合作成为主基调。共同利益是中美重新打开交往大门的动因，也是双边关系不断前行的动力。

It is important to focus on common interests and let dialogue and cooperation define the relationship. It is common interests that brought China and the United States together 45 years ago. It is also common interests that have kept driving our relationship forward.

当前世界进入新的动荡变革期，中美作为安理会常任理事国和世界前两大经济体，在维护世界和平、促进共同发展方面的共同利益和责任义务不是减少，而是更多、更重了。无论是经贸、能源、农业、执法、教育、人文等双边领域，还是气变、公共卫生等全球性挑战以及中东、乌克兰、朝鲜半岛等国际地区热点问题上，中美可以而且应该协调合作的事很多。

The world today has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. As permanent members of the Security Council and the two largest economies, China and the United States have only more, rather than fewer, common interests and shared responsibilities in safeguarding world peace and promoting development for all. Whether it is in bilateral areas such as economy and trade, energy, agriculture, law enforcement, education and people-to-people exchanges, or in combating global challenges like climate change and public health, or on international and regional hotspots such as the Middle East, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula, there are a lot of things that China and the United States can and should coordinate and cooperate on.

近来，中方采取了一系列积极举措，充分展现了致力于扩大对外开放、促进中美交流合作的建设性立场，比如：批准万事网联准入、博通收购威睿，支持中国所有波音737MAX型飞机恢复运营；商谈新的大熊猫保护合作计划；在美方解除对中方主管部门制裁前提下，中方持续推进芬太尼类物质及其前体化学品的专项治理行动，双方商谈成立禁毒合作工作组；在平等和相互尊重基础上，军委联合参谋部参谋长刘振立应约与美军参联会主席布朗进行了视频通话，正在举行的国防部工作会晤讨论了今年两军交往计划；双方启动“气候行动工作组”，共同支持COP28气变大会成功举办；双方同意建立人工智能（AI）政府间对话机制，探讨AI交流合作，加强AI全球治理合作，共同管控AI风险挑战，避免电影《终结者》中机器人反噬人类的情形成为现实。

Recently, China has taken a series of positive measures to further open up and facilitate China-U.S. exchanges and cooperation:

•We have authorized Mastercard NUCC to conduct bank card clearing operations in China, and approved Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware. All Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in China are back in service.

•We are discussing new plans for cooperation on panda conservation.

•After the U.S. side lifted sanctions on relevant Chinese authorities, China has been conducting campaigns against fentanyl and its precursor chemicals. The two sides are discussing the establishment of a working group on counternarcotics cooperation.

•On the basis of equality and mutual respect, General Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department of China’s Central Military Commission, had a video teleconference with General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States.

•The ongoing China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks are discussing plans for mil-to-mil exchanges for this year.

•The two sides have launched a working group on enhancing climate action, and jointly worked for the success of COP28.

•The two sides have also agreed on government talks on artificial intelligence (AI) to explore exchanges and cooperation in the area, enhance global AI governance, and jointly manage risks and challenges brought by the technology, so that the Terminator scenario where machines wage war against humans will not become a reality.

希望美方本着同样精神，采取实际行动解决中方关切。勿以善小而不为。从点滴做起，对等互惠，有取有予，用好外交、经济、金融、商务、农业等领域恢复或建立的机制，不断拉长合作清单、减少负面清单，做问题的解决者，而不是麻烦的制造者。

We hope the U.S. side will also take real actions in the same spirit to address China’s concerns. It is important to start with small steps which can go a long way, pursue reciprocity and mutual benefit, both give and take, fully utilize the restored and new mechanisms in foreign policy, economy, finance, commerce, agriculture and other fields, expand the list of cooperation and shorten the negative list, and solve rather than create problems.

要清除路障关卡，推进人文交流新热潮。受新冠疫情和中美关系恶化影响，过去几年两国人文交流遭遇寒流，往来减少，隔阂增多，误解加深。但越是困难，越需要增进人心沟通，越需要更多普通民众为中美关系鼓与呼，多种花少栽刺，多修路少设障。

It is also important to remove obstacles and spark a new boom in people-to-people exchanges. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and worsening China-U.S. relations, a chill loomed over people-to-people exchanges in the past few years. When travel went down, estrangement and misunderstanding went up. But the more difficulties there are, the greater the need for us to forge a closer bond between our peoples, encourage more to speak up for the relationship, plant more flowers rather than thorns, and build more roads rather than barriers.

中方正在积极落实习近平主席提出的未来5年邀请5万名美国青少年来华交流学习，近来还推出一系列便利中美人员往来的重大政策利好，包括实行签证免预约申请，大幅优化自美赴华人员签证政策，前往中国旅游的在美人员申请赴华签证时可免提供往返机票、酒店订单、行程单或邀请函等申请材料，欢迎大家多到中国走走看看。

China is now actively implementing President Xi’s initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years. We have also rolled out policies to facilitate travels between our two countries. For instance, we now provide walk-in visa application services, and have significantly optimized the visa policy for travelers from within the United States. Tourist visa applicants within the United States will no longer be required to submit round-trip air ticket booking record, proof of hotel reservation, itinerary or invitation letter. I would encourage all of you to visit our country and see it for yourselves.

1月5日，在由中方全国对外友协、外交学会联合举办的纪念中美建交45周年招待会上，一群来自哥伦比亚大学、弗吉尼亚大学的美国大学生争先恐后地向我讲述访华的所见所闻，敬佩中国悠久的历史和灿烂的文化，感叹中国人民的友好热情，交口称赞中国是世界上最开放、最安全的国家之一。

At the reception commemorating the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs on January 5 in Beijing, I had the pleasure to meet a group of American students from Columbia University and the University of Virginia. They shared with me excitedly what they had seen and heard in China, expressed their admiration for China's time-honored history and splendid culture, marveled at the warm hospitality of the Chinese people, and ranked China as one of the most open and safest countries in the world.

希望美方与中方相向而行，采取行动减少旅行、签证、入境等政策障碍，进一步大幅增加直航航班，尽快调整赴华旅行提醒等级，鼓励和支持两国工商、教育、文化、体育、青年、地方、媒体等各界人士加强交往，特别是停止盘查滋扰遣返中国留学生。希望卡特中心、美中关系全国委员会、美中贸委会以及复旦大学美国研究中心的朋友们继续为增进两国人民相互了解与合作发挥建设性作用。

We hope the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction, take measures to clear obstacles in travel, visa and border entry policies, further increase direct flights significantly, adjust the China travel advisory as soon as possible, encourage and support business, educational, cultural, sports, youth, sub-national and media exchanges, and especially stop interrogating, harassing and repatriating Chinese students. We count on friends at the Carter Center, the National Committee on US-China Relations, the US-China Business Council and the Center for American Studies at Fudan University to continue playing a constructive role in boosting mutual understanding and cooperation between our peoples.

女士们，先生们，

Ladies and Gentlemen,

建交时，邓小平先生说，中美两国人民的友好合作必将对世界形势的发展产生积极深远的影响。建交40周年时，卡特总统撰文表示，“今天的领导人必须以新的远见、勇气和创造力迎接新的挑战和机遇。美中两国需要共同创造未来，不仅为了我们自己，也是为了全人类。”

When our two countries established diplomatic relations in 1979, Mr. Deng Xiaoping pointed out that friendship and cooperation between Chinese and American peoples will surely have positive and far-reaching influence on how the world will evolve. When we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the relationship, President Carter wrote that “Leaders must bring new vision, courage and ingenuity to new challenges and opportunities, but I believe they also must accept our conviction that the United States and China need to build their futures together, for themselves and for humanity at large.”

当前中美关系再次站在何去何从新的历史起点。让我们不忘初心，把握大势，展现远见和勇气，拿出责任心和创造力，认真落实习近平主席和拜登总统旧金山会晤重要共识，让“旧金山愿景”照进现实，不断续写中美相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢的成功故事。

As we speak, the China-U.S. relationship is again at a new historical starting point. Let’s stay true to the commitment we made when establishing diplomatic ties, act in line with the trend of the times, show foresight, courage and creativity, and live up to our responsibilities. Let’s work together to earnestly implement the important common understandings reached between President Xi and President Biden,turn the San Francisco vision into reality, and write more success stories of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between our two countries.

谢谢大家！ 

Thank you very much.