谢锋大使在“春晚序曲·全球看春晚”暨纪念中美“乒乓外交”55周年人文交流活动美国专场上的致辞

Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Xie Feng at the “Prelude to the Spring Festival · The World Watches the CMG GALA Together” U.S. event commemorating the 55th anniversary of China-U.S. ping-pong diplomacy

尊敬的慎海雄副部长、杨万明会长、

王励勤主席、易卜生市长、霍塞斯校长，

女士们，先生们，朋友们：

Vice Minister Shen Haixiong,

President Yang Wanming,

President Wang Liqin,

Mayor Anders Ibsen,

President Karl Hoseth,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

下午好！中国农历马年将至，很高兴同各位共庆春节！作为中华民族最重要的传统节日，春节喻示着春回大地、冰雪消融、万物复苏。55年前的“乒乓外交”，同样具有“融冰”意义，打开了两国人民友好交往直至两国关系发展的大门。此次活动融合了一份佳节和一段佳话，寓意美好，感谢央视总台的精心筹划。

Good afternoon! It is a great pleasure to celebrate the Spring Festival with you as the Year of the Horse draws near. As the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation, the Spring Festival marks the return of spring and the renewal of life. Likewise, ping-pong diplomacy 55 years ago was also ice-breaking, opening the door to friendly exchanges between our two peoples and the development of bilateral relations. Today’s event, therefore, is especially meaningful, as it not only celebrates the upcoming festival but also revisits that beautiful episode. I would like to thank the China Media Group for its thoughtful organization.

当下正值辞旧迎新、乍暖还寒之际，中美关系发展面临新的机遇，也存在诸多挑战。如何为新的一年乃至更长时期的中美关系注入更多“春意”，从春华走到秋实，助力中美构建新时期正确相处之道，我提四点建议：

As we are about to ring out the old and ring in the new, China-U.S. relations are facing both new opportunities and multiple challenges. How can we inject more energy into bilateral relations in the coming year and also in the years ahead, lay the groundwork for a harvest, and help our two countries find a right way to get along in the new era? I would like to share four proposals.

一是坚持元首外交引领，把准中美关系发展方向。2025年，习近平主席同特朗普总统4次通话、多次通信，并在韩国釜山成功会晤，在关键时刻为中美关系巨轮校正航向。今年，两国将迎来一系列高层交往，双方应共同努力，营造氛围、创造条件、积累成果，努力在战略层面推动中美关系进一步稳下来、向前走。

First, we need to follow the guidance of heads-of-state diplomacy, and keep bilateral relations on the right track. In 2025, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump spoke on the phone four times, exchanged several letters, and held a successful summit in Busan, the Republic of Korea, recalibrating the course of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations at crucial moments. The coming year could see a series of high-level interactions between our countries. Our two sides need to work together to create an enabling atmosphere, deliver more outcomes, and further stabilize and advance China-U.S. relations at the strategic level.  

二是妥善管控矛盾分歧，消除中美关系发展障碍。中美共同利益远大于分歧，不能让分歧定义中美关系，也不能让敏感问题干扰总体中美关系。美方应该尊重中方核心利益和重大关切。台湾问题是中国核心利益中的核心，是中美关系第一条不可逾越的红线。美方应该以行动遵守一个中国原则和中美三个联合公报。

Second, we need to properly manage differences and eliminate obstacles to the development of bilateral relations. The common interests between our two countries far outweigh our differences. We should not allow differences to define our relations, nor should we let sensitive issues disrupt the overall relationship. The U.S. side should respect China’s core interests and major concerns. The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests, and is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. We hope the U.S. side will abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiques with real action.

三是积极拓展互利合作，增强中美关系发展动力。互利共赢是中美关系本质。过去一年，中美经贸团队举行五轮经贸磋商，就处理两国经贸领域突出问题达成广泛共识，再一次表明谈比打好。今年是中国“十五五”规划开局之年，中国式现代化进程蹄疾步稳，将为包括美国在内的各国带来更大机遇、更多利好。中美应在经贸、打击非法移民和电信诈骗、反洗钱、人工智能、医疗健康领域深挖合作潜力，促成合作项目。

Third, we need to actively expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and provide stronger momentum for developing bilateral relations. Mutual benefit is the essence of China-U.S. relations. In the past year, our economic and trade teams held five rounds of consultations, and reached extensive common understandings on addressing prominent issues in economy and trade. This has proven once again that dialogue is better than confrontation.

This year marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. As we take solid steps to pursue Chinese modernization, it will bring greater opportunities and benefits to all countries, including the United States. Our two countries can further tap into the potential of cooperation and encourage partnerships in areas such as economy and trade, combating illegal immigrants, telecom fraud and money laundering, artificial intelligence, and healthcare.  

四是加强人民友好交往，拉紧中美关系民意纽带。中美关系希望在人民。“乒乓外交”代表中美人民相互走近的精神，如今正以匹克球外交、篮球外交等新形式发扬光大。包括林肯中学学生在内的4万多名美国青少年参加“5年5万”倡议赴华交流学习，成为跨越太平洋的“友谊使者”。近期，美民众纷纷在社交媒体晒出自己“成为中国人”的时刻。欢迎大家同中国人民一起看春晚，感受“中国年味”，体验“中国范儿”。

Fourth, we need to strengthen the bonds between our peoples by enhancing friendly interactions. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people. Our two peoples reached out to each other in ping-pong diplomacy. That spirit is now being renewed through new forms such as pickleball diplomacy and basketball diplomacy. More than 40,000 young Americans, including students from Lincoln High School, have visited China for exchanges and studies under the “50,000 in five years” initiative, and become envoys of goodwill across the Pacific. In recent days, many American netizens are posting on social media their moments of “becoming Chinese”. We warmly welcome you all to watch the Spring Festival Gala together with the Chinese people, share our festive joy, and experience the Chinese style.

朋友们，一元复始，万象更新。展望丙午马年，期待中美双方在两国元首战略引领下，秉持相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢原则，保持马不停蹄的干劲，拿出跃马扬鞭的豪气，激发万马奔腾的活力，把中美关系宏伟愿景一步步变成共赢现实，为两国人民带来更多实实在在的福祉，为世界注入更多稳定性和正能量。

Dear friends,

As the new year begins, let us also start anew. It is our hope that in the Year of the Horse, under the strategic guidance of our Presidents, China and the U.S. will adhere to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, act with the drive, aspiration and vigor of the horse, and turn the grand vision for bilateral relations into a win-win reality, so as to bring more tangible benefits to our peoples and instill more stability and positive energy into the world.

预祝大家一马当先、马到成功！谢谢大家。

Wishing all of you a head start and every success in the Year of the Horse! Thank you.