戴秉国在美国战略与国际问题研究中心的演讲（中英对照）

朋友们，

Friends,

人类继续往前走，挑战固然不少，但机遇也会很多很大。毫无疑问，在21世纪，一个治理得越来越好的中国，一个长久繁荣稳定的中国，一个坚持走和平发展道路的中国，肯定是美国的机遇，是全世界的机遇，而决不是什么挑战，千万别错过、丢失了这一难得的历史机遇。

Going forward, mankind faces many challenges as well as major opportunities are also ample. There is no doubt that in the 21st century, a better-governed China that enjoys enduring prosperity and stability and committed to peaceful development is an opportunity, not a challenge, for the US and the world. Please don’t miss this historic opportunity.

三、怎么看中美关系

3. On China-US relations

首先，美国的对华政策是成功还是失败了？

First, has the US’s China policy been a success or failure?

我注意到近来美国内对华政策大辩论中实际上触及了一个根本性问题，那就是：美国同中国建立和发展关系是对了还是错了？几十年来两党历届政府奉行的对话、合作、接触的对华政策是成功还是失败了？辩论中，美国各界有识之士充分肯定了政府同中国建立正常外交关系的战略决策，及由此带来的巨大战略利益，充分肯定了美国两党历届政府奉行的积极对华政策及其取得的巨大成功。今天，我们合作的领域几乎无所不包，利益交融、相互依存达到谁也离不开谁的地步，我们对话沟通交流涉及到了天上地下、空中海上、电磁空间甚至“《三体》世界”几乎一切问题，我们的合作不仅惠及中美两国，也改变了世界，特别是亚太地区30年大发展大繁荣，离不开中美关系稳定发展的和平红利。40多年来，中美关系取得的巨大发展，是中国几代领导人、美国8位总统领导各自人民共同努力奋斗的结果。有人说美国对华政策“失败”了，理由是什么呢？是没有实现改变中国和阻止中国崛起的目标。这种目标的设定本身就是错误的，是注定不可实现的。中国在中国共产党的领导下，走社会主义道路，是中国历史以血的代价反复试错得出的结果，是中国人民反复比较鉴别作出的选择。我多次说过，我们不像前苏联那样搞霸权、搞扩张，我们也绝不会像前苏联那样垮掉。中国人民对美好生活的向往是谁也阻挡不了、也不应阻挡的。美国人有权过好日子、最好的日子，中国人也有过好日子的权力。况且，中国无论发展到何种地步，都不会取代美国，只会成为美国在世界上最大、最管用的合作伙伴。总之，中美关系发展到今天太不容易，太值得珍惜，太值得维护和全力加以发展了，也要像保护我们的眼睛和生命一样保护它。

I have noticed that the recent China policy debate in the US boils down to some fundamental questions: Was it right or wrong for the US to establish and develop relations with China? Is the China policy of dialogue, cooperation and engagement followed by successive American administrations from both parties a success or failure? During the debate, those with insight from various sectors in the US fully recognize the strategic decision of the government to normalize diplomatic ties with China and the tremendous strategic interests arising there from. They fully acknowledge the positive China policy carried out by successive US administrations from both parties and its huge success. Today, bilateral cooperation is almost all-encompassing. Such are our intertwined interests and interdependence that we cannot live in isolation from each other. Our dialogues cover nearly everything in the sky, on the earth, at sea, in the electromagnetic world, and even those envisioned in the science fiction, The Three-Body Problem. Our cooperation has not only borne fruit for China and the US but also changed the world. Without the peaceful environment created by our steadily growing relationship, the Asia Pacific would not have enjoyed 30 years of development and prosperity. The significant progress in China-US relations over the past 40 years is attributable to the hard work of the two peoples under the leadership of generations of Chinese leaders and eight US presidents. Some say that the US’s China policy has failed. What is their argument? Is it because the policy has failed to change China or to hold back its rise? It is wrong to have set a goal like this in the first place, and such a goal is doomed to failure. Taking the socialist path under the leadership of the CPC is a decision made after several failed attempts in other directions in our history at the cost of many lives. It is the choice of our people after repeatedly weighing different options. I have said many times that, unlike the Soviet Union, we will not seek hegemony or expansion, and we will not collapse. The Chinese people’s pursuit of a better life is unstoppable and should not be stopped. The Americans have every right to pursue a good life, the best life for that matter. The Chinese people have the same right. No matter how well it develops, China will not replace the US, but will only be its biggest and most helpful partner in the world. To put it simply, we have been through a lot to bring China-US relationship to where it is now, so we must cherish it, nurture it, and go all out to develop it. And we need to protect it in a way that we protect our eyes and lives.

要发展它，要走好“前进之路”，必须充分肯定过去走过的路。正如一位英国政治家所说：看得见多远的过去，就能走向多远的未来。我们以怎样的态度对待历史，历史就能回报你一个相应的未来。

To press ahead on the way forward, we must fully acknowledge the journey we have traveled. A British statesman once said, “The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.” How we approach history will determine what kind of a future history will give us in return.

第二，中美关系要向前发展，一定要走好一条新路。

Second, for China-US relations to move ahead, we must blaze a new trail.

我前些时说过，21世纪有两点可以肯定：美国的老大地位是谁也取代不了的；中国的和平崛起或振兴是谁也挡不住的。美国能否实现自己的战略目标，关键在美国自己。中国能否实现自己的战略目标，关键也在自己。其中十分重要的是中美双方能否处理好彼此的关系。什么叫“处理好”？就是走好一条新路，不冲突不对抗、互相尊重、合作共赢的新型大国关系之路。这里绝无中国人的什么阴谋诡计，这是中美双方光明正大地在十年战略对话历程中共同磋商、逐步凝聚起来的共识，是两国元首在一次又一次会晤中确定下来并一再重申的战略决定，是确保中美关系持久稳定发展的大框架。这对双方都是无价之宝。中方将坚定不移地致力于构建中美新型大国关系，相信美国本届政府，之后的各届政府都会信守承诺，排除干扰，克服困难，同中方一起努力，不断推进中美新型大国关系建设。如果有人硬要选择冲突、对抗，我坚信，一定会遭到中美两国人民的坚决反对。

Recently on another occasion, I pointed out two basic facts of the 21st century: no can replace the US as the No.1 in the world, and no one can stop China’s peaceful rise or renewal. Whether the US will be able to achieve its strategic goals depends on itself. This is also true for China. The important thing is for the two countries to properly handle their relations. What does “properly handle” mean? It means to blaze a new trail for building a new model of major-country relations featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. This is not a scheme of the Chinese. It is a common understanding built up gradually through consultation in a decade of strategic dialogue, a process that is open and aboveboard. It is a strategic decision made and confirmed repeatedly by the leaders of the two countries in their meetings. It is a general framework that will ensure the sustained and steady development of China-US relations. It is a priceless asset to both sides. China will stay committed to building such a relationship. We trust that the current US administration and the ones to come will all keep good faith, remove distractions and overcome difficulties, and work with China to advance this relationship. If some people insist on choosing conflict and confrontation, I’m sure they will be strongly opposed by the Chinese and American people.

有人不太喜欢“相互尊重”，须知，要在一起搞合作，相互尊重是一个起码的原则，它不是一方有求于另一方的奢侈品，而是人与人、国与国交往的必需品。我们提相互尊重，并非暗含着要与美国平起平坐，我们早就对美方提出的“G2”概念未予接受，不谋求中美共治，同美国平起平坐。还有美国朋友担心接受“相互尊重”概念，就意味着要尊重事关中国主权与领土完整的核心利益，难道这不应该吗？！

Some are not quite fond of “mutual respect”. One needs to know that mutual respect is a basic principle for cooperation. It is not a luxury that one has to ask from the other side, but a necessity for interpersonal and state-to-state relations. China is not proposing mutual respect as a code word for equal powers with the US. We have not accepted the concept of G2 proposed by the US. We do not want G2 or equal powers with the US. Some American friends are worried that if they agree to mutual respect, they will have to respect China’s core interests related to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Shouldn’t these core interests be respected after all?

第三，中美关系继续向前发展，需要坚持不懈地做好几件事。

Third, for China-US relations to keep making progress, we must make continued efforts on several fronts.

一是加强高层和各级别间坦诚深入的沟通对话，特别是当今世界动荡不定、一些人焦躁不安和猜疑情绪上升的情况下，这样做显得尤为重要和必要，可以减少和消除误解、误读、误判，找到许多共同语言，增进信任，避免干出蠢事来。二是要聚焦合作。双方无论是双边、地区和全球性问题上，合作的潜力和空间都还很大很大，一定要下大功夫把扩大合作这篇大文章做好，做得更精彩，向两国人民和全世界充分展示中美关系确是一对合作共赢而非冲突对抗的新关系，给人以信心和力量，使中美关系中的正气不断上升，邪气不断下降。三是要切实管控好矛盾和分歧。中国和美国有许多不同，这对美国并不是坏事，可能还是好事，还是不要强求什么都一致。中美关系发展到今天，更趋复杂了，合作发展了，矛盾自然也随之多了。这是正常现象。如果关系不发展，可能没那么多矛盾和分歧，但什么都不做，回到相互隔绝的状态，那恰恰是最大的问题。今天的问题，大多应当被看作是关系发展前进中的问题，只能通过发展关系的积极办法，通过沟通交流协商加以理性地、妥善地解决和处理，不使分歧和问题变成损害关系大局的破坏性、爆炸性因素。四是要加强治党治国理政的经验交流。人类社会发展到今天，不管你实行什么样的政治制度，政党的治理、国家的治理问题都显得越来越不容易，越来越重要和紧迫了。我们共产党和你们民主、共和两党分别领导着两个不同制度的大国，各走各的路，谁也不能改变谁，你们不会把白宫建成中南海，我们也不可能在中南海建一个白宫。但我们是应该和可以交流如何治党治国的经验的。贯通中西的海陆丝绸之路上不仅有商品、技术的交流，更有文化、文明的相互影响。历史上，西方借鉴了中国的科举制度和精英治国理念。今天，我们的改革也借鉴了西方市场经济理念。人类对社会制度的探索是永无止境的。你们的资本主义搞了两百多年了，在取得巨大发展成就同时，也积累了一些尖锐难解的矛盾和问题。我们的社会主义道路才搞了60多年，也面临着艰巨的改革任务。我们唯有既独立自主、立足自身、相互尊重，又相互学习、交流互鉴、取长补短，才是上策。

First, there must be more candid and in-depth dialogue and communication at the top and various other levels. This is particularly important and necessary as the world today is turbulent and some people have greater anxieties and suspicions. Dialogue will help reduce and remove misunderstanding, misinterpretation and misjudgment, identify common ground, increase trust, and prevent us from doing stupid things. Second, cooperation must be our focus. On bilateral, regional and global issues, the two sides enjoy enormous potential and space for cooperation. We must make hard efforts to expand cooperation and deliver impressive results. We will show our two peoples and the world that China and the US truly have a new relationship that features win-win cooperation, not conflict or confrontation. It will generate confidence and strength, increase the positive factors and reduce the negative ones in this relationship. Third, differences and disputes must be well managed. China is different from the US in many ways. This is not bad news for the US. It can even be a good thing. It is better not to force uniformity. China-US relations have grown more multi-faceted today. With more cooperation, more differences are to be expected naturally. If our relationship does not develop, perhaps there will be less differences and disputes. But doing nothing and falling back to estrangement will be the biggest problem of all. Most of the issues we have today should be viewed in the context of a growing relationship and handled in a positive manner through the further development of the relationship. We must address them appropriately in a sensible way through communication and consultation and avoid turning them into destructive and explosive factors that jeopardize the overall relationship. Fourth, there should be more exchange of experience in how to govern political parties and the country. In today’s world, no matter what kind of political system is in place, the governance of political parties and the country is becoming an increasingly challenging, important and urgent matter. China’s Communist Party and your Republican and Democratic parties are leading two big countries of different systems. We are each following our own path and cannot change what the other is doing. You will not turn the White House into Zhongnanhai, and we will not build a White House in Zhongnanhai. But our two sides can exchange experience in party and national governance. The ancient silk road that connected the East and West on land and sea not only carried goods and technologies but also brought about interactions between different cultures and civilizations. In history, the West learned from China’s imperial examination system and the concept of meritocracy. Today, we learn from the West’s market economy in our reforms. There is no end to mankind’s explorations in improving social system. Capitalism has been practiced in the US for over 200 years. While there are considerable achievements, some acute and thorny issues have also built up. We have practiced socialism for only about 60 years, and we are also faced with an arduous task of reform. While remaining independent and self-reliant in our respective endeavors, we should also respect and learn from each other, exchange our experience, and draw from each other’s strengths. This is the best thing to do.

朋友们，每每想到未来，就情不自禁地想到我们中美两家关系可不能出现大问题，否则我们的子孙后代怎么办？！我们这些搞外交的人，究竟为了什么呢？难道不是为了使他们能在和平的阳光下快乐成长，幸福生活吗？最近我又添了一个小孙子，听说我曾经的对话伙伴希拉里·克林顿女士也添了一个外孙，在座各位也大都有儿有女，我们大家一定要共同努力，建设好中美新型大国关系，让两国的子孙后代不要掉进冲突、对抗甚至战争的灾难陷阱。

Friends,

Whenever I think about the future, I will say to myself that China and the US must avoid big problems in their relations. What will our children and grandchildren do if such problems occur? What are we working for as diplomats? We are working for our children’s happy life in the sunshine of peace, aren’t we? Recently, my family welcomed a new member, my grandson. I heard that Madam Hillary Clinton, who was my dialogue counterpart, also got a grandson lately. Most of us here have our own beloved children. For them, let us work together to build the new model of major-country relationship between our two countries, to protect our children and grandchildren, and not let them fall into the pitfall of conflict, confrontation or even war.

谢谢大家！

Thank you.