Transcript of Ambassador Cui Tiankai’s Interview with China-US Focus (E-C)
驻美国大使崔天凯接受中美聚焦网采访（实录中译文）
China-US Focus: 40 years ago, Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter, as we all know, made the decision that changed the world, that is to establish the diplomatic relations for China and the United States, and in doing so to merge interests of over a billion people on different ends of the planet. 40 years later, do you think that they have achieved as countries, as people, what the original architects had in mind?
中美聚焦网：中美建交是中美两国做出的重大决定，改变了整个世界，融合了全球10多亿人的利益。40年后的今天，您认为两国和两国人民是否实现了当初设想的成就？
Ambassador Cui: I think the answer is a clear yes. The world is changing and so are our two countries, but for the better. Both countries have benefited from 40 years’ diplomatic relations, and the world as a whole has also benefited from it. You see, think about history, back in the 1950s and 1960s, we had two hot wars in the years of the Cold War in Asia. But since the so-called reopening of America to China and re-opening of China to America, since Dr. Kissinger and President Nixon’s visits to China and especially since the normalization of relations, the Asia-Pacific is now, on the whole, peaceful and stable. While there are still a couple of hot spots remaining, but they are under control, we’re handling them and we are working together on these things like the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. And economically, the Asia-Pacific is very different from forty years ago. Now it’s one of the main powerhouses of the global economy. Frankly speaking, China and the United States can take a lot of credit for this and so we are very grateful to people like President Carter and Mr. Deng Xiaoping for taking that historic decision with great courage and vision.
崔大使：答案很清楚，是的。世界和中美两国都在向着好的一面变化，都从中美建交40年中获益良多。回顾历史，上世纪五、六十年代冷战期间，亚洲发生过两场热战，但从中美两国重新向对方打开大门，基辛格博士和尼克松总统相继访华，特别是中美关系正常化后，亚太地区总体保持了和平稳定。虽然现在该地区仍存在一些热点问题，如朝鲜半岛核问题等，但都得到了有效管控，我们也正携手努力继续加以妥善处理。从经济层面看，现在的亚太地区与40年前相比也已大不相同，成为全球经济增长的主要动力之一。坦率讲，中美两国都为此发挥了巨大作用。我们感谢包括卡特总统和邓小平先生在内的老一辈领导人，他们以非凡的勇气和远见做出了历史性的决定。
China-US Focus: A few weeks after January 1st, 1979, Deng Xiaoping went to the United States and he said when he was standing on the south lawn of the White House, “The world today is far from tranquil. There are not only threats to peace, but the factors making for war are visibly growing.” There has been no world war since 1979 and I’ve heard it said in the last couple of days that no American soldier has died in a battlefield in East Asia since 1979. Do you think that the US-China relationship is a direct contributor to that peace?
中美聚焦网：1979年过了元旦几周后，邓小平先生访美。他站在白宫南草坪上说：天下还不太平，和平依然面临威胁，引发战争的因素也在显著增加。但1979年以后没有发生过世界大战，没有一名美国士兵死于东亚战场。您是否认为中美关系对和平作出直接贡献？
Ambassador Cui: Yes, of course, especially for the Asia-Pacific. I think forty years ago it was still hard to imagine that we could have such an overall peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. But now this is a reality. Sometimes people take these things for granted. They tend to forget how hard peace was won.
崔大使：当然是的，特别是在亚太地区。40年前很难想象亚太地区能实现整体和平与稳定，如今却已是现实。但有时人们轻易地忘记了和平的来之不易，视此为理所当然。
China-US Focus: When Deng Xiaoping was in the United States, one of the stopovers was in the Johnson Space Center, and he climbed into the lunar rover, and then he went into a spacecraft simulator. And of course, China was a country where the vast majority was living in poverty in those days. Fast forward to a couple of days ago, China is the first country in the world to explore the far side of the moon. With all that advancing technology, with all the innovations that have become part of contemporary China, how best do you think China as a country can apply the innovation so to benefit humanity?
中美聚焦网：当年邓小平访美时，参访了约翰逊航天中心，体验了登月车和航天模拟器。那时中国大多数人还生活在贫困中。而不久前，中国已成为世界上第一个探索月球背面的国家。随着技术进步，随着创新成为当代中国的一部分，您认为中国如何才能更好将科技创新造福于人类？
Ambassador Cui: I think that is the actual purpose of China’s efforts in developing science and technology. Of course our goal is to bring better life to the Chinese people. But we are also ready to contribute more to the progress of entire humanity, including in terms of science and technology. Another thing is (that), honestly, the United States is still the leading country in science and in most of the technologies. China is still learning from the US and others and trying to catch up. Our emphasis is not to replace them, but to cooperate with them for the greater good of the entire mankind.
崔大使：造福人类是中国发展科技的目的所在。我们的目标是为中国人民带来更美好的生活，同时也愿为整个人类的进步包括在科技领域的进步做出更多贡献。事实上在科技领域，美国仍是世界上最领先的国家，中国还需向美国和其他国家学习。我们想要的不是取代其他国家，而是通过合作更多造福人类。
China-US Focus: But they all looked at these innovations. They’ll see these pictures from the far side of the moon. They’ll see that as a threat and a lot of people do. They say that this science and technology is being used to advance China without putting people up-rounded. What do you say in trying to get people to understand that China, you know you’ve grown up in China, you represent China, why is it so different to the other China that people talk about?
中美聚焦网：但很多人非常关注这些创新，他们看到月球背面的照片，就认为这是一种威胁，的确很多人如此。他们会说，这种科技正被中国用于做强自身，而非让人民获益。您生于中国、代表中国，您认为如何才能让世界了解真实的中国，而非有些人印象中的中国？
Ambassador Cui: I think the 1.4 billion Chinese people are working very hard for the modernization of the nation and for realizing our two centenary goals, and that would include the efforts of our scientists. I don’t think there’s anybody in China who is planning any invasion or so-called regime change in another country or enforcing our system or ideology on others. There’s no such a plan in China, and no one is doing these things in China.
崔大使：14亿中国人民，包括中国科学家们在内，正在为实现国家现代化和“两个一百年”奋斗目标做出不懈努力。中国没有人打算入侵其他国家，或在别国搞所谓政权更迭、将我们的政治制度和意识形态强加于人。中国没有这样的计划，不会有人做这样的事。
China-U.S. Focus: And so by default, they may apply their own internal fears to what they think China might be projecting?
中美聚焦网：所以，他们是否出于内心恐惧而预设中国可能正在策划做这些事？
Ambassador Cui: Well, if we look at history of the past half century or since the end of the Second World War, it’s quite clear which country or which countries have invaded others for most of the time, which countries have tried regime change all over the world, and which countries are fully engaged in the pursuit of peaceful development. I think the fact is so clear.
崔大使：回顾半个世纪以来或二战结束后的历史，会清楚地看到其中大部分时期，哪些国家侵略了别国，哪些国家满世界搞政权更迭，哪些国家全心全意谋和平、求发展。我认为事实是非常清楚的。
China-U.S. Focus: The end of 1978, the beginning of 1979 was a monumental few weeks for the world, although people may not necessarily know it. You had January 1, 1979, of course, two great nations on this planet decided to be real friends and to work together in the future. And just a couple of weeks before that when they made that decision, Deng Xiaoping in China began the reform and opening-up process that changed everything for the majority of the world. Those two events I’ve heard you speak about in recent weeks, especially, are closely interlinked. Opening up China’s domestic policy meant opening up China’s outreach to the world, its foreign policy as well. Is there an experience from within that China can share with everybody and say, look, that’s worked for us and could work for you as well?
中美聚焦网：对世界来说，1978年底至1979年初这段时间具有里程碑意义，尽管很多人并未意识到这一点。1979年1月1日，两个伟大国家决定成为真正的朋友，面向未来携手合作。在此几周前，邓小平先生在中国开启了改革开放进程，深刻改变了很多人的生活。近期，您曾表示中美建交和改革开放这两大进程紧密关联，中国国内政策的变化同时意味着对外部世界的开放，包括外交政策的变化。中国是否有可以与其他国家分享的经验？
Ambassador Cui: Well, I think actually in the couple of years following Deng Xiaoping’s comeback at the end of the Cultural Revolution, the historic change in China started, maybe initially not many people noticed it. But I think it all started with Deng Xiaoping’s call to emancipate the mind and seek truth from facts. And China reassessed the global situation and came to the conclusion that there’s no imminent danger of a world war. So China should focus itself on economic development, on its modernization drive. That’s why we launched reform and opening-up. And we all believe in order to achieve that goal we cannot do it in isolation. We have to build better stronger relations with our neighbors and with major powers in the world, like the United States.
崔大使：实际上，文化大革命结束后，邓小平复出，提出解放思想、实事求是，中国开始了历史性的改革进程。中国重新评估国际形势，得出世界大战在较长时间内打不起来的结论。因此，中国要集中精力发展经济，推进现代化建设。这就是我们实施改革开放的初衷。我们知道这一目标无法在孤立中实现，中国必须要同周边国家和包括美国在内的世界大国建立更强劲、紧密的关系。
So if you look at the diplomatic schedule of Deng Xiaoping in these months, he visited our neighbors Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, before the Third Plenum of the Eleventh Central Committee, which took the decision of the reform and opening-up. At the same time, negotiations were going on between China and the United States to normalize relations. So actually, the announcement of the joint communiqué was published two days before the party plenum took the decision for the reform and opening-up. Then shortly after that, in late January, 1979, Deng Xiaoping came to the United States for a nine-day visit, which was unusually long, but was a very fruitful, very historic visit.
再看看邓小平先生那几个月的外交日程，他在中共十一届三中全会召开、改革开放启动前夕，访问了日本、新加坡、马来西亚等周边国家。同时，中美建交谈判也在进行。中美建交公报就是在十一届三中全会召开两天前发表的。此后不久，也就是1979年1月下旬，邓小平对美国进行了为期9天的访问，时间之长超乎寻常。这次访问取得了丰硕成果，具有历史意义。
So I think all this is, if we may borrow the term, the “grand strategy” for China to really launch the modernization drive to focus on economic development and to contribute more to global peace and stability and start a new relationship with countries like United States.
如果中国有所谓“大战略”，那么这一“大战略”就是开启现代化进程，聚精会神搞经济建设，促进世界和平稳定，并同美国等国家发展新的关系。
China-U.S. Focus: You mentioned that nine-day visit to the United States. I spoke to President Carter this morning, and he said that when he extended that invitation, he got an answer in 24 hours. And I think what he was trying to say is that it was an indicator of a quick but also strong decision that Deng was able to make. I know you remember that period yourself because Deng Xiaoping went to the space center, as we said, he went to the White House, he went to Texas, and he put that cowboy hat on. He was a sensation in many ways. He was the first Chinese leader long time that people got to see for themselves in their own homeland. As an ordinary Chinese yourself at that time in Shanghai, what do you think Deng’s visit and his 9 days in the United States did for young Chinese everywhere at that time?
中美聚焦网：您提到邓小平先生九天访美之行。今天上午我见到卡特总统，他说当年向邓发出访美邀请后，24小时之内就得到了肯定答复。我认为他想说的是，这表明当时邓果断作出决定访问美国。我知道您还记得，邓小平先生访问了约翰逊航天中心和白宫，在得克萨斯州戴上了牛仔帽。他的访问引发巨大关注，因为他是美国人在本国见到的第一位中国领导人。您当时在上海还是个普通人，您怎么看邓小平访美之行对当时中国年轻人的影响？
Ambassador Cui: A great deal. First of all, it opened up great opportunities for all the young people in China to pursue their studies, to work for much better future. And specifically, you see, every time I met with President Carter, he would like to tell us the story that he got a call in the midnight from his science advisor in Beijing. He said, Deng Xiaoping wanted to send students to the United States. And President Carter said they’re absolutely welcome. So this is also part of the decision they took at the time. And I myself personally benefited from that decision. Some years later, I came to the United States to pursue my graduate study. So without Deng Xiaoping’s visit, without the decision he took with President Carter to open the doors for exchange of students, I would not have had the opportunity to come here.
崔大使：影响很大。其中一点，就是为当时的中国年轻人提供了新机遇，包括有机会赴美学习、工作等。每次我见到卡特总统，他都会给我们讲述那段故事，他当年半夜接到正在访问北京的科学顾问打来的电话，得知邓小平想派中国学生来美留学，卡当即表示非常欢迎。这是老一辈领导人当时做出的决定之一，我个人也从中受益，使我数年之后有机会来到美国攻读研究生。如果没有邓小平访美，如果没有他与卡特总统共同决定为中美留学生打开大门，我当时不会有机会来美学习。
China-US Focus: And you had an incredible start to your career, you went to the United Nations and you engage with the international community on behalf of your country and for yourself as well. What is globalization mean to you?
中美聚焦网：您的职业生涯起步很好，曾就职于联合国，代表中国同国际社会打交道。请问全球化对您意味着什么？
Ambassador Cui: I think globalization is a fact of life. In today’s world, maybe thanks to the development of technology, people are more connected. It doesn’t matter whether they’re in the U.S., in China, in Africa, you can get connected instantly. So, information flow is much greater and more powerful than ever before. Now the exchange of people, of goods and services, everything is almost globalized. Of course, this is mainly driven by the advancement of science and technology and driven by the economic imperatives. I don’t think people can really reverse the trend, but in the meantime, we have to be very careful about how the benefits are shared equitably by everyone. How we can achieve an inclusive, open and mutually beneficial process of globalization. I think this is actually the challenge in the last few years for the international community.
崔大使：我认为，全球化已成为现实生活的一部分。当今世界，由于科技的发展，人与人之间的联系更加紧密，无论身在美国、中国还是非洲，都能随时交流。信息流动比以前任何时候都更频密和强劲。人员、货物、服务流通等等，几乎一切要素都在全球化，这主要是受经济利益的驱动，并归功于科技进步和发展。我们无法扭转全球化的趋势，但同时也要认真研究如何实现全球化红利的公平分享，如何推动包容、开放和互惠的全球化进程。我认为这才是国际社会过去几年真正面临的挑战。
China-US Focus: Muhammad Yunus, pioneer of Microfinance has spoken about this as well, saying that China has managed to emulate the success of the traditional powers in its own economy, but wouldn’t want to copy the failings of that same success, which is, of course, social inequity in the big gaps between the rich and the poor. What is the way forward? And I ask you, because China managed to find a solution to poverty, and if China can do on the scale of hundreds of millions of people, surely that means it is possible anywhere. So conversely, now when we go to the next stage of development, what’s the solution for inequity and the injustices that come out of that, out of being poor, out of not having a job, out of having to pull your children out of school. How do you solve that gap in society?
中美聚焦网：小额信贷的先驱——默罕默德·尤努斯谈到，中国发展借鉴了传统大国成功的一面，但不想重复他们失败的一面，即贫富差距巨大导致的社会不公。这些问题解决之道何在，中方有何见解？我之所以向中方提问，是因为中国找到了有效脱贫的办法。既然中国能使数亿人脱贫，那同样的方法在别的地方也能奏效。在我们进入下一个发展阶段时，中国有什么办法解决由贫穷、失业、失学等问题引发的不公平、不公正问题？怎么解决社会差距问题？
Ambassador Cui: I think it’s important to make sure that people have access to opportunities. If poor kids could have access to good education, they could change their lives, and they could make more contribution to the society. Of course there are maybe groups of people who are more vulnerable than others, for instance, people with disabilities and of old age and so on. Then it is our duty to take good care of them, especially for the government. The government has to adopt policies that will take care of the needs of these vulnerable people. So the benefits of globalization, the benefits of technological progress will be more equitably shared.
崔大使：我认为，确保人民能获得机会至关重要。贫穷人家的孩子如果能接受良好教育，就能改变人生从而为社会做出更大贡献。当然对于那些弱势群体，比如残疾人和老年人，我们特别是政府的责任是照顾好他们，要采取措施妥为顾及他们的需求，这样全球化和技术进步的红利才能得到更公平地分享。
China-U.S. Focus: You talked about the progress in technology and how we all have reliance on it and how that’s driving a new kind of globalization. And then you talk about Deng Xiaoping talking about seeking the truth. Is that now very complex and difficult to establish the truth in a world of technology, where there’s fake news, where there’s such a rapid spread of information that it can’t always be controlled.
中美聚焦网：您提到技术进步及人类社会对技术的依赖，还有技术如何推动了新型全球化。您还谈到邓小平先生提出要实事求是。那么，技术快速发展，“假新闻”层出不穷，信息迅速传播且难以得到有效管控，这些是否令真相变得复杂难辨？
Ambassador Cui: Yeah, I think people are still learning how to act, or behave responsibly in this information age, because now everybody is free to receive information, to send out information, to try to influence others. But honestly, there are cases of so-called fake news every now and then. Sometimes it’s very difficult for individuals to distinguish. So I think governments, institutions, and the whole society have to work out some rules, some code of conduct, if I may use the term, for people to behave in a responsible way in this information age.
崔大使：是的。在信息化时代，要学会负责任地行事，因为每个人都可以自由地接收和发送信息并以此影响他人。社会上时不时会出现一些“假新闻”，让人难辨真伪。对此，政府、相关机构及整个社会要制定出规则、或称之为“行为准则”，对信息化时代人们的行为方式作出规范，促其负责任地行事。
China-U.S. Focus: In a way that’s decent and respectful of one or another. I want to return a bit now to the China-U.S. conversation again, because we talked about that in the beginning that we moved on to a global part, because of course, that’s what informs. Jimmy Carter credits China and the U.S. for significantly securing global peace and their economies for driving and generating global prosperity. But he says, you know very well, that the relationship is in jeopardy, and that if misperceptions and miscalculations are allowed to continue, then these two countries could be at the head of what he called in modern cold war. Do you agree?
中美聚焦网：以体面和令人尊重的方式行事。我想回到中美关系的话题，刚才我们谈到了中美关系，然后就切换到了全球议题。卡特总统曾称赞中美有力地维护了世界和平、促进了世界经济增长与繁荣，同时也认为两国关系到了危险境地，如果任由误解误判延续，两国可能会走向“新冷战”。您同意这种说法吗？
Ambassador Cui: I think, there may be people out there with some real intention to initiate a kind of new cold war between China and United States. We have to guard against these attempts. But at the same time, I think the common interests, the great common interests between the two countries are clear. They’re just there. So if we can really focus on the great common interests and mutual needs between the two countries, I think the choice is quite clear. We should cooperate rather than have a cold war against each other.
崔大使：我想，确有一些人有意在中美之间挑动“新冷战”，我们对此要保持警惕。同时，中美之间的共同利益显然也非常广泛。如果我们能真正聚焦两国间巨大的共同利益和相互需求，怎么作选择就非常清楚了，那就是要合作而不是搞“新冷战”。
China-U.S. Focus: One of the important developments of the past year is, of course, the trade war between the two countries. I don’t just talk about the trade war because they could come and go, but rather talk about fundamental mindset. Do you think that this event is going to permanently alter this great forty-year relationship? And in any case, will China look elsewhere for other partners or expand existing partnerships?
中美聚焦网：去年中美关系一项重要议题是“贸易战”。我不想只谈“贸易战”本身，因为这只是一个片段，我更想探讨背后反映出来的思维。您是否认为“贸易战”会永久改变40年发展起来的中美关系？中国是否会寻求其他合作伙伴或扩大现有的伙伴关系群？
Ambassador Cui: Well, you see, China and the United States, we are the two largest economies in the world, so a trade war will hurt both countries and probably hurt the global economy. I think the consequences of the trade dispute in the last couple of years are already felt not only in two countries, but also globally. That’s why there’s a widespread concern about continuation of such a dispute without a clear solution in sight. I think we should speed up our work to conclude the current round of consultation to find a practical, effective, and mutually beneficial solution to the existing issues. Of course, if we solve all the existing issues, new things might come up. But we have always handled these things in the spirit of mutual respect, mutual benefit.
崔大使：中美是世界最大的两个经济体，打“贸易战”只会两败俱伤，并殃及世界。“贸易战”的影响已经在两国乃至世界范围内有所显现，这就是为什么各界对中美贸易摩擦持续而无解决方案存在普遍担忧。我们需要加快工作节奏，尽快通过磋商找到务实、有效和互利的解决方案。当然，解决了现有的问题，新的问题还会出现，但我们始终本着相互尊重、互利互惠的精神处理相关问题。
China-U.S. Focus: You’re not just a highly skilled creative diplomat, you are known for being very kind and very thoughtful. Obviously, you traveled the world and you take in different opinions. What would you want Americans to know about China and the Chinese people?
中美聚焦网：您是一位资深的高级外交官，非常有见地，也有创造性，您走遍世界，接触到各种不同观点。您希望美国人能了解中国和中国人民的哪些方面？
Ambassador Cui: I hope American people could have a much better knowledge of the real China, not the China sometimes reported in some of the media here, not the China that some of the so-called strategists are writing about. That’s not the real China. Honestly, some people here are trying to demonize China. What they’re talking about, what they are imposing on the American people is not the reality in China. So I hope and I think my job here, part of my job here, is to facilitate better mutual understanding between the two countries.
崔大使：我希望美国人民能更好地了解真实的中国，而不是某些美国媒体报道中、或一些所谓战略家笔下的中国，那不是真实的中国。老实说，一些人试图“妖魔化”中国，他们描绘的和强加给美国人民的“中国形象”不符合实际。我的工作职责之一就是要加深两国间的相互理解。
China-U.S. Focus: If someone wants to learn about China and to acquire a serious understanding of this fascinating country in the process. How do you suggest they go about it? What’s the first step?
中美聚焦网：如果有人想认识中国，认真了解中国的发展历程，您建议他们如何做？首先做什么？
Ambassador Cui: There are a lot of good books to read. If they are interested in history, they could certainly start with some reading in the Chinese history. That will certainly help them. Of course, if they can go to China and see for themselves, I think seeing is really believing. It is most convincing for people to go there and see what the Chinese are doing every day, what their aspirations are, and what the country’s goal is. It’s not very difficult. You just go there and try to see what is happening there, and try to talk to the Chinese people, to listen to the Chinese people, to see the evolving China stories there. It’s quite clear and a lot of misunderstanding will be gone.
崔大使：有许多好书可以读。如果他们对历史感兴趣，可以先读读中国历史，肯定会有助益。当然，如果他们能亲身到中国走一走，看一看，效果会更好。我始终相信“眼见为实”，想要了解中国，最有效的办法莫过于亲自去中国，看看中国人每天在做什么、有何愿望，中国的发展目标是什么？这并不难，只需观察在中国发生的事，与中国人交谈，听听他们说什么，看看正在发生的“中国故事”，相信很多误解就会消失。
China-U.S. Focus: These are two countries that are very different in some aspects, language being one, culture being another, their beginnings, their systems of governance of course. Do you think that there is a capacity in the future for America to say ‘Yes, we have a number-two economy not so far behind us these days. And we can give a bit of space and we can lead together.’ Is that in the capacity to do that?
中美聚焦网：中美两国在一些方面差异很大，比如语言、文化、历史、治理体系等等。您是否认为，将来有那么一天美国会说，“现在第二大经济体同我们的差距已经不大了，我们可以腾挪出一些空间，让两国共同领导世界。”您认为这是否可能？
Ambassador Cui: I think the Chinese people have every right to seek a better life. This is our inalienable right. Nobody can deprive us of this right. So whether others are happy or not, China will continue to develop peacefully, the Chinese people will continue to work hard for a better life.
But at the same time, China’s development has not been and will not be at the expense of anybody else. On the contrary, China’s development enables it to contribute more to global economic growth, global peace and stability. For instance, starting from this year, 2019, China is the second largest contributor to United Nations regular budget and peacekeeping expenses. Of course, the United States is still the largest contributor. China is not Number One. We are catching up. We are taking up greater international responsibility.
崔大使：中国人民有权追求更美好的生活，这一权利是不可剥夺的。无论其他人高兴与否，中国将坚持走和平发展道路，中国人民将继续为实现更美好的生活而努力奋斗。同时，中国发展不以牺牲别国利益为代价，恰恰相反，中国发展将为全球经济增长、世界和平稳定做出更大贡献。举例说，从2019年开始，中国将成为联合国会费和维和费用第二大出资国，虽然美国仍是最大出资国，但中国的出资额还在增加，我们将承担更多国际责任。
And at the same time, I don’t think China and the United States would become identical anytime in the future. This is impossible. Why should we have a world that all countries are identical to each other? This would be a very dull world. We have to respect and make the best use of the diversity. Because China has a different culture, because China has a much longer history, because China even has a different language, I think that all these can attract many Americans. And of course, America is always a fascinating place for many Chinese. So this will motivate people of both countries to learn more about the other side. And with such mutual understanding there will be stronger friendship. I think this is great news for all.
同时，我认为中美两国永远不可能成为一样的国家。为什么世界上所有国家都要一样？那样的世界将极其乏味无趣。我们要尊重并充分利用世界多样性。中国文化独特、历史悠久，语言也与众不同，正因如此才对众多美国人有吸引力。当然对很多中国人来说，美国也很令人向往。这样才能推动两国人民加深相互了解，并因此带动两国建立更强劲的友好关系，对所有人都有利。
China-U.S. Focus: I’d like to finish our conversation by returning to the two architects of the China-U.S. relationship. Ambassador, you’ve said a number of times that people shouldn’t lose sight of why this relationship began, that it was in pursuit of global peace, and that a certain element of global peace has been directly achieved because of these two countries. When you look at pictures of Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter, and you go to Google and you look, there are so many pictures of them where they’re physically touching each other, casting each other’s hands, hugging each other, embracing one another. And Jimmy Carter said yesterday, and you heard him say this as well, that this relationship and the people that represent this relationship should now go forward and creates a new partnership which really is based not only on mutual respect, but also use the word based on love. Is that still possible?
中美聚焦网：在结束我们的对话前，我想把话题拉回到中美关系的两位“设计师”上。您曾多次讲人们不应忽视中美建交的“初心”，中美建交是为了促进世界和平，中美关系发展在相当程度上确实也直接促成了世界和平。谷歌上能搜索到邓小平先生和卡特总统握手、拥抱等相关照片。昨天您也听到卡特总统说中美关系及两国人民应在相互尊重甚至“友爱”的基础上构建一种新的伙伴关系。这有可能吗？
Ambassador Cui: Well, I think for international relations, maybe most of the time they are based on common interests. And this is certainly the case for China and United States. Of course, if people from different countries just love each other, this is great. But you cannot expect everybody to do that. So in relations between two great countries, I think it’s important to identify our growing common interests and base the relationship on that.
崔大使：绝大多数时候，国际关系是建立在共同利益基础上的，中美关系也是如此。当然，如果来自不同国家的人民能彼此友爱，那非常好，但我们不能指望所有人都会这样做。对于中美这两个伟大国家来说，双方要不断扩大共同利益，并将双边关系建立在共同利益基础之上。
China-U.S. Focus: Ambassador Cui Tiankai, thank you very much.
中美聚焦网：崔天凯大使，非常感谢！
Ambassador Cui: Thank you! Great pleasure talking to you.
崔大使：谢谢！很高兴接受你的采访。