Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai at the Closing Dinner of the “Horasis China Meeting”

驻美国大使崔天凯在“霍瑞西斯中国论坛”闭幕式晚宴上的讲话

 

2019年10月30日

October 30, 2019

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

女士们，先生们，

 

Dear Friends,

朋友们：

 

It is my great pleasure to attend the Horasis China Meeting. Horasis is known for convening the global visions community, people who look unwaveringly to the future. In the last couple of days, the Horasis China Meeting had in-depth exchanges on almost all aspects of China’s development and China-U.S. economic relations. The timing could not be better. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. China has gone through historic transformation in these 70 years and made unprecedented achievements. At the same time, as China enters a new era, it also faces a more complex domestic and international environment, which has not been made easier by the strained relations between China and the United States.

很高兴参加“霍瑞西斯中国论坛”。两天来，论坛就中国发展和中美经贸关系等问题进行了广泛深入的探讨，可以说恰逢其时。今年是新中国成立70周年。70年来，中国经历了历史性变化，取得了前所未有的发展成就。同时，中国的发展进入新阶段，面临更加复杂的内外环境，中美关系也面临严峻挑战。

 

As we look forward to China’s developing contexts for the coming decades, it is helpful for us to put things in a perspective that combines economics and politics, so as to have a better understanding of the issues and policies, as well as challenges and opportunities. For that purpose, we have to keep in mind the following:

展望未来几十年中国的发展前景，从政治和经济结合的角度来观察分析，将有助于我们更好地理解中国所面临的问题和政策选择，及其伴随的机遇和挑战。为此，我们特别要关注以下几点：

 

First, China pursues a development model that places the people at the center, which has proved to be an unfailing driving force for China’s development.

第一，以人民为中心的发展理念，为中国发展提供不竭动力。

 

People play the decisive role in any country’s development. In the case of China, it is the people’s aspiration for a better life that guides our policies. It also represents unlimited business opportunities. We will do what needs to be done to further promote the all-round development of our people, enhancing their sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.

一个国家的发展，人是决定性因素。人民对美好生活的向往就是我们的奋斗目标，也是创造不尽商机的来源。我们将在更高水平上促进人的全面发展，不断提高人民的获得感、幸福感、安全感。

 

For example, our web of medical insurance now covers more than 1.3 billion people, which means that practically everyone is medically insured in China. We have brought over 900 million people under the umbrella of basic old-age insurance. A year from now China will have eliminated absolute poverty and will become a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

中国医疗保险已覆盖超过13亿人，基本养老保险覆盖超过9亿人。明年中国将全面建成小康社会，中华民族将历史上首次整体消除绝对贫困。

 

China’s expanding middle-income population now comprises 400 million people, and this number is set to double over the next 15 years. The purchasing power and economic potential of the 1.4 billion Chinese people has seen unprecedented growth as China continues to develop. The confidence, proactiveness and creativity of the Chinese people promise a bright future for our country and its economic development. As a result of the ingenuity and zeal of its people, China’s GDP expanded by 6.2% in the first three quarters of 2019, in spite of the trade war and other external complexities. Major economic indicators have also remained positive and sound, which speaks of the resilience, vitality and potential of the Chinese economy.

中国有4亿多中等收入群体，未来15年有望翻倍。14亿中国人民不断增长的购买力和经济潜力，在中国发展进程中是前所未有的。中国人民的信心、主动性、创造力，是中国经济发展和国家未来的根本保障。正是由于中国人民的创造力和奋发进取，尽管面临贸易战等复杂外部因素，中国今年前三季度GDP增长6.2%，主要经济指标运行在合理区间，充分显示了韧性、活力和潜力。

 

Second, China remains committed to deepening reform and opening the country even wider because we believe that this is the key for us to overcoming development challenges and ensuring the long-term vibrancy of the economy.

第二，中国将继续坚定不移深化改革、扩大开放，因为我们坚信这是进一步破解发展难题、保持中国经济长期向好的关键一招。

 

China has fully opened its manufacturing sector, and the services sector is also catching up. The Foreign Investment Law will go into force next year, providing a legal safeguard for foreign investment. The application of pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list is extending to the whole spectrum of the Chinese economy. In particular, the negative list, which provides for the areas not open to foreign investment, is getting shorter every year. This year, the number of China’s pilot free trade zones rose to 18, making our opening-up sectorally more inclusive and geographically more balanced.

我们已经全面放开制造业，服务业开放也在持续推进。《外商投资法》将于明年全面实施，准入前国民待遇和负面清单管理正在全面铺开。外商投资负面清单一年比一年缩短。2019年中国自贸试验区增至18个，对外开放版图更加完善。

 

China knows the importance of engaging with and learning from the rest of the world. We understand that cooperating with others is not a sign of weakness, but the discovery of infinite possibilities to improve people’s lives. That explains why China has pursued the opportunity to trade with countries all over the world. For instance, on November 5, which is next Tuesday, the second China International Import Expo will be held in Shanghai. In the next five years, China will import over 10 trillion dollars’ worth of goods and services.

中国深知与世界交流互鉴的重要性。我们认识到，与别国合作并非示弱，而将为改善人民生活带来无限可能。正因如此，我们把握一切机遇与世界各国加强经贸关系。11月5日，第二届中国国际进口博览会将在上海举行。未来5年，中国将进口超过10万亿美元的商品和服务。

 

China will continue to take necessary steps to make our business environment more attractive, allowing us to compete with the best in the world. China will treat foreign and domestic investors alike, and provide strict and rigorous protection of intellectual property rights. This is a serious commitment by the Chinese government that will stand the test of time.

我们将对标国际先进水平，打造更加完善的营商环境，对内外资企业等各类市场主体一视同仁，更加严格保护知识产权。这是中国政府的庄严承诺，经受得住时间的检验。

 

According to the Doing Business 2020 report by the World Bank, China’s ranking of ease of doing business rose 15 positions from last year. For two years in a row, China has been among the ten countries that have improved the most by this measure. AmCham China’s member companies have registered record high confidence in an open Chinese market, with nearly 80% of them recognizing its improvement. These are all votes of confidence in China’s reform and opening-up.

世界银行刚发布的《2020年营商环境报告》显示，中国营商环境的世界排名比去年大幅提升15位，连续两年跻身全球营商环境改善最大的经济体排名前十。中国美国商会会员企业对中国开放市场信心达到历史高点，近80%的会员企业认为中国投资环境改善。这些都是对中国改革开放的“信任票”。

 

Third, China will continue to do its part to improve international economic governance and work for a community with a shared future for mankind. We believe that a more open, inclusive and win-win international environment is in the interest of China and the whole world.

第三，中国将继续推动完善国际经济治理、构建人类命运共同体，为自己也为大家争取更开放普惠、合作共赢的国际环境。

 

Since the global financial crisis in 2008, China has become an important engine of the world economy, contributing over 30% to global growth. Today the world economy has once again come to a crossroads, where protectionism and unilateralism entail high risks and uncertainties.

国际金融危机以来，中国经济对世界经济增长贡献率超过30%，成为世界经济的重要引擎。10年后的今天，世界经济再次来到十字路口。保护主义、单边主义使世界经济运行风险和不确定性显著上升。

 

In this context, China will work with other countries to achieve more effective coordination of macroeconomic policies and a robust, balanced, sustained and inclusive global growth.

中国将同世界各国一道，弘扬同舟共济精神，进行更加有效的宏观经济政策协调，推动世界经济强劲、平衡、可持续、包容增长。

 

China will work with other countries to safeguard the multilateral trading system, reform the World Trade Organization as needed, and uphold its values and basic principles of openness, inclusiveness and non-discrimination.

中国将同世界各国一道，坚定维护多边贸易体制，对世界贸易组织进行必要改革，维护开放、包容、非歧视等价值和基本原则。

 

China will work with other countries to deliver a high-quality Belt and Road Initiative. Our efforts to promote connectivity, unleash economic growth and connect markets will help more countries and regions survive and thrive in the tide of globalization.

中国将同世界各国一道，推动“一带一路”高质量发展，促进互联互通，释放增长动力，实现市场对接，让更多国家和地区融入全球化。

 

Dear Friends,

朋友们，

 

The China-US relationship is the most consequential bilateral relationship in the world. It is not only about the wellbeing of the 1.7 billion Chinese and American people, but also bears on the future of our planet. However, this relationship is now being challenged to an extent rarely seen since its establishment 40 years ago. Demonizing China and inciting confrontation with it have become “the politically correct” in some circles. Some even believe that only by “decoupling” from China can America be made “great again”. This is neither rational nor realistic, because to decouple from China is to decouple from opportunities; it is to decouple from a hopeful and developing world. It would not serve the best interests of either the American or the Chinese people. As for the attempt to demonize China, it only reveals the darkness of the perpetrators themselves.

中美关系是当今世界最重要的双边关系，不仅事关两国17亿人民的福祉，也与我们星球的未来休戚相关。当前中美关系正面临建交以来罕见的严峻挑战。妖魔化中国、与中国对抗成为一些人的“政治正确”，有人甚至认为只有对华“脱钩”才能使美国“再次伟大”。这既不理智，也不现实。对华“脱钩”就是与机遇脱钩，与充满希望、繁荣发展的世界脱钩，对中美两国人民都没有好处。而一些人妖魔化中国的图谋，只会暴露他们的阴暗心理。

 

Over two weeks ago, the 13th round of China-US high-level economic and trade consultations made substantial progress. I believe that we will be able to make a mutually beneficial deal as long as we both show sincerity and reach out to each other on the basis of equality and mutual respect. This is the only way that our economic and trade cooperation and the overall relations can be restored to the right track.

不久前，第十三轮中美经贸高级别磋商取得实质性进展。我相信，只要双方拿出诚意，在平等和相互尊重基础上相向而行，就一定能达成互利互惠的经贸协议，推动两国经贸合作和两国总体关系重回正轨。

 

In the Greek language, “Horasis” means gazing at a vision. As we have seen here, the Horasis Meeting has gathered a galaxy of business leaders and experts with great vision and insights on China. I hope that at this critical time, the Meeting will conclude on a strategic vision and a strong sense of responsibility and that will bring all of us together for a sound and steady development of China-US relations in the years to come.

“霍瑞西斯”在希腊语中的原意是“展望远景”。此次论坛正是汇聚了富有智慧与远见的工商界领袖和专家学者。值此关键时刻，希望此次论坛能够使我们凝聚共识、共担责任，为促进中美关系健康稳定发展而共同努力。

 

Thank you very much.

谢谢！