双语:应对新冠肺炎疫情,坚持多边主义尤为重要
发布时间:2020年05月22日
发布人:nanyuzi  

A Lesson from Covid-19: No Country Can Be Great in Isolation. Instead, We Must Strengthen Multilateralism

应对新冠肺炎疫情,坚持多边主义尤为重要

 

By Ambassador Zhang Jun

常驻联合国代表张军大使

 

2020年4月28日

28 April 2020

 

Last Friday was International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. In the 75th anniversary year of the United Nations, commemorating this international day is especially important.

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Multilateralism, a collective choice made by humankind following a world war, has secured peace and development for the world over the past 75 years. At present, however, unilateralism is having a strong impact on multilateralism, threatening the international system centred on the UN, and shaking the international order underpinned by international law. This is truly worrying.

多边主义是人类社会经历一场世界大战之后的共同选择,是我们享受75年安宁与发展的根本保障。令人担忧的是,单边主义剧烈冲击多边主义,威胁以联合国为核心的国际体系,动摇以国际法为基础的国际秩序。

 

Is multilateralism outdated? The answer is no. The Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of multilateralism to all countries. After hard struggles against the disease and the loss of countless lives, humankind has finally realised that the virus knows no borders, or race.

新冠肺炎疫情的暴发,让各国对多边主义重要性有了新的认识。人类发展史也是一部在同疾病斗争的历史。我们付出了大量生命的代价,才认识到病毒没有国界,不分种族。

 

Global collaboration, multilateral cooperation and collective strength is desperately needed in response to the pandemic. The overwhelming majority of countries fully support the World Health Organisation, which has been central to multilateral cooperation efforts on health.

应对疫情,亟需开展国际合作,心往一处想,劲儿往一处使。绝大多数国家支持世界卫生组织作为多边卫生合作的中枢。

 

The UN General Assembly, the European Union, the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and China and others, have all expressed their firm support. Multilateral cooperation is the only way to lead the global community to success.

为了战胜疫情,联合国大会、欧盟、非盟、不结盟运动、77集团和中国等纷纷表达了对世界卫生组织的坚定支持。多边合作是国际社会共克时艰的唯一途径。

 

The world faces a long list of formidable challenges. Armed conflicts in Libya, Yemen and Syria remind us that universal peace remains elusive. Terrorism is still threatening our daily lives. Climate change poses an existential challenge to us all.

世界面临纷繁复杂的挑战。利比亚、也门和叙利亚仍处武装冲突之中,让我们意识到普遍和平远未实现。恐怖主义威胁着我们日常生活。气候变化给人类带来巨大挑战。

 

The global economy is plagued with uncertainties, as the spread of protectionism is disrupting global supply and industrial value chains and undermining world trade. This is compounded by acts of bullying, which are jeopardising global peace and stability. We have no choice but to strengthen multilateral cooperation.

世界经济在不确定性中艰难挣扎,保护主义搅乱全球供应链和价值链,损害国际贸易。霸凌行为破坏国际和平与安全,也让挑战更为严峻。面对挑战,我们只有加强多边合作,没有别的选择。

 

All countries, big or small, need multilateralism. In a world of interdependence, no one can escape a major challenge or get through it on its own. No country can make itself great in isolation.

小国需要多边主义,大国、强国同样需要多边主义。我们生活在一个相互联通、相互依存的世界里,面对重大挑战,无人可以独自应对,也没有人可以躲避,只有合作一条路。任何国家都不可能在孤立中让自己伟大。

 

In fact, big countries have a bigger stake in multilateral cooperation, because they usually have more expansive interests around the world, from investment to trade, from protection of nationals to public security. And they need to behave in a way that befits their status.

相对于小国而言,大国的利益遍布世界,从投资到贸易,从侨民保护到公共安全,大国参与多边合作的重要性、紧迫性更加突出。

 

Instead of putting their own interests above those of others, they should care for the common interests of all. Instead of carving out spheres of influence, they should work for an open world. Instead of provoking confrontation, they should take the lead in maintaining world peace and stability.

大国要有大国的担当,不应搞本国优先,而是要维护好各国的共同利益;不应热衷于划分势力范围,而是应努力保持世界的开放性;不应相互对抗拆台,而是要携手维护世界的和平稳定。

 

How can multilateralism be strengthened?

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First, there must be trust. The trust deficit is the biggest crisis. Trust, especially trust between major countries, is the foundation of effective cooperation and a prerequisite of coordinated action. This virus is terrible. Yet, what is more terrible is a political virus, such as a Cold War mentality or a zero-sum game, which harms everyone.

加强多边主义需要增进信任。信任赤字是最大的危机。信任,特别是大国间的信任,是有效合作的基础,是协调行动的前提。冷战思维、零和游戏是更为可怕的“政治病毒”,害人又害己。

 

Trust is built on mutual respect. China respects and learns from Western countries to work for shared prosperity. Western countries, for their part, need to respect the choices of the Chinese people and welcome the progress of a major country in the East, one with a different system from theirs.

信任的基础是相互尊重。中国尊重西方国家并向其学习,努力实现共同繁荣。西方国家也应尊重中国人民的选择,接受和欢迎一个与西方制度不同的东方大国的发展振兴。

 

Second, there must be responsibility. Global governance requires concerted efforts and, more importantly, efforts by major countries. Just as citizens pay their taxes, so countries pay their dues, or at least they should do. Withdrawing from multilateral organisations or tearing up international agreements undermines cooperation among countries, and will eventually hurt one’s own interests.

加强多边主义需要体现责任。全球治理需要群策群力,更需要大国支持。如同公民需要交税一样,各国最起码的责任是及时缴纳会费。退出多边机构、撕毁国际协议,危害国际合作,终将伤及自身。

 

Responsibility means acknowledging problems and finding solutions. Shifting the blame is like asking others to take pills for one’s own illness. It will not solve the problem, but only hurt others.

责任意味着正视问题并解决问题。转嫁责任好比自己生病却迫使他人吃药,不仅解决不了自身问题,还会伤及他人。

 

Third, there must be equality. Developing countries constitute the vast majority of the UN membership, and their rights should be fully guaranteed in global governance. Only when all parties engage on an equal footing will multilateral mechanisms have vigour and synergy, and succeed in maintaining international fairness and justice.

加强多边主义需要维护平等。联合国会员国绝大多数为发展中国家,它们在全球治理体系中的权利应得到充分保障。各方平等参与,多边机制才有活力,才能形成合力,才能维护国际公平正义。

 

Achieving equality requires strong determination and sustained efforts. In this regard, China’s Belt and Road Initiative follows the principle of consulting together, building together and sharing together, which is a true demonstration of equality of all.

实现平等需要强大决心和久久为功。中国提出的“一带一路”倡议遵循共商、共建、共享原则,是平等原则的真实写照。

 

Fourth, there must be benefits for all. The biggest advantage of multilateral cooperation is that resources and strength can be mobilised to the greatest extent in joint responses to global challenges. This will benefit more countries, especially vulnerable ones, and ensure no one is left behind.

加强多边主义需要谋求共赢。多边合作的最大好处,是面对全球性挑战时,我们可以最大限度地调集力量和资源共同应对,并产生最广泛共赢效应,特别是让脆弱国家得到帮助,不让任何人掉队。

 

In combating Covid-19, solidarity for the mutual benefit of all is even more important. All countries should cherish the assistance received and try to help others. China is proud to have provided medical supplies to over 140 countries and international organisations, and will continue to help.

在抗击新冠肺炎的过程中,团结促共赢尤为重要。各国应珍视所获援助并尽力帮助他国。中国已向140多个国家和国际组织提供医疗物资,并将继续提供力所能及的帮助。

 

We live in one world and have a shared future. Covid-19 will not be the last pandemic we have to face. Stronger and better multilateral cooperation is key to winning the battle, all the time. Now more than ever, it is a lesson that we cannot afford to ignore. Supporting multilateralism is supporting ourselves.

我们生活在同一个世界,命运与共。新冠肺炎疫情绝不是人类前进路上的最后一次疫情,但不断强化和完善的多边合作却是人类战胜每一次疫情的关键一招。拒绝多边主义,是我们无法再次承受的教训。支持多边主义,就是帮助我们自己。