編者按：當地時間1月18日上午，由卡特中心、中國人民對外友好協會和中國社科院主辦，中國人民大學重陽金融研究院等多家智庫聯合協辦的中美關係高層研討會在美國亞特蘭大卡特中心召開。中國駐美大使崔天凱出席當天上午的討論會並發表演講。人大重陽將演講內容中英文獨家刊發如下：
尊敬的吉米卡特總統，
尊敬的李小林女士，
女士們，先生們，
首先，請允許我向卡特總統、卡特中心、中國人民對外友好協會和中國社科院美國研究所表達誠摯謝意，感謝你們為紀念中美建交40周年國際研討會所做努力。同時，我也要感謝所有來賓為中美關係發展做出重要貢獻。
40年前，中國和美國建立外交關係。幾乎是同一時期，中國開啟了改革開放進程。過去40年裡，兩國和兩國關係都實現了跨越式發展，為兩國人民乃至世界各國人民帶來巨大福利。正如卡特總統近日在《華盛頓郵報》上撰文指出，「40年的中美關係充分證明，擁有不同歷史、文化和政治體制的國家能夠為了更大福祉而攜手共進。
孔子有句名言，「四十而不惑。」然而，在我們紀念40周年時，也必須看到對中美關係仍存在一些非理性質疑和謬見。
一個錯誤觀點認為，美國過去四十年的對華政策失敗了，因為中國沒有複製美國的政治和經濟體制模式。很明顯，持這種觀點的人完全不了解兩國為何建交，不是為了以一國模式重塑另一國，不是為了消除兩國之間所有不同。至少，中國從未有過任何改造美國的想法，而迄今為止，也沒有任何一屆美國政府將改變中國社會體制、發展道路或意識形態正式作為其政策目標。40年前，是共同利益和責任讓我們走到一起;今天，也依然是共同利益和責任讓中美關係繼續向前拓展。
另一種謬見是，中國一直在佔美國的便宜。事實上，中美關係一直都是互利共贏的。例如，中美貿易總額從1979年的不到25億美元增長至去年的6335億美元。據中國美國商會最新統計，其74%的成員企業計劃擴大在華投資。顯然，我認為，如果在中國無利可圖，沒有哪個理智的美國商人會繼續在中國做生意;而如果只有一方佔另一方便宜，中美經貿關係也不可能發展至今天的深度和廣度。
如果這還不足為證，請看下面這些數字：美國GDP從40年前的2.63萬億美元劇增至2017年的19.36萬億美元，而2017年中國的GDP是12.2萬億美元。也就是說，美國這些年經濟發展的增量比中國一年的GDP總量還要多。沒有證據表明美國在中美關係中是輸家，我們之間完全是互利共贏。
事實上，不僅我們兩國，整個亞太地區和全世界都從中美關係中受益良多。過去40年來，亞太地區更加穩定，和平前景更加光明，並且成為世界經濟增長的引擎。在中美兩國通力合作下，國際社會克服了2008年國際金融危機，並在推進全球經濟治理方面取得進步。
事實證明，合作符合兩國利益，合作是雙方最好的選擇。因此，我們不應被謬見所誤導，我們需要的是客觀評價過去，清醒認識現在，堅定面向未來。
女士們，先生們，
世界正在經歷百年未有之大變局。兩國人民和世界各國人民期待我們為人類共同利益做出更大貢獻，現在比以往任何時候都更需中美攜手共進。鑑此，我們有必要為未來40年甚至更長遠時期的中美關係樹立清晰框架。在去年12月1日阿根廷中美元首會晤上，習近平主席和川普總統達成共識，要共同推進以協調、合作和穩定為基調的中美關係。這為兩國關係的未來發展指明了方向。
—我們要加強協調，增進互信，避免戰略誤判。
兩國關係和兩國人民的交往在過去40年裡取得長足發展。但兩國仍亟需加強相互了解，尤其是對彼此戰略意圖的了解。誤解誤讀造成的誤判可能會帶來前所未有的嚴重後果。
由於中國被視為「新興大國」，而美國則是與之相對的「守成大國」，很多誤解及毫無根據的憂慮由此產生。這很大程度上源於對中國歷史和文化缺乏了解。如果人們對中華文明過去幾千年以及近來兩個世紀的歷史有更多了解，如果人們對中華人民共和國建國70年和改革開放40年來的奮鬥目標有更多了解，他們就能更好體會為什麼中國要推進現代化，實現中華民族的偉大復興，為什麼中國堅信改革開放是取得成功的關鍵，以及為什麼中國致力於自身和平發展，並將與世界各國一道共同構建人類命運共同體。
雙方之間進行更有效的溝通和協調，就能夠加強相互理解和信任。做到這一點，誤判的可能性就將大大降低。當然，一些自封的戰略家可能仍然拒絕面對現實，他們可能仍然要向世界兜售各種陰謀論，這也許是因為他們自己就是真正的陰謀家。
—我們要加強合作，擴大共同利益，避免惡性爭鬥。
在肯定過去40年成就的同時，我們也要看到，雙方合作還有很長的路要走，還有很大潛力可挖。我們的合作依然會存在問題，但解決問題的最好方式是進一步加強合作，而非斷絕來往，搞所謂的「脫鉤」。目前，雙方經貿團隊正按照兩國元首達成的共識，加緊磋商，我們期待早日聽到他們的好消息。
近來，人們審視中美關係時常常談及「競爭」這一概念。在中文和英文中，「競爭」本來不是一個壞詞，但現在有人對其進行了過度解讀。他們認為任何競爭都是有戰略性的，只能導致零和結果，他們認為競爭者從概念上講就是對手、敵手，任何競爭都有預定贏家，而贏家則要通吃。這是對公平競爭精神的嚴重扭曲，在中美關係中應當堅決摒棄。
—我們要相互尊重，妥處分歧，保持中美關係穩定。
我們應尊重彼此自主選擇的社會體制和發展道路，尊重對方核心利益和關切。其中，臺灣問題是中美關係中最重要、最敏感的問題。一個中國政策和中美三個聯合公報的基本原則依然是兩國關係的政治基礎。在《告臺灣同胞書》發表40周年紀念會上的重要講話中，習近平主席重申了中國實現國家統一、反對任何外來幹涉的堅定決心。毫無疑問，中美關係未來能否保持穩定將取決於這條紅線能否得到遵守。
維護中美關係穩定，還要求我們在處理這一全面、複雜的雙邊關係時保持定力。我們任何時候都不能迷失實現世界和平與繁榮這一更大目標，都應以兩國人民長遠利益為重，都要避免受到狹隘的「政治正確」幹擾。崇高的事業從來不靠煽動和散布仇恨來推進，大國的外交政策從來不應該由恐懼和懷疑來驅動。歷史已經證明，任何類似企圖最終都不可能得逞。
女士們，先生們，
改革開放初期，鄧小平先生提出要解放思想，實事求是。我認為，他的號召也適用於今天的中美關係。我們又一次站在了歷史的十字路口，肩上挑著的是實現中美關係健康穩定發展的重任。如果我們將過去40年比作一場考試，我們已經向兩國人民和世界交出了高分答卷。現在，面對中美關係未來發展的又一次考試，我們更需解放思想，實事求是，讓我們共同努力，爭取在考試中再創佳績!
謝謝大家!
Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai at the International Symposium to Commemorate the 40thAnniversary ofEstablishment of China-US Diplomatic Relations
Atlanta, January 18, 2019
President Jimmy Carter,
Madam Li Xiaolin,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me start by thanking President Carter, the Carter Center, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, for organizing this Symposium to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China-US diplomatic relations. My sincere thanks also go to all participants here for your precious contribution to the development of the relations.
Forty years ago, China and the US established diplomatic ties. Almost in the same period, China launched its reform and opening-up. Over the past 40 years, both countries and our relations have developed by leaps and bounds, delivering huge benefits to the people of our two countries and the whole world. Just as President Carter wrote in his recent article in the Washington Post: 「The 40th anniversary of this relationship is a testament to the ability of countries with different histories, cultures and political systems to work together for the greater good. 」
As Confucius famously said and is quoted on many occasions, 「At forty I had no doubts」. However, while we are commemorating the 40th anniversary, we cannot but notice some irrational doubts and myths about our relations.
One myth claims that the US policy toward China in the last forty years has failed, as China has not copied the American model in its political and economic systems. Obviously, people holding this view have no idea why we established diplomatic relations in the first place. It is not to remodel one side after the other; it is not to remove all distinctions between our two countries. At least China never has the slightest idea of transforming the US, and not a single US administration so far has formally taken changing China’s social system, development path or ideology as its official policy. Forty years ago it was our common interests and responsibilities that brought us together, and it is still the same that have enabled our relationship to continue to grow and expand today.
Another myth is that China has been taking advantage of the US. In fact, China-US relations have always been mutually beneficial. Our trade volume, for instance, has grown from less than 2.5 billion dollars in 1979 to 633.5billion dollars last year. According to the latest report by AmCham China, 74% of its member companies plan to expand their investment in China. I don’t think any sensible American businessmen will keep their presence in China if there is nothing for them to gain. And I don’t think our business relations could have developed to such depths and breadths with only one side ripping off the other.
If this is not enough, please look at these figures: America’s GDP soared from 2.63 trillion dollars 40 years ago to 19.36 trillion dollars in 2017, while China’s GDP in 2017 was 12.2 trillion dollars. It means that the US economy has grown over the years by a greater increment than the total annual GDP of China. There is no evidence that the US is on the losing side in its relations with China; what we have is nothing but a win-win scenario.
In fact, not only our two countries, but the entire region and the world have benefited enormously from our ties. Over the past 40 years, the Asia-Pacific has enjoyed greater stability and better prospects for peace and is now a powerhouse of the world economic growth. Largely thanks to the cooperation of our two countries, the international community has not only overcome the 2008 international financial crisis, but also made good progress in improving global economic governance.
Facts have proved that cooperation is in the interests of both countries. We have no better option than cooperation. Therefore, we should not be misled by those ill-founded myths. What we need is an objective perspective of where we were from, a keen idea of where we stand and a clear faith in where we are going.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The world is undergoing tremendous changes. The people of our two countries and the whole world are looking to us to do more for the shared interests of mankind, and it has never been so important for China and the US to work together. In light of this, it is necessary for us to foster a clear framework for our relations of the next 40 years or even longer. At their meeting in Argentina on December 1st last year, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump agreed to pursue a China-US relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability. This has charted the course for the future development of our relations.
—We need to strengthen coordination so as to enhance mutual trust and avoid strategic miscalculations.
Ties between our two countries and two peoples have grown extensively over the last four decades. Yet there is still pressing need for better mutual understanding between us, especially with regard to strategic intentions. And the consequences of miscalculations resulting from misunderstanding and misinterpretation could be much more serious than ever before.
As China is seen as a 「rising power」 vis-a-vis the United States as the established power, there is clearly more misunderstanding and thus unfounded worries about China. Much of this is due to the lack of understanding of China’s history and culture. If people learn more about the history of the Chinese civilization, both over thousands of years and in the last two centuries, if they learn more about what the People’s Republic has striven for, in the 40 years of reform and opening-up as well as in the entire period of 70 years since its founding, they will have a much better understanding of why China is seeking modernization and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, why China believes that the key to its success is reform and opening-up and why China is committed to peaceful development of itself and joint efforts with other countries for a community of nations with a shared future.
Such understanding and trust can be achieved through more effective communication and coordination. When this is done, the possibilities of miscalculation will be greatly reduced. Of course some self-claimed strategists may still refuse to face the realities. They may still try to sell conspiracy theories of various kinds to the world, perhaps because they themselves are true conspirators.
—We need to promote cooperation so as to expand common interests and avoid vicious rivalry.
Having applauded what we have achieved over the past four decades, we need to recognize that we still have a long way to go and so much potential to tap in our cooperation. We will continue to have problems between us. But the best solution to problems is through even closer cooperation rather than disengagement or the so-called 「decoupling」. Now the two sides are working together on the economic and trade consultations in accordance with the agreement of the two presidents. We look forward to hearing goods news from them.
The concept of competition is much talked about nowadays as people examine the relationship. Originally 「competition」 is not a bad word in both the Chinese and English languages. But now too much has been read into it. Some people believe that any competition is of strategic nature and can only be a zero-sum game, that competitors are by definition rivals and adversaries and that there should be a predetermined winner in competition and that winner shall take all. This is a gross distortion of the spirit of fair competition and should be firmly rejected in our relations.
—We need to maintain stability through mutual respect and proper management of differences.
We should respect each other’s independent choice of social system and developing path, and accommodate each other’s core interests and concerns. Among those, the Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive issue for China-US relations. The one-China policy and the basic principles of the three China-US joint communiqués remain the political foundation for the bilateral relations. In his recent speech to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan, President Xi Jinping reiterated China’s determination to achieve national reunification and the opposition to any external interference. Future stability of China-US relations will no doubt hinge on how this red line is upheld.
Stability also requires steadiness in our handling of this comprehensive and complex relationship. We should never lose sight of the greater good of world peace and prosperity as our goals. We should always bear in mind the long-term interests of our two peoples. We should guard against the interference of narrowly-defined 「political correctness」. No noble cause is ever served by inciting and spreading hatred. No great power’s foreign policy should be driven by fear and suspicion. Indeed, history has proven that no such attempt could succeed in the long-run.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In the early days of reform and opening-up, Mr. Deng Xiaoping called for「emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts」. I believe that his words can also apply to today’s China-US relations. Standing at another crossroads of history, we have upon us the heavy responsibility to ensure the sound and steady growth of our relations. If we compare the past 40 years to a test, then we have delivered impressive scores to both our peoples and the world. And now in this new test we need more than ever before to 「emancipate the mind and seek truth from facts」. Let's work even harder to get another A+ on our score report.
Thank you very much.