对历史、对人民、对世界负责， 推动中美关系继往开来再出发

Act with a sense of responsibility for history, the people and the world And usher in a brighter future for China-U.S. relations

——谢锋大使在纪念中美建交45周年暨新春招待会上的致辞

— Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Xie Feng at the Reception Celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between China and the United States and the 2024 Chinese New Year

尊敬的美国白宫国家禁毒政策办公室主任古普塔，

美国商务部副部长拉戈，

美国助理国务卿康达，

美国白宫国安会中国事务高级主任贝莎兰，

美中贸易全国委员会会长艾伦，

美中关系全国委员会会长欧伦斯，

国际特殊奥林匹克委员会主席施莱佛，

国际货币基金组织副总裁李波,

世界银行常务副行长杨少林，

各国驻美使节，各位在美同胞，各位嘉宾，

女士们、先生们、朋友们：

Director Rahul Gupta,

Under Secretary Marisa Lago,

Assistant Secretary Daniel Kritenbrink,

Senior Director Sarah Beran,

President Craig Allen,

President Stephen Orlins,

Chairman Timothy Shriver,

Secretary General Luis Almagro,

Deputy Managing Director Li Bo,

Managing Director Yang Shaolin,

Distinguished Diplomatic Envoys,

Fellow Compatriots,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

晚上好！在这辞旧迎新的美好时刻，欢迎大家出席纪念中美建交45周年暨新春招待会，重温建交初心，欢度中国春节。

Good evening, and a warm welcome to all of you! It is a great pleasure to get together to mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations, look back at the extraordinary journey we have travelled, and pre-celebrate the 2024 Chinese New Year.

刚才我们一起回顾了中美关系的历史瞬间，中美“破冰”的创举、“乒乓外交”的佳话动人心弦，一次次跨越太平洋的握手、一个个人民友好的故事永载史册。我有幸参与了其中不少经典时刻。2000年第一次来美常驻经历了中美携手反恐，2008年第二次来美工作经历了中美合力应对国际金融危机，去年5月第三次来美履新又经历了中美关系重返巴厘岛、通往旧金山。期间，我也收获了新老朋友的友谊和支持。

Just now, we took a stroll down the past, and revisited many historical moments in the China-U.S. relationship. The ice-breaking trip and ping-pong diplomacy have gone down in history, and all those handshakes across the Pacific and stories of peoples’ goodwill continue to inspire us till this very day.

I am fortunate to have personally participated in many of these moments. When I was first posted to the United States in 2000, I witnessed how our two countries worked together to combat terrorism. During my second posting here from 2008 to 2010, our two countries stepped up to the plate and jointly tackled the global financial crisis. And since my arrival in the United States in May last year, the two sides have managed to return to Bali and move toward San Francisco. Over all these years, I have made friends old and new and benefited from your support.

新年伊始，习近平主席和拜登总统就中美建交45周年互致贺信，高度重视中美建交的历史性意义，高度评价中美关系取得的历史性成就，高度期待继续稳定和发展中美关系。习近平主席指出，中美关系历经风雨，总体向前发展，不仅增进了两国人民的福祉，也促进了世界的和平、稳定和繁荣。拜登总统表示，期待在前任们以及我们多次会晤和讨论取得进展的基础上，继续推进美中关系。中美关系大厦的一砖一瓦凝聚着两国几代人的心血。我提议，让我们向中美历任领导人致以崇高敬意! 向长期关心支持中美关系发展的各界人士表示衷心感谢！今天，很高兴布林肯国务卿专门向中美建交45周年致贺，芮效俭、普理赫、雷德、洪博培、骆家辉、博卡斯、布兰斯塔德大使发来致辞，让我们以热烈的掌声向他们致意！

On the very first day of this year, President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden exchanged congratulatory letters on the 45th anniversary of the establishment of our bilateral relations. The two heads of state attached great importance to the historic significance of the event, spoke highly of the achievements in China-U.S. relations over the past 45 years, and expressed readiness to continue to stabilize and develop the relationship. President Xi noted that despite the ups and downs, the China-U.S. relationship has on the whole moved forward, which has not only enhanced the well-being of the two peoples, but also promoted world peace, stability and prosperity. President Biden said he looks forward to continuing to advance the U.S.-China relationship based on the progress made by the predecessors as well as the progress he and President Xi have made at their meetings and discussions on multiple occasions.

The mansion of the China-U.S. relationship has been built up brick by brick by generations of people in both countries. I would like to propose that we first pay tribute to successive leaders of both countries, and express our heartfelt thanks to all those who have long cared for and supported the development of this relationship!

We are very glad that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has sent us a congratulatory message today on the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. Also, former U.S. Ambassadors to China, J. Stapleton Roy, Joseph Prueher, Clark T. Randt, Jon Huntsman, Gary Locke, Max Baucus and Terry Branstad, have graciously sent us messages on this special occasion. Let's salute them with a warm round of applause!

各位朋友，

Dear friends,

过去45年，是中美关系风雨兼程、砥砺前行的45年，也是中美关系造福两国、惠及世界的45年，蕴含的历史经验应该认真汲取。

Over the past 45 years, the China-U.S. relationship has kept forging ahead amid twists and turns, to the benefit of both countries and the world. We believe there are several important inspirations:

首先，中美不打交道行不通，对话合作、互利共赢是目标方向。中美关系已经成为世界上最重要的双边关系，没有之一，两国合作领域之广、利益交融之深、辐射影响之大前所未有。仅对华出口就为美创造了100多万个就业岗位，7万多家美国企业在华投资兴业，年利润超过500亿美元。中美最早签署的《中美科技合作协定》推动两国在基础研究、公共卫生、能源环保、农业科技等数十个领域开展高水平、多层次合作，不仅使双方获益，而且造福全人类。作为世界上最大的发展中国家和最大的发达国家，中美脱钩是不可能的、也不会有赢家，两国人民的意愿是合作、合作的动力是共赢。

First, for China and the United States, turning our back on each other is not an option. Dialogue and win-win cooperation should be our common goal. The China-U.S. relationship has grown into THE most important bilateral relationship in the world. We are cooperating in more areas than ever, with unprecedentedly intertwined interests and far-reaching influence. Exports to China alone support more than 1 million jobs in the United States. Over 70,000 American companies are doing business in China, earning a profit of 50 billion US dollars annually. Under the China-U.S. agreement on cooperation in science and technology, one of the earliest agreements signed between the two governments, we have conducted high-standard, multi-tiered cooperation in dozens of areas including basic research, public health, energy, environmental protection and agricultural science. Such cooperation has benefited not only both countries but also the entire humanity.

China is the largest developing country, and the United States the largest developed country. Decoupling between us will not work, and will produce no winner. Both our peoples want cooperation, and our cooperation is driven by win-win outcomes.

第二，想改造对方不切实际，相互尊重、求同存异是基本前提。中美之所以能打破冷战坚冰彼此走近，最根本的一条就是搁置意识形态差异，坚持相互尊重、求同存异的原则。2000多年前孔子讲，君子和而不同。美国朋友也常说，尊重不同意见。中国既不会成为美国，也无意挑战或取代美国，更不会干涉美国内政，而愿意同美国做伙伴、做朋友。希望美方尊重中国的发展道路，尊重中国的核心利益，尊重中国人民追求美好生活的权利。

Second, it is unrealistic for one side to try to remodel the other. Respecting each other and seeking common ground while reserving differences is the prerequisite. The fundamental reason why China and the United States managed to break the ice and come together was because the two sides shelved ideological differences, showed mutual respect and found common ground. Over 2,000 years ago, Confucius said, “A noble man seeks harmony without uniformity”. American friends also frequently talk about “agreeing to disagree”. China will not become another United States. We have no intention to challenge the United States or to unseat it, still less will we interfere with U.S. internal affairs. China is ready to be a partner and friend of the United States. Likewise, we hope the United States will also respect China’s development path and core interests, and respect the right of the Chinese people to pursue a better life.

第三，冲突对抗谁都无法承受，和平共处、管控分歧是底线原则。从基辛格访华到中美建交时隔7年多，症结在台湾问题，关键是“断交、撤军、废约”。中美建交公报白纸黑字明确指出，美利坚合众国承认中华人民共和国政府是中国的唯一合法政府。在此范围内，美国人民将同台湾人民保持文化、商务和其他非官方关系。美国政府承认只有一个中国，台湾是中国的一部分。今天，台湾问题仍然是中美关系中最重要、最敏感、最具爆炸性的问题，台海局势不稳，中美关系难安。几天前，台湾举行了地区选举。不论台湾岛内局势怎样变化，都不可能改变世界上只有一个中国、台湾是中国一部分的基本事实，不可能改变国际社会坚持一个中国原则的普遍共识，不可能改变中国终将实现统一、台湾游子必将回到祖国怀抱的历史大势。维护台海和平稳定最符合中美双方利益，中美三个联合公报是最重要“护栏”，遏制“台独”这个祸根乱源是最紧迫任务。

Third, conflict and confrontation has unbearable consequences for both sides. Coexisting in peace and managing differences is the basic principle. It took another seven years after Dr. Henry Kissinger’s visit to China for our two countries to establish diplomatic relations. The crux was the Taiwan question, and the key was whether the United States would pledge to sever so-called “diplomatic relations” with Taiwan, withdraw U.S. forces from the island, and abrogate their so-called “mutual defense treaty”. It is stated in black and white in the Communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations that “The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.” “The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.”

Today, The Taiwan question remains the most important, sensitive and explosive question in China-U.S. relations. Without stability across the Taiwan Strait, the China-U.S. relationship would be on shaky ground.

The Taiwan region held elections a few days ago. No matter how the situation on the island may unfold, it will not change the fact that there is but one China in the world and that Taiwan is part of China; it will not change the prevailing consensus among the international community on the one-China principle; nor will it change the historical trend that China WILL realize reunification and Taiwan WILL return to its motherland.

Maintaining peace and stability across the Strait serves the best interests of both China and the United States. To achieve this, the most important guardrails are the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and the most pressing task is to curb the “Taiwan independence” forces, which pose the fundamental menace to peace and stability in the Strait.

各位朋友，

Dear friends,

中美关系的昨天已经成为国际关系浓墨重彩的篇章，中美关系的明天有待两国人民接续书写。2个月前，中美元首在旧金山举行历史性会晤，开辟了面向未来的“旧金山愿景”，为中美探寻新时期正确相处之道指明了方向。习近平主席指出，中美要共同树立正确认知，共同有效管控分歧，共同推进互利合作，共同承担大国责任，共同促进人文交流，为中美关系稳定发展浇筑起五根支柱。中美关系又一次站在新的历史起点上，既迎来难得机遇，也面临复杂挑战。我们要不忘初心，顺应大势，以历史经验为鉴、人类前途为怀、人民福祉为念，推动中美关系继往开来再出发。

The China-U.S. relationship over the past 45 years has left an indelible chapter in international relations, and the hope of its future lies in our two peoples. Two months ago, President Xi and President Biden held a historic summit meeting in San Francisco, which fostered a future-oriented San Francisco vision, and charted the course for exploring the right way to get along in the new era. President Xi pointed out that China and the United States should jointly develop a right perception toward each other, jointly manage disagreements effectively, jointly advance mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly shoulder responsibilities as major countries, and jointly promote people-to-people exchanges. These are the five pillars for the stable development of China-U.S. relations.

The China-U.S. relationship is again at a new historical starting point. We are facing both rare opportunities and complex challenges. We need to stay committed to our original aspirations, follow the trend of history, use the past as a guide, and bear in mind the future of humanity and the well-being of the people, so as to usher in a brighter future together.

要对历史负责，把握中美关系正确方向。中美建交45年给两国和世界带来巨大和平红利、稳定红利、发展红利，今天中美关系的战略意义和全球影响更加突出。双方要汲取历史智慧，坚持从战略高度和长远角度把握中美关系，为两国关系下一个45年行稳致远作出正确战略判断。当务之急是跟进落实两国元首旧金山会晤重要共识，让“旧金山愿景” 照进现实，以实际行动推动中美关系稳定、健康、可持续发展。双方也要吸取历史教训，警惕冷战的铁幕再次落下、麦卡锡主义的幽灵复活、奥本海默的悲剧重演，反对将国家安全夸大化、经贸科技政治化、人文交流妖魔化、相互依存武器化。

It is important to act with a sense of responsibility for history, and keep to the right direction of China-U.S. relations. Over the past 45 years, this relationship has brought tremendous benefits of peace, stability and development to both countries and the world. Today, the relationship has greater strategic significance and global influence than ever. The two sides need to draw inspiration from history, view the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective, and make right decisions to ensure sustained growth of the relationship in the next 45 years.

The top priority now is to follow up on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, turn the San Francisco vision into reality, and promote the sound, stable and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations with concrete actions.

The two sides also need to learn lessons from history, stay vigilant against a new “Cold War”, the resurgence of McCarthyism and the repetition of the Oppenheimer-era tragedy. We need to oppose attempts to overstretch the concept of national security, politicize economic and scientific issues, demonize people-to-people exchanges, or weaponize our interdependence.

要对人民负责，多做造福人民的好事实事。从一点一滴做起，从人民急难愁盼的事情做起，把更多时间精力用在扩大深化合作上，给两国老百姓带来更多获得感、幸福感。中方对芬太尼对美国人民的毒害感同身受，在美方撤销对中方实体制裁后，推进芬太尼类物质及其前体化学品专项治理行动，并同美方商谈成立禁毒合作工作组。我们积极落实习近平主席提出的 “未来5年邀请5万名美青少年赴华交流学习”倡议，希望更多美青少年访问中国、抓住机遇、拥抱未来，希望两国青年一代学习彼此语言、成为朋友和伙伴。双方要继续加强禁毒、执法、经贸、农业、公共卫生等领域合作，携手攻克癌症、阿尔茨海默病等困扰人类的顽疾；开拓数字经济、低碳发展等新赛道新动能，为两国企业提供公平的竞技场，把互利合作的蛋糕做得更大；进一步破解“机票难”“签证难”“入境难”等人文交流堵点，架起更多人民相知相亲的桥梁。

It is important to act with a sense of responsibility for the people, and do more things that will bring them tangible benefits. The two sides need to start with concrete steps, solve the most pressing problems for the people, and focus more on expanding and deepening cooperation, so that our peoples can have a strong sense of fulfillment and happiness. China feels for the American people who have suffered from the scourge of fentanyl. After the U.S. side lifted sanctions on relevant Chinese authorities, we have been conducting campaigns against fentanyl and its precursor chemicals, and discussing with the U.S. side the establishment of a working group on counternarcotics cooperation.

We have been actively implementing President Xi’s initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years, and we encourage more young Americans to visit China, seize the opportunities and embrace the future. It is our sincere hope that the younger generation of our two countries will learn each other’s language, and become friends and partners.

The two sides need to enhance cooperation in law enforcement, economy and trade, agriculture, public health and other areas, and jointly combat diseases that have long plagued humanity such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. We need to open up new arenas of cooperation and foster new growth drivers in digital economy and low-carbon development, level the playing field for each other’s enterprises, and make the pie of mutually beneficial cooperation bigger. We also need to further remove obstacles to people-to-people exchanges in flights, visa policy and border entry, so as to build more bridges of mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples.

要对世界负责，提供更多稳定性确定性。当今世界很不太平， 但人类发展进步的大方向不会变，世界历史曲折前进的大逻辑不会变，国际社会命运与共的大趋势不会变。地球容得下中美各自发展、共同繁荣，世界的和平、稳定与发展离不开中美合作。我们要站在人类命运和地球未来的高度谋划中美关系，超越你输我赢的零和博弈，追求计利天下的双向奔赴，就应对巴以冲突、乌克兰危机及气候变化、人工智能等全球性挑战加强沟通协作，提供更多有利于世界和平发展的公共产品。在你追我赶、公平竞争中，比一比谁能把自己的国家治理得更好，赛一赛谁能为这个世界作出更多贡献，拼一拼谁能为各国人民增添更多福祉。

It is also important to act with a sense of responsibility for the world, and provide more stability and certainty. The world today is far from tranquil. But the overall direction of human development and progress will not change, the overall dynamics of world history moving forward amid twists and turns will not change, and the overall trend toward a shared future for the international community will not change. The Earth is big enough for China and the United States to develop respectively and prosper together, and the world could not achieve peace, stability and development without our two countries working together.

We need to envision our relationship with the future of humanity and the Earth in mind, rise above the zero-sum mentality, and move in the same direction to make the world a better place. We need to strengthen communication and coordination on hotspots like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Ukraine crisis as well as global challenges such as climate change and artificial intelligence, and provide more public goods conducive to world peace and development. Let’s have a race to the top, and compete to do a better job in running our country, contribute more to the world, and deliver more benefits to peoples around the globe.

各位朋友，

Dear friends,

中国农历兔年即将过去。过去一年，世界看到一个充满活力的中国，疫情防控平稳转段，经济持续回升向好，经济总量超过126万亿元，假日旅游人潮涌动，人民生活水平不断改善；看到一个拥抱世界的中国，进博会、消博会、链博会盛况空前，成都大运会、杭州亚运会精彩纷呈，高水平对外开放持续扩大；看到一个绿色发展的中国，低碳生活渐成风尚，全球光伏发电装机容量接近一半在中国，全球新能源汽车一半以上行驶在中国；看到一个担当尽责的中国，推动沙特伊朗握手言和，在乌克兰危机中积极劝和促谈，在巴以冲突中呼吁停火止战，中国—中亚峰会、第三届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛成功召开。

We will soon bid farewell to the lunar Year of Rabbit. Over the past year, the world saw a China brimming with vigor. We achieved a smooth transition in our Covid-19 response efforts. The Chinese economy has sustained the momentum of recovery, with the total output estimated to have exceeded 126 trillion yuan (about 18 trillion US dollars). Tourist destinations teemed with visitors on holidays, and life is getting better and better.

The world saw a China embracing the world. China International Import Expo, China International Consumer Products Expo and China International Supply Chain Expo all attracted enthusiastic participation. The Chengdu FISU World University Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games presented spectacular sports scenes. New progress has also been made in expanding high-standard opening-up.

The world saw a China pursuing green development. More people are embracing low-carbon lifestyles. China now has close to half of the world’s installed photovoltaic capacity, and over half of the world’s new energy vehicles are running on roads in China.

The world also saw a China living up to its responsibilities. We facilitated the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, promoted talks for peace in the Ukraine crisis, and called for ending the fighting on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We also successfully held the China-Central Asia Summit and the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

不久前，我回北京参加了中央外事工作会议。习近平主席对新时代中国特色大国外交作出全面总结，对今后一个时期对外工作进行全面部署。新的一年，我们将继续以高质量发展推进中国式现代化，以高水平开放促进各国共同发展，坚持自信自立、开放包容、公道正义、合作共赢的方针原则，围绕推动构建人类命运共同体这条主线，坚定维护国家主权、安全、发展利益，巩固拓展全球伙伴关系网络，推动各国携手应对挑战、实现共同繁荣，推动世界走向和平、安全、繁荣、进步的光明前景。

Last month, I traveled back to Beijing to attend the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs. President Xi presented a systematic review of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and made comprehensive plans for China’s external work going forward. In the new year, we will continue to advance Chinese modernization through high-quality development, and promote common development for all through high-standard opening-up. We will commit to self-confidence and self-reliance, openness and inclusiveness, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation, and focus on the theme of building a community with a shared future for mankind. We will firmly safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests, consolidate and expand our global network of partnerships, bring countries together to meet challenges and achieve prosperity for all, and usher in a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world.

中国农历龙年新春将至。龙代表着吉祥、兴旺和力量，蕴含着风调雨顺、五谷丰登的良好祝愿。人勤春来早，期待世界少一些“龙争虎斗”，多一些“龙腾虎跃”，更需要我们展现“龙马精神”，积极行动起来，投身中美友好事业。让我们把稳手中舵盘，高扬对话合作风帆，推动中美关系这艘巨轮不偏航、不失速、不碰撞，沿着正确的航道乘风破浪、一路向前。

The upcoming lunar year will be the Year of Dragon. Dragon symbolizes good luck, prosperity and strength, and carries wishes for a smooth year with good weather and a bumper harvest. As a Chinese proverb goes, “Spring comes early if people work hard enough.” We hope the world will see less rivalry but more goodwill, less “fuming dragon, roaring tiger”, but more “soaring dragon, leaping tiger”. More importantly, we need to act with the vitality of dragon and earnestly foster China-U.S. friendship. Let’s keep the steering wheel steady, hoist the sail of dialogue and cooperation, navigate the giant ship of China-U.S. relations without getting disoriented, losing speed or even having a collision, and continue to break waves and forge ahead along the right course.

现在，我提议：

为中美建交45周年，

为中美两国人民的友谊，

为即将到来的新春佳节，

为在座各位朋友的健康、快乐和幸福，

干杯！

Now, I would like to propose a toast,

To the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations,

To the friendship between the peoples of China and the United States,

To the upcoming Spring Festival,

And to the health and happiness of all friends here and your loved ones,

Cheers!