驻英国大使郑泽光在国庆72周年线上招待会上的讲话：《砥砺奋斗 再创辉煌》

Speech by H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang at the Online Reception Celebrating the 72nd Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China: Forging ahead towards Greater Success

米林国务大臣，

英国朋友们，

在英的中国同胞，

女士们、先生们：

Minister Milling,

British friends,

Chinese compatriots in the UK,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

今年10月1日将迎来中华人民共和国成立72周年。今天，我们怀着无比喜悦的心情、带着深深的祝福，同各界朋友相聚云端，共同庆祝这一重要的节日。在这里，我谨代表驻英国使馆向各位朋友、各位同胞表示热烈的欢迎和诚挚的问候！

On October 1st, 2021, the People's Republic of China will celebrate its 72nd anniversary. Today, with great joy and best wishes, we are gathered together online to celebrate this significant occasion.

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, I'd like to extend our warm welcome and greetings to our British friends and Chinese compatriots here in the UK!

72年前，在中国共产党坚强领导下，中国人民经过长期斗争和浴血奋战，推翻了帝国主义、封建主义、官僚资本主义三座大山，实现了民族独立、人民解放，建立了人民当家作主的新中国。中国人民从此站起来了，中华民族近代100多年来任人宰割、饱受欺凌的悲惨命运彻底结束了，中华民族走上了实现伟大复兴的壮阔道路。

Seventy-two years ago, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and after courageous and arduous struggles, the Chinese people founded the New China and became masters of their own country. They toppled the "three mountains" on their backs, namely imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism, and realized national independence and liberation. They stood up on their feet and brought to an end over 100 years of sufferings at the hands of foreign powers. The Chinese nation embarked on a great journey towards rejuvenation.

这是沧桑巨变、换了人间的72年。新中国成立以来，中国共产党团结带领中国人民勇于探索、艰苦奋斗，创造了世所罕见的经济快速发展和社会长期稳定两大奇迹。中国彻底消灭了绝对贫困，全面建成了小康社会。中国经济累计实际增长约189倍；从1949年人均国民收入仅27美元，到人均国内生产总值超过1万美元；从一个落后的农业国发展为世界第二大经济体和第一制造大国。中国同世界联系空前紧密，对世界和平与发展发挥着前所未有的积极影响。实现中华民族伟大复兴进入了不可逆转的历史进程。

These 72 years have witnessed tremendous transformation in China. Since the founding of New China, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people on the road of strenuous exploration and persistent efforts which has led to the creation of two "miracles" rarely seen in the world, namely, rapid economic growth and sustained social stability.

Absolute poverty is now eliminated and a moderately prosperous society in all respects is achieved. The economy has increased by about 189 times in real terms. China has grown from a backward agricultural country into the world's second largest economy and the biggest manufacturing power. Its per capita national income was merely 27 US dollars in 1949, but now its per capita GDP exceeds 10,000 US dollars.

China's interaction with the world is closer than ever. Its contribution to world peace and development is unprecedented and positive. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is now on an irreversible course.

历史是最好的教科书。中国人民从历史中进一步认识到，没有中国共产党，就没有新中国，就没有中华民族伟大复兴；只有社会主义才能救中国，只有中国特色社会主义才能发展中国。中国人民对自己选择的道路有着强大的自信，将坚定不移地沿着这条道路走下去，不断创造新的辉煌。近日，孟晚舟女士在重获自由回到祖国时发出感慨：有五星红旗的地方，就有信念的灯塔。如果信念有颜色，那一定是中国红！她说出了每一位中国公民的心声。

History is the best textbook. What the Chinese people have learned from history is this:

Without the CPC, there would not have been New China, still less the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; Socialism is the only way to save China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only way to develop China.

The Chinese people are highly confident in the path of our own choice. We will forge ahead along this path with firm strides and achieve new and greater success.

A few days ago, after regaining freedom and returning home, Ms Meng Wanzhou said, where the Five-starred Red Flag flies, I find the beacon of faith; and if my faith has colour, it must be China red!

I believe she spoke for every Chinese citizen.

朋友们、同胞们：

Dear friends and compatriots:

当前，百年变局和世纪疫情交织叠加，各种不确定性和风险挑战增多。面对大变局，中国正以自信、坚定的姿态，昂首阔步迈上全面建成社会主义现代化强国的新征程。

At present, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Uncertainties, risks and challenges are increasing.

Amid these unprecedented changes, China is striving forward, with confidence and in firm steps, towards building a strong and modern socialist country in a comprehensive way.

这是坚持人民至上、聚焦高质量发展的中国。我们始终把人民生命安全放在首位，采取坚决有力举措率先控制住疫情蔓延，阻止变异病毒输入扩散，不断巩固来之不易的疫情防控成果。我们全面准确贯彻创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的新发展理念，加快构建以国内大循环为主体、国内国际双循环相互促进的新发展格局，坚定不移推进高质量发展。今年上半年，中国国内生产总值同比增长12.7%，对外贸易同比增长27.1%。中国经济持续稳定恢复，为国际产业链供应链稳定畅通作出了重要贡献，为全球经济复苏注入强劲动力。

This is a China that puts the people front and centre and focuses on high-quality development.

In the fight against Covid-19, we have always regarded the safety of people's lives as the top priority and taken firm and effective measures. China was the first country to control the spread of the virus, and continued working vigorously to prevent the import and spread of new variants, so as to consolidate the hard-won prevention and control achievements.

On the economic front, we are fully and accurately implementing the new development concept, i.e., innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development. This will enable us to foster a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other so as to achieve high-quality development.

In the first half of this year, China's GDP grew by 12.7% year-on-year, and its foreign trade increased by 27.1% year-on-year. The sustained and steady recovery of China's economy contributes to the stable and smooth operation of the global industrial and supply chains, and injects strong impetus into global economic recovery.

这是推动高水平开放、愿与世界分享机遇的中国。我们已经实施《外商投资法》及相关实施条例，全面实施准入前国民待遇加负面清单的管理制度。制造业已全面开放，服务业正在有序开放。全国版外资准入负面清单不断压缩。前不久，习近平主席在2021年中国国际服务贸易交易会开幕式上，进一步宣布了提高服务业开放水平等4方面新举措。我们强化了反垄断政策实施，不断完善市场化、法治化、国际化营商环境。11月5至10日，我们将举办第四届中国国际进口博览会，诚邀世界各国企业踊跃参加，共享中国大市场。中国对外开放的大门只会越开越大，水平只会不断提高。

This is a China that is opening up at a higher level and ready to share its opportunities with the world.

In China,

• The Foreign Investment Law and its implementing regulations have come into force.

• A system of "pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list" has been fully established.

• The manufacturing sector is now fully open.

• The service sector is being opened in an orderly manner.

• The number of items in the nationwide negative list has been reducing.

At the opening ceremony of the 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services on September 2nd, President Xi Jinping announced four new measures including opening up the service sector at a higher level.

China is stepping up the implementation of anti-monopoly policies and building a market-based, law-based and open business environment.

From November 5th to 10th, China will host the fourth China International Import Expo. Businesses from all countries are welcomed at the CIIE to benefit from China's enormous market.

In a word, China will only open its market wider to the world at a higher level.

这是追求公平共富、人民更加幸福的中国。实现共同富裕是中华民族几千年来追求的目标，是中国特色社会主义的本质要求和中国式现代化的重要特征。改革开放40多年来，中国已成功实现现行标准下7.7亿农村贫困人口摆脱贫困，占同期全球减贫人口70%以上，并使4亿多人口进入中等收入群体。我们坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，把缩小地区、城乡和收入差距摆到更加突出位置，已进入扎实推动全体人民共同富裕的历史阶段。同时我们指出，共同富裕不是平均主义，不能一蹴而就，也不单是物质富裕，而是人民群众物质生活和精神生活都富裕，需要脚踏实地、逐步推进、久久为功。

This is a China that promotes fairness, better life and common prosperity for the people.

Common prosperity is a goal that the Chinese nation has been pursuing for thousands of years. It is also an intrinsic feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

During 40 plus years of reform and opening up, China lifted 770 million rural residents out of poverty under the current standard. This accounts for over 70% of the world's total poverty reduction in the same period. Meanwhile, more than 400 million Chinese people joined the middle-income group.

Putting the people at the centre, China has given greater priority to closing the gaps between regions, between the urban and rural areas, and between different income groups. We have entered a historical stage to focus on achieving common prosperity for all our people.

Chinese leaders have made it clear that common prosperity is not egalitarianism. Nor is it attainable overnight. It is more than mere material wealth, but rather, it is about both material and spiritual enrichment that can be accomplished only through down-to-earth, step-by-step and sustained efforts.

这是促进世界和平、匡扶国际正义的中国。我们始终高举和平、发展、合作、共赢旗帜，奉行独立自主的和平外交政策，坚定不移走和平发展道路，推动构建新型国际关系，推动构建人类命运共同体。我们愿和世界各国一道，大力弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值，维护以联合国为核心的国际体系和以国际法为基础的国际秩序，反对霸权主义和强权政治，反对冷战思维以及搞“小圈子”等制造分裂与对抗的做法。中国将始终做世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者、公共产品的提供者。我们从来没有欺负、压迫、奴役过其他国家人民，也绝不允许任何外来势力欺负、压迫、奴役我们。遏制、围堵中国的图谋过去没有得逞，未来也注定失败。没有任何力量能够阻挡中国人民的前进步伐。

This is a China that promotes world peace and upholds international justice.

China is always holding high the banners of peace, development and win-win cooperation. It follows an independent foreign policy of peace, remains committed to peaceful development, and promotes the building of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.

China stands ready to join hands with other countries to champion the universal values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and uphold the international system with the United Nations at the core and the international order with international law as the basis. China strongly opposes hegemony and power politics, and strongly rejects Cold-War mentality, creation of coteries, and other moves that would lead to division or confrontation.

China will always be a defender of world peace, contributor to global development, upholder of international order and provider of public goods.

China has never bullied, oppressed or enslaved other nations, and will never allow any external force to bully, oppress or enslave its own people. Attempts to contain or besiege China never succeeded in the past and are doomed to fail in the future. No force can stop the Chinese people from making further progress.

这是重信守诺、负责担当的中国。我们积极支持国际社会抗击疫情、恢复经济，已向发展中国家提供了20亿美元援助，向150多个国家和13个国际组织援助抗疫物资，向100多个国家和国际组织提供超过12.5亿剂疫苗和原液，全年将努力对外提供20亿剂疫苗。我们已全面落实二十国集团“暂缓最贫困国家债务偿付倡议”，是二十国集团成员中落实缓债金额最大的国家。未来3年内我们将再提供30亿美元国际援助，用于支持发展中国家抗疫和恢复经济社会发展。中国践行人与自然和谐共生理念，加快推进绿色低碳发展，力争2030年前实现碳达峰、2060年前实现碳中和，将用比发达国家短得多的时间实现从碳达峰到碳中和，为全球实现应对气候变化《巴黎协定》确定的目标作出积极贡献。我们将大力支持发展中国家实现绿色低碳发展，不再新建境外煤电项目。再过两周，《生物多样性公约》第十五次缔约方大会第一阶段会议将在昆明举办，我们将同各方一道共商全球生物多样性保护大计。

This is a China that honours its commitments and shoulders its due responsibilities.

China has actively supported the international response to the pandemic and global economic recovery.

• China has provided two billion US dollars in aid to other developing countries,

• donated Covid control supplies to more than 150 countries and 13 international organisations,

• offered over 1.25 billion doses of finished and bulk vaccines to more than 100 countries and international organisations, and

• will strive to provide a total of two billion doses to the world by the end of this year.

On top of this, China is fully implementing the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative for Poorest Countries and has offered the highest deferral amount among the G20 members. In the coming three years, China will provide another three billion dollars in international aid to support the pandemic response and economic and social development in other developing countries.

On tackling climate change and preserving bio-diversity, China has been true to its belief that man and nature should coexist in harmony and accelerated green and low-carbon development. Our goal is to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. In other words, we will leap from carbon peak to carbon neutrality in a much shorter time than the developed countries did. This is China's positive contribution to the global efforts in realising the climate goals set in the Paris Agreement.

We will also provide strong support to other developing countries in their green and low-carbon development, including no more new coal-fired power projects abroad.

In two weeks, the first part of the CBD COP15 meeting will be held in Kunming. China is ready to engage all parties in discussions on biodiversity preservation.

朋友们、同胞们，

Dear friends and compatriots:

新中国成立72年，也见证了中英关系的历史演变。两国建交以来，中英关系虽时有起伏，但总的看取得了历史性的发展，给两国人民带来了实实在在的利益。近些年，中英关系发展势头受挫，这不符合两国人民的愿望和双方的利益。我到任三个多月来会见了不少英国各界朋友，大家一个共同的感受是，中英相互了解还不够、互信不足，合作潜力远未挖掘出来。现在到了改变这种局面的时候了。双方可从以下几方面共同作出努力：

The past 72 years has also seen how the China-UK relations evolved. Since the establishment of diplomatic relationship, the China-UK relations, despite ups and downs, has made historic progress on the whole and delivered tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.

In recent years, this relationship encountered some setbacks. This does not serve the interest of our peoples or our two countries.

In the past three months since I arrived in London, I have met with many British friends from different circles. They agree that there is a deficit in mutual understanding between our two countries. There is much misperception and not enough trust. The potential for cooperation is far from being fully tapped. Now is the time to change this situation. It is my hope that our two sides will make concerted efforts in the following aspects:

一要正确认识彼此的发展。中国始终践行和平和睦和谐理念，中国的发展不对任何国家构成威胁，而只会给各国带来共同发展的机遇。我们并没有把英国视为敌手或威胁，而是当作可以对话合作的对象。希望英方各界人士客观看待中国，超越意识形态藩篱，抵制将中国视为“制度性竞争者”甚至威胁的错误认知。这才是符合英国利益、符合两国共同利益的明智抉择。

First, have a right understanding of each other's development.

China always values peace, good neighbourliness and harmony, and it has been faithfully practicing these values. China's development poses no threat to any country. On the contrary, it creates opportunities for common development. We do not see the UK as an adversary or a threat. Quite the opposite, we regard the UK as a partner for dialogue and cooperation.

It is hoped that people in the UK would see China as it is, transcending ideological barrier and rejecting the misperception that China is a "systemic competitor" or even a threat. This is the right choice to make because it is in line with the interests of the UK and the common interests of our two countries.

二要遵循相互尊重的精神。国家不分大小、强弱、贫富一律平等，没有哪个国家生来高人一等。各国人民有权选择适合本国国情的发展道路，任何国家对此无权干涉。国与国能否发展长期稳定合作关系，取决于能否尊重彼此主权、安全、发展利益。中英之间在一些问题上存在分歧，这并不可怕。关键是要在平等和相互尊重基础上，敞开对话之门，开展坦诚对话，这样才能缩小分歧，扩大共识，积累互信。

Second, respect each other.

Countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are all equals. No country is superior to others. The people have the right to choose a development path that suits the national conditions of their own country. No other country has the right to interfere in this process. Long-term and steady cooperation between countries is determined by whether they can respect each other's sovereignty, security and development interests.

China and the UK have different views on certain issues. That is nothing to be afraid of. The key is to keep the door to communication open and engage in candid dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Only in this way can we narrow differences, expand consensus and build up mutual trust.

三要拓展交流合作。中英合作潜力巨大，前景广阔。双方应秉持互利共赢原则，拓展贸易、投资、金融、基础设施、清洁能源、绿色发展等领域务实合作，深化教育、文化、体育、旅游等领域友好交流，使两国人民更多受益。两国政府要为双方交流合作创造良好、稳定的政治环境和公平、公正、非歧视的营商环境。

Third, expand exchanges and cooperation.

China-UK cooperation enjoys enormous potential and promising prospects. Under the principle of mutual benefit, our two sides should expand cooperation in trade, investment, financial services, infrastructure, clean energy and green development, and deepen friendly exchanges in the areas of education, culture, sports and tourism. Such cooperation will bring real benefits to the peoples of both countries.

It is important that our two governments foster a sound and stable political environment and a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for the exchanges and cooperation between our two sides.

四要展现大国担当。中英都是在国际上有重要影响的国家，应该对人类发展进步有更大作为。双方应加强在抗击疫情、促进全球经济复苏、应对气候变化等重大问题上的沟通协调，发挥各自优势，帮助发展中国家更好应对疾病、贫困、环境恶化等挑战，为维护世界和平、促进共同发展作出更大贡献。

Fourth, display the courage to shoulder responsibilities as major countries.

As countries of global significance, China and the UK have every reason to contribute more to the progress of mankind.

Our two sides need to enhance communication and coordination on major global issues such asCovid-19 response, economic recovery and climate change. We should leverage our respective strengths and help developing countries meet the challenges from diseases, poverty and environmental deterioration. And we should make greater contribution to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

朋友们、同胞们，

Dear friends and compatriots:

两岸猿声啼不住，轻舟已过万重山。今日之中国正以自信自立自强的姿态屹立于世界东方，未来之中国必将更加朝气蓬勃、欣欣向荣。中国真诚希望各国能和平相处、友好合作，携手构建人类命运共同体。过去三个多月给我的最深印象是，中英两国人民对彼此都怀有深厚的友好感情，都渴望进一步加强交往与合作。两国人民的情谊增强了我对促进中英关系改善和发展的信心。道路固然曲折，前途必定光明。只要双方遵循相互尊重、平等相待、合作共赢原则，相向而行，中英关系就能重回正轨、持续向前。

A Chinese poem has these lines:

From the banks of Yangzi, apes moan ceaselessly.

My boat's passed ten thousand mountains briskly.

China today is standing tall independently and confidently. Tomorrow will promise greater vitality and prosperity for the country. It is our sincere hope that countries of the world will live in peace, engage in friendly cooperation and join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

As I reflect upon the past three months, I believe that there is a deep reservoir of goodwill between the Chinese and British peoples. They all aspire to more exchanges and cooperation with each other. The bond between our peoples has strengthened my confidence in the improvement and development of the China-UK relations.

The road always has twists and turns, but it will definitely lead to a bright future. As long as our two sides follow the principles of mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation, and work in the same direction, the China-UK relations will return to the right track and keep moving forward.

最后，祝中华人民共和国繁荣昌盛！祝中英两国人民幸福安康！

In conclusion, I wish the People's Republic of China ever-lasting prosperity! I wish the Chinese and British peoples happiness and well-being!

谢谢！

Thank you!