弘扬真正民主精神，共创人类美好未来

Promoting True Democracy for a Better Future of Humankind

——王毅国务委员兼外交部长在第14届巴厘民主论坛上的讲话

– Remarks by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the 14th Bali Democracy Forum

尊敬的蕾特诺外长，

各位朋友：

Your Excellency Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi,

Friends,

很高兴应邀出席巴厘民主论坛。我曾多次访问印尼，也来过巴厘岛，这里独特的风土人情给我留下了美好记忆。记得当地有一种“莱佛士花”，是世界上最大的花卉，只能在东南亚热带雨林中生长。民主作为人类社会发展进步的重要成果，就像扎根在各国土壤的植物一样，在不同的历史文化、民族传统和社会环境中汲取营养，滋润生长，竞相绽放。

It gives me great pleasure to join you at the Bali Democracy Forum. I have visited Indonesia many times. I have been to Bali as well. Its unique landscape and culture have left me with many fond memories. I still recall a local flower, rafflesia. It is the world’s largest blossom, and can only grow in the tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. Just as plants are unique to the land they grow on, democracy, as a major fruit of human progress, is also rooted and nurtured in the history, culture, ethnic traditions and social environment of the countries concerned.

今天的论坛以“民主服务人类”为主题，可谓道出了民主的真谛。在人类绵延数千年的历史长河里，无数先贤志士孜孜不倦追求民主，说到底就是为了找到更好的制度和政治架构，让人类远离战火，远离饥饿，远离贫困，过上美好生活，实现公平正义。今天，我们继续为此不懈努力，上下求索。

The theme of today’s Forum, “Democracy for Humanity”, highlights the essence of democracy. Our forefathers’ tireless pursuit of democracy over thousands of years of human history has been aimed to, all in all, find better systems and political structures so that humanity could be free from war, hunger and poverty, live happy lives, and enjoy equity and justice. And we are carrying on their pursuit even today.

当前，人类社会正经历新冠疫情严峻冲击，世界格局又面临百年未有之重大变革。在这样的历史关头，如何正确认识民主、运用民主、完善民主、发展民主，帮助我们更好应对各种挑战，促进世界的和平稳定繁荣，是一个关乎人类前途的世纪之问。

As we meet, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage our societies, and the international landscape is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. At such a critical historical juncture, how to properly perceive, practice, improve and develop democracy so as to tackle challenges more effectively and promote world peace, stability and prosperity is indeed a “question of the century”, a question that bears on the future of humankind.

对这个问题，我们看到了各种各样的观点和态度。有的认为，只有西方民主才是标准答案，并在世界上强行移植和推广西式民主；还有的主张以一国的民主划线，挑动政治制度与意识形态之争，在世界上制造分裂和对立。毫无疑问，这些都不是真正的民主，而是假借民主之名的伪民主。

There are different approaches and attitudes toward this question. Some regard Western democracy as the only correct answer. They seek to forcibly transplant and impose it onto the whole world. Some attempt to take one country’s model as the criterion, provoking tension between different political systems and ideologies and creating division and confrontation in the world. Undoubtedly, none of these is true democracy, but fake democracy using democracy as a cover.

什么才是真正的民主？判断民主的标准又是什么？习近平主席明确指出，民主是全人类的共同价值。民主不是哪个国家的专利，而是各国人民的权利。一个国家民主不民主，关键在于是不是真正做到了人民当家作主。

Then what is true democracy? What should be the standards of democracy? President Xi Jinping underscored that democracy is a common value of humanity. Democracy is not a special right reserved to a certain country, but a right for the people of all countries. The key criterion for whether a country is democratic or not is whether its people are truly the masters of their own fate.

长期以来，美国和某些西方国家总喜欢把“不民主”的帽子扣在包括中国在内的一些发展中国家头上，其背后隐藏的是西方式的傲慢和对其他文明的偏见。中国共产党从成立那天起，就把民主理念印在了自己的旗帜上，把建立人民当家作主的新中国作为自己的奋斗目标，把在中国实现真正和有效的民主作为自己义不容辞的责任。经过百年探索实践，中国共产党已经带领中国人民找到了符合中国国情的民主新形态——这就是习近平主席提出的全过程人民民主。

Over the years, the United States and certain Western countries have been labeling China and other developing countries as non-democratic. What is behind this is the arrogance and bias of the West against other civilizations. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has been upholding the banner of democracy, setting as its goals to found a New China where the people are the masters of their own fate, and taking as its obligation to realize true and effective democracy in China. Through a century of exploration and experimentation, the CPC has led the Chinese people in finding a new form of democracy that suits China’s national conditions, one that President Xi Jinping described as the whole-process people’s democracy.

中国的全过程人民民主，是以人民利益为中心的民主。习近平主席指出，民主不是装饰品，不是用来做摆设的，而是要用来解决人民要解决的问题的。正是本着这样的理念，我们把民主选举、民主协商、民主决策、民主管理、民主监督等环节彼此贯通起来，避免了那种选举时满天许诺、选举后无人过问的民主弊端，让中国人民全程、有效、深入地表达自身利益诉求，参与国家政治生活，小到衣食住行，大到改革发展，人民的意愿都能得到最充分的体现。

The whole-process people’s democracy centers on the interests of the people. President Xi Jinping pointed out that democracy is not an ornament used for decorative purposes. Rather, democracy is about solving issues for the people. Based on this belief, we have integrated all the links of democracy, including democratic election, democratic consultation, democratic decision-making, democratic management, and democratic oversight. By so doing, we are able to prevent the problem that the people are given numerous promises during elections but are ignored entirely after elections. We are able to ensure that the Chinese people can voice their concerns effectively and thoroughly in every step of the way. They can participate in state political affairs. From something as small as everyday needs to something as big as national reform and development, the Chinese people’s wills are reflected to the fullest extent.

中国的全过程人民民主，是有着完整制度程序和参与实践的民主。我们把选举民主和协商民主这两个积极性都充分调动起来，并且致力于过程民主和成果民主、程序民主和实质民主、直接民主和间接民主有机的结合，既具有鲜明的中国特色，又丰富发展了人类政治文明。

China’s whole-process people’s democracy features a full set of institutional procedures and full participation and practice by the people. We seek to bring out the best of both election democracy and consultative democracy. And we move to integrate all elements of democracy— process and outcome, procedural and substantive, direct and indirect. Our democracy has distinctive Chinese characteristics, and at the same time, it has also enriched humanity’s political civilization.

当然，中国有句古话，“天下同归而殊途，一致而百虑”。各国实现民主的方式多种多样，不存在唯我独尊的民主，更不存在高人一等的民主。我们对自己的民主充满自信，同时也充分尊重别国的民主。我们不会对外输出民主，而是愿意平等沟通、交流互鉴，既汲取学习人类文明发展的积极成果，也给别的国家提供有益的参考借鉴。

As an ancient Chinese saying goes, “people can reach the same destination via multiple paths, and achieve the same goal through different means.” Countries have different ways to achieve democracy. There is no single correct form of democracy for others to worship, and no democracy is superior to others. We have full confidence in our democracy, and we also fully respect other countries’ democracy. We will not export our democracy. We are ready to have dialogue and exchanges with others on an equal footing, learn from other civilizations, and provide useful experience to other countries as well.

各位朋友，

Friends,

民主不仅是国内治理的方式，也是全球治理的原则。

Democracy is not only a way of domestic governance, but also a principle in global governance.

习近平主席指出，世界上的事情只能由各国政府和人民共同商量来办，这是处理国际事务的民主原则。当今世界，局势变乱交织，问题层出不穷，一个深层次原因就是国际关系中的民主原则没有得到共同的维护和遵守。为此，我们应在国与国交往中大力弘扬民主精神，积极倡导尊重主权、平等协商、团结合作等正确理念，坚持不懈地推进国际关系民主化。

President Xi Jinping pointed out that world affairs should be managed through consultation by governments and peoples of all countries. This is the democratic principle in handling international affairs. The world today faces a combination of changes and turmoil, and problems emerge here and there. A deep-seated cause is that the democratic principle in international relations has not been upheld and observed by all. Therefore, we need to vigorously advocate the spirit of democracy in state-to-state interactions, promote the correct approaches such as respect for sovereignty, equal-footed consultation, solidarity and cooperation, and make unremitting efforts for greater democracy in international relations.

我们要尊重国家主权，捍卫国际关系基本准则。鼓吹人权高于主权，动辄对他国进行民主改造的结果，并不是稳定与繁荣，而是国家满目疮痍，人民流离失所，难民危机频发。我们应当汲取教训，坚定维护联合国的核心地位，捍卫联合国宪章的权威，反对以民主人权为旗号破坏他国主权、干涉他国内政。

We need to respect national sovereignty and defend the basic norms of international relations. The preaching of “human rights superseding sovereignty” and willful democratic transformation of other countries did not bring about stability or prosperity. They put countries into chaos and rubble, displaced their people, and caused many refugee crises. We must learn a lesson, resolutely uphold the central role of the United Nations, defend the authority of the UN Charter, and oppose acts that undermine sovereignty or interfere in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of democracy or human rights.

我们要倡导平等协商，发扬亚洲特色民主理念。历史悠久的亚洲有着多元共生传统，形成了协商共事的民主文化。66年前，广大亚非拉国家齐聚印尼，召开了著名的万隆会议，各方平等协商、求同存异，发出了全球民主治理的正义呼声。东盟是协商民主的成功实践者，中国与东盟的交往始终坚持有事好商量、遇事多商量，在国际上树立了共商共建共享的典范。我们应当积极倡导平等协商，将其作为国际关系民主化的一项重要内涵。

We need to advocate consultation on an equal footing and promote democratic concepts with Asian features. Asia, with a time-honored history, has the tradition of embracing diversity, and cultivated the democratic culture of consultation. Sixty-six years ago, Asian, African and Latin American countries gathered in Indonesia for the renowned Bandung Conference. All parties conducted consultation as equals, sought common ground while shelving differences, and made a call of justice for global democratic governance. ASEAN has successfully practiced consultation-based democracy. In China’s interactions with ASEAN, we always uphold the principle of addressing issues through amicable consultations, setting a fine example of joint consultation and contribution for shared benefits. We should actively advocate consultation as equals and make it an important part of more democratic international relations.

我们要坚持团结合作，携手应对各种全球挑战。新冠疫情、极端气候、恐怖主义、通胀加剧、供应链危机，无不昭示人类是休戚与共的命运共同体。但是个别国家仍在用过时的冷战思维看待21世纪的世界，热衷于打着民主旗号搞各种小集团小圈子,这实际上是对民主精神的践踏，更是在开人类历史的倒车。全球化时代的民主治理，绝不是小院高墙、脱钩断链，也不是保护主义、结盟对抗，而是应当坚持自由贸易，加强互联互通，追求互利共赢，推动全球化朝着更加公正、合理、普惠的方向发展。

We need to uphold solidarity and cooperation and jointly tackle global challenges. COVID-19, extreme weather, terrorism, heightened inflation and supply chain crisis show that humanity is a community with a shared future and common interests. However, a certain country still views the world of the 21st century with the already obsolete Cold War mentality. It is keen to form small groups and circles in the name of democracy. This in fact tramples on the spirit of democracy, and is turning back the wheel of human history. In this globalized era, democratic governance is by no means creating a small yard with high fences, decoupling or cutting off supply chains. Nor is it pursuing protectionism or confrontation through alliance. Rather, democratic governance should be upholding free trade, strengthening connectivity, seeking mutual benefit and win-win results, and making globalization fairer, more equitable, and beneficial to all.

各位朋友，

Friends,

时代潮流浩浩荡荡，民主的真谛和价值必将在人类文明进步的滚滚洪流中激浊扬清、不断升华。中国将在继续发展完善本国民主的同时，坚定不移地捍卫国际关系民主化原则，坚定不移地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，弘扬真正的民主精神，同各国一道，共同创造人类更加美好的未来！

As the tide of the times forges ahead and human civilization advances, the true meaning and value of democracy will ultimately prevail and continue to be enriched. While China further develops and refines democracy at home, it will firmly uphold principles for more democratic international relations, and remain a builder of world peace, contributor to global development and defender of the international order. China advocates true democratic spirit and will, together with countries around the world, create a better future for humanity.

谢谢各位！

Thank you!