Starting a New Phase in Sino-US Relations

开启美中关系的新篇章

Max Baucus, US Ambassador to China

美国驻中国大使  马克斯·博卡斯

I often say this, and I mean it from the heart: serving as the United States Ambassador to China is the best job I’ve ever had. It has been the greatest pleasure to work with Chinese and Americans to advance the world’s most important bilateral relationship.

我常这么说，也真心这么认为：担任美国驻中国大使是我所拥有过的最好的工作。与美中两国人民一起推动世界上最重要的双边关系是莫大的荣幸。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. The United States just had an election and, with our country’s transition to a new administration, the time has come to bid you farewell as the United States Ambassador. When you say “goodbye” in Chinese it means “see you again,” and that’s how I like to think of this farewell – I’ll be seeing you again!

但是，正如人们所说的，所有的好事都有结束的时候。美国刚刚举行过选举，随着我们国家向一个新政府过渡，现在是我作为美国大使与你们告别的时候了。当你用中文说 “goodbye” 时，它的意思是 “再见”，对我的这次道别来说，我就是这么想的——我会再次见到你！

Before my wife Mel and I depart from Beijing for a new chapter in our lives, I would like to share some parting thoughts with you as we start a new phase in our countries’ relationship, at a time fraught with global challenges – from economic uncertainty to climate change to terrorism.

在我妻子梅尔与我离开北京开启我们新的生活篇章之前，当我们在充满全球挑战的时刻（从经济不确定到气候变化到恐怖主义）开启我们国家关系新的篇章之时，我想分享一些临别的想法。

Over my 35 years in the United States Senate and especially my time as the United States Ambassador, I’ve witnessed first-hand China’s remarkable transformation and re-emergence on the global stage.

在我35年的美国国会参议员生涯中，特别是我作为美国大使的日子里，我亲眼见证了中国显著的转型及在全球舞台上的重现。

Since Deng Xiaoping launched China’s opening up and reform three decades ago, China has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, becoming the world’s second-largest economy. Our economies, in turn, have grown increasingly interconnected, with more than $650 billion in annual bilateral trade.

自邓小平30多年前在中国开启改革开放以来，中国已使数以亿计的人摆脱了贫困，成为世界第二大经济体。我们的经济日益相互关联，每年双边贸易额超过6500亿美元。

I’ve seen China’s rise play out in impressive ways. China joined the United States to help lead the world toward an ambitious agreement on climate change in Paris. It played a positive role in the global response to Ebola, working closely with the United States and other partners. China served as the host of the Six Party Talks on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and can play an equally important role in seeing those talks resumed.

我看到中国的崛起以令人印象深刻的方式展开。中国与美国一起，帮助领导世界在巴黎达成一项富有雄心的气候协议。中国在全球应对埃博拉方面发挥了积极作用，与美国及其他伙伴密切合作。中国曾担任朝鲜半岛核问题六方会谈的东道方，并能在这些会谈的恢复过程中发挥同样重要的作用。

These examples make clear the benefits to China and the world that come from China’s engagement and responsible leadership. US policy, decades old and upheld by successive administrations from both parties, has been to welcome the rise of a stable, peaceful and prosperous China. We welcome China as a global leader that assumes its responsibilities within the transparent, rules-based system underpinning the peace and prosperity that the Asia-Pacific region has enjoyed for many decades.

这些例子清楚地表明中国的参与和负责任领导对中国及世界的好处。历经几十年且一直得到两党历届政府支持的美国的中国政策，一直是欢迎一个稳定、和平与繁荣的中国的崛起。我们欢迎中国在透明的、以规则为基础的制度中作为一个承担自己责任的全球领导者，这个制度巩固了亚太地区几十年来所享有的和平与繁荣。

I worked hard as a U.S. Senator to get China into the World Trade Organization because I knew it would be good for China, good for the United States, and good for the entire world. And it was! Looking ahead, we hope China will work closely with the new US administration to continue this process of opening up to the world.

我曾作为一名美国会参议员作了很大的努力帮助中国加入世界贸易组织，因为我知道这对中国有利，对美国有利，对整个世界都有利。它确实是！展望未来，我们希望中国与美国新政府密切合作，继续这个向世界开放的进程。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

We live in a time of interconnectedness, unlike any other in history. Our countries’ relationship, in fact, is a testament to and a direct benefactor of these trends.

我们生活在一个史无前例的相互联系的时代。中美两国关系事实上是这些趋势的证明和直接受益者。

And a key part of keeping this going in the right direction will be fostering an encouraging environment for American and foreign companies to invest and do business here – just as Chinese companies can expect to do in the United States.

继续让此朝正确方向行进的一个关键是为美国和外国公司在这里投资和做生意创造一个令人鼓舞的环境——就像中国公司期望在美国那样。

Strengthening innovation, one of China’s top priorities, is another critical factor. That’s why we encourage China to continue to open up, which will help enable talent – like that of Jack Ma, Tu Youyou, or Wang Jianlin – to flourish across the globe. Similarly, we hope that China will welcome the constructive role of non-government organizations that help societies drive innovation, contribute to social stability and bring us together to protect the environment.

作为中国首要任务之一的加强创新是另一个关键因素。这就是为什么我们鼓励中国继续努力保持开放，这样的开放将有助于让像马云、屠呦呦或王健林这样的人才在全球蓬勃发展。同样，我们希望中国欢迎非政府组织的建设性作用，它们帮助社会推动创新、促进社会稳定，并让我们走到一起来保护环境。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Another key element will be ensuring that China’s peaceful rise is bolstered by regional engagement and creative diplomacy that manages disputes in ways that benefit all, in line with President Xi and President Obama’s efforts during their numerous meetings that I’ve had the privilege to join.

另一个关键因素将是确保中国的和平崛起是以区域参与及创造性外交为支撑的，即以有利于大家的方式管控争端，这符合习近平主席与奥巴马总统在我有幸参加的许多会见中所做的努力。

At the end of the day, I can’t stress enough the importance for us all to ask honest, constructive, good-faith questions, and to really listen to each other’s point of view. As my mentor and former United States Senator from Montana Mike Mansfield once said, “Remember, the other person isn’t always wrong, and you’re not always right.” This is the path to honest dialogue.

最后，就我们大家诚实、建设性和真诚地提问、真正倾听对方观点的重要性来说，我再怎么强调都不为过。正如我的导师、来自蒙大拿州的美国前参议员迈克·曼斯菲尔德曾经说过的，“记住，别人并不总是错的，你也不总是对的。”这正是通往诚实对话的道路。

While this is a time of transition, and some question the path ahead, I think both of our countries agree on the importance of making this relationship work. That has been true since President Nixon first came to China and met with Chairman Mao in what is called “the week that changed the world.” Their work was carried on by President Carter and Deng Xiaoping, who normalized relations between our two countries in 1979. Our leaders have changed, and we’ve had our ups and downs, but we’ve never given up our shared goal to create a better future for our kids and grandchildren.

虽然这是一个过渡时期，有些人对前方的路有疑问，但我认为，我们两国都认同让这种关系成功的重要性。自从尼克松总统第一次来到中国，并在“改变世界的那一周”会晤毛主席以来，这一直是如此。在卡特总统与邓小平的推动下，中美于1979年实现了两国建交。我们经历了领导人的更迭，经历了我们间的起起伏伏，但我们从没有放弃为自己的子孙创造更美好未来的共同目标。

I’ve seen this commitment first-hand, time and time again. When I first came to China, I promised President Xi that I would visit all of China’s provinces – a goal I achieved last October. What I learned along the way is that it doesn’t matter if you’re American or Chinese, we all basically want the same things in life – a good job, a good education for our children, and a clean, safe environment to live in. That’s a big part of the American dream. And it’s part of what I’ve come to learn is the Chinese dream.

我一次又一次亲眼看到这样的决心。当我第一次来中国时，我向习主席许诺，我将访问中国大陆所有的省份——去年10月我实现了这个目标。我一路上学到的是，无论美国人还是中国人，我们基本上都想在生活中得到同样的东西——一份好的工作，我们孩子的良好教育，一个干净、安全的生活环境。这是美国梦的一大部分。它也是我了解到的中国梦的一部分。

With patience, persistence and the positive attitude I’ve seen in students, everyday people, businesspeople, or government officials throughout this country – from Qufu to Kunming, from Shanghai to Urumqi – I know there is nothing we can’t accomplish when we work together. And when we succeed – whether that’s working on those many issues on which we agree, or being frank and wisely in managing our differences – the world stands to benefit.

从曲阜到昆明、从上海到乌鲁木齐，从学生、老百姓、商人或政府官员的身上，我在这个国家看到了耐心、坚持和积极态度，我知道当我们一起努力时，没有什么是我们完成不了的。当我们成功时——无论是就我们看法一致的许多问题进行努力，还是开诚布公并明智地管控我们的分歧——世界都受益。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

On the evening of 20 September local time, Premier Li Keqiang attended a welcoming dinner