An Opportune Time for Closer Asia-Europe Cooperation: New Challenges and Opportunities

新挑战 新机遇 深化亚欧合作正当时

Zhang Jun

张军

Historically, the Eurasian landmass was the heartland of the world, giving birth to both Eastern and Western civilizations. As early as more than 2,000 years ago, our ancestors opened the ancient Silk Road straddling Asia and Europe, which became a bridge of exchanges between the people of the two continents. After the end of the Cold War, political leaders of Asia and Europe started to think about how to facilitate exchanges and cooperation across the continents, hence the birth of ASEM in 1996. Over the past 20-plus years, ASEM has deepened understanding and friendship and invigorated political dialogue, economic cooperation, and social and cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe.

亚欧大陆是世界历史的中心地带，孕育了东西方两大文明。早在两千多年前，先辈们就开拓出横贯亚欧大陆的古丝绸之路，架起了亚欧交流往来的桥梁。冷战结束后，亚欧各国政治家们开始思考，如何更好促进两大洲间的交流与合作，亚欧会议1996年应运而生。20多年来，亚欧会议不断推动亚欧各方增进理解，加深友谊，亚欧政治对话、经贸合作、社会文化及其他领域合作焕发勃勃生机。

The international landscape is undergoing complicated and profound changes, with rising uncertainties and destabilizing factors. Regional flashpoints have kept emerging, and nontraditional security threats remain severe. Although the world economy presents an upward momentum, economic globalization has met setbacks, and protectionism is rearing its head. Countries are facing a major choice between openness and isolation, moving forward and back sliding, and win-win cooperation and a zero-sum game. Such is the backdrop for the upcoming ASEM Summit.

当前国际形势正发生复杂深刻变化，不稳定不确定因素增多，地区热点问题此起彼伏，非传统安全威胁依然严峻。世界经济出现向好势头，但经济全球化遭遇挫折，保护主义显著抬头。开放还是封闭、前进还是后退、合作共赢还是零和博弈，这是摆在各国面前必须回答的重大现实问题。本届亚欧首脑会议正是在这样的大背景下举行的。

Common challenges require closer cooperation. ASEM was established when the Cold War came to an end and economic globalization gathered pace. Multilateralism and an open world economy are its solid anchor and abiding commitment. Facing unilateralism and protectionism, ASEM members need to unite as one, translate challenges into opportunities, and meet difficulties head on, so as to usher in an even brighter future for cooperation.

越是面对共同挑战，越应加强合作。亚欧会议成立于冷战结束和经济全球化兴起之时，多边主义和开放型世界经济是亚欧会议的安身立命之本，是亚欧会议永不褪色的主题。面对单边主义和保护主义，亚欧成员应加强团结，化挑战为机遇，当仁不让成为搏浪穿涛的旗舰，驶向亚欧合作更加美好的未来。

Asia and Europe need to firmly uphold the multilateralism-based international order. Peace and stability underpin development. The 70-year-long overall world peace would not be possible without the post-War international order. The centrality of the UN and its Security Council should be respected, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should never be challenged. All countries need to honor their commitments and undertake international obligations rather than irresponsibly take a selective approach to international rules. We in Asia and Europe need to strengthen our unity and coordinate actions on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and climate change, two major subjects of global concern.

亚欧要坚决维护多边主义国际秩序。和平稳定是发展的基础。世界保持长达70多年总体和平，二战后国际秩序功不可没。联合国及其安理会的核心地位应予尊重，《联合国宪章》宗旨和原则不容挑战。每个国家都应重信守诺，承担国际责任，履行国际义务，不能采取“合则用不合则弃”的不负责任态度。2030年可持续发展议程和应对气候变化是全球关注的重大议题。亚欧各方应当加强团结，协调行动。

Asia and Europe need to stay committed to an open world economy. After the end of the Cold War, 13 economies in the world that have enjoyed more than 25 years of rapid growth have all adopted the policy of opening-up. We need to uphold the just and nondiscriminatory multilateral trading regime and work for open and inclusive regional free trade arrangements and an open world economy. We also need to reject all forms of protectionism and accelerate the establishment of a single market covering both Asia and Europe. Openness has been and will always be an important precondition for the sustained growth of our continents.

亚欧要始终高举开放型世界经济的大旗。二战结束后，全球有13个经济体实现25年多的高速增长，其共同特征就是采取开放政策。我们要维护公正和非歧视的多边贸易体制，推动建立开放包容的区域自贸安排和开放型世界经济，反对各种形式的保护主义，加快构建亚欧统一市场。无论过去、现在、将来，开放都是亚欧实现可持续增长的重要前提。

Asia and Europe need to deepen practical cooperation for connectivity. Connectivity ensures the smooth flow of the economy and meets the common expectations of people in Asia and Europe. We need to fully leverage the role of the ASEM Pathfinder Group on Connectivity as the main channel for coordination, and work hard for early results in priority areas such as trade and investment facilitation, sustainable development, the digital economy and people-to-people exchanges. To achieve interconnected development today, we also need to step up exchanges and cooperation on innovation, promote green, low-carbon and smart development, and foster new highlights of growth in Asia and Europe.

亚欧要不断深化互联互通务实合作。互联互通建设让开放型亚欧经济血脉更加畅通，也是亚欧人民的共同期待。亚欧要充分发挥互联互通工作组主渠道作用，围绕贸易和投资便利化、可持续发展、数字经济、民心相通等优先合作领域着力，争取早期收获。在新形势下实现亚欧联动发展，还应加强在创新领域的交流合作，促进绿色、低碳、智能发展，打造亚欧经济增长新亮点。

Asia and Europe need to promote exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations. The 53 ASEM members represent hundreds of ethnic groups and multiple religious beliefs. Different history, national conditions, ethnic groups and customs have resulted in different civilizations. These civilizations may have distinctive features and thrive in different localities, but there is no such thing as a superior or inferior civilization. The exchanges and interactions between civilizations have always been a source of inspiration and strength. We should promote people-to-people exchanges between ASEM members to facilitate understanding and friendship between our peoples and contribute to economic and social development and peace and stability in Asia and Europe.

亚欧要矢志推进文明交流互鉴。亚欧会议有53个成员，更有数百个民族、多种宗教。不同历史和国情，不同民族和习俗，孕育了不同文明。文明没有高下、优劣之分，只有特色、地域之别。文明交流互鉴，才能绽放智慧的火花。我们要不断推进亚欧成员的人文交流，增进亚欧人民了解和友谊，推动亚欧经济社会发展，维护亚欧和平稳定。

Ever since the founding of ASEM, China has taken an active part in this process in the spirit of seeking common ground while putting aside differences. We have worked to build consensus and strengthen cooperation, making important contribution to the sustained and sound development of ASEM.

自亚欧会议成立伊始，中国始终本着积极参与、求同存异、扩大共识、加强合作的精神参与亚欧进程，为亚欧会议长远健康发展作出了重要的积极贡献。

China is an anchor of peace in Asia and Europe. Stability in China, a country of more than 1.3 billion people, is in itself an important contribution to the cause of peace in Asia and Europe. In the discussions on hot spot international and regional issues in ASEM, China has been committed to finding a political solution through dialogue and negotiation to maintain regional peace and stability. China votes for nothing else but peace.

中国是亚欧和平的稳定锚。13亿多人口的中国长期保持稳定，是对亚欧和平事业的重大贡献。在亚欧会议处理国际地区热点问题时，中国始终坚守政治解决的目标，坚持对话谈判的方向，坚定维护地区的和平稳定。中国的一票始终投向和平的一边。

China is an engine of development in Asia and Europe. Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative five years ago, China has engaged in more than $5 trillion of trade in goods with participating countries, made more than $60 billion of outbound investment and created hundreds of thousands of jobs for local communities. Most ASEM members are located along the trade routes of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. China is ready to work with them to use the opportunities presented by the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation next year and strengthen cooperation for common prosperity.

中国是亚欧发展的发动机。中国提出“一带一路”倡议5年来，与沿线国家的货物贸易额超过5万亿美元，对相关国家投资累计超过600亿美元，为当地创造了数十万个就业岗位。亚欧会议成员绝大部分位于“一带一路”沿线，第二届高峰论坛将于明年举行，中国愿同其在“一带一路”框架下加强合作，实现共同繁荣。

China is a propeller for cooperation in Asia and Europe. With 31 cooperation initiatives proposed by Chinese leaders in the past 22 years, China is among the countries with the most follow-up actions. In recent years, China has done a great deal of widely applauded work to expand Asia-Europe cooperation, including the proposal to resume the ASEM Economic Ministers' Meeting, the efforts to establish the ASEM Pathfinder Group on Connectivity and a leading role in practical cooperation in technological innovation, sustainable development, a new type of urbanization and care for people with disabilities.

中国是亚欧合作的助推器。22年间，中国领导人在亚欧首脑会议上共提出31项合作倡议，是亚欧会议后续行动最多的国家之一。近年来，中国倡议重启经济部长会，推动成立互联互通工作组，引领科技创新、可持续发展、新型城镇化、残疾人等各领域务实合作，受到各方欢迎。

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. President Xi Jinping has stated that China will never shut its door to the world, but will only become more and more open. He announced a number of major steps of further opening-up at the Bo'ao Forum for Asia Annual Conference last April. These measures are being delivered, with tangible effect. No matter how the external environment changes, China will not waver in its commitment to deeper reform and further opening-up, which will be advanced at its own pace. In this process, important opportunities will be created for countries in Asia, Europe and the world at large.

今年是中国改革开放40周年。习近平主席指出，中国开放的大门不会关闭，只会越开越大。在今年4月的博鳌亚洲论坛上，习近平主席宣布了中国进一步扩大开放的一系列重大举措。目前这些措施正在落地，有的已经见到成效。不管外部形势如何变化，中国深化改革扩大开放的决心不会变。中国会继续按照自己的节奏和步伐，坚定不移推进改革开放，这对包括亚欧成员在内的世界各国都是重要机遇。

We live in a world full of opportunities for cooperation. At the same time, we are all confronted with challenges posed by unilateralism and protectionism. Should we opt for cooperation or confrontation? Should we pursue reform or stay on the beaten track? The answer is clear. Countries in Asia and Europe must reject selfishness, a zero-sum mentality and isolationism. We should uphold solidarity, engage in win-win cooperation and pursue openness and integration. At the upcoming 12th ASEM Summit, China is ready to join hands with other members to address new challenges, cement the foundation for the new type of partnership and deepen cooperation for tangible outcomes. Together, with firm commitment to cooperation and consistent support for multilateralism, we will anchor world peace and development.

时代催人进，合作正当时。面对单边主义和保护主义的挑战，面对合作与对抗、变革与守旧的抉择，亚欧不要自顾，要同舟共济；不要零和，要互利共赢；不要封闭，要开放融合。在第十二届亚欧首脑会议召开之际，中国愿与各方共迎新挑战，夯实亚欧新型伙伴关系的基础，推动亚欧合作走深走实，以亚欧合作的确定性、维护多边主义的一贯性，为世界和平与发展增添稳定性。