Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Cui Tiankai at the Reception for the 40th Anniversary of China-U.S. Diplomatic Relations and the Chinese New Year
2019年2月6日，华盛顿
February 6, 2019
尊敬的霍利迪大使，
尊敬的各位来宾，
女士们，先生们，
The Honorable Ambassador Stuart Holliday,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
晚上好。欢迎各位来宾出席今晚的庆祝中美建交40周年暨新春招待会。今年是农历金猪年，我谨恭祝各位来宾2019年万事如意、幸福快乐。我还想感谢子午线国际中心，感谢你们过去20多年来为促进中美人文交流所作的贡献，以及连续9年与中国驻美使馆共同举办新春庆祝活动。
Good evening! Welcome to the Chinese embassy. Thank you for joining us tonight to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations and the Chinese Lunar New Year. Let me first of all wish our distinguished guests good luck and happiness for the Year of the Pig.
It is a great honor and privilege for the embassy to co-host this reception with the Meridian International Center. I would like to salute the Center for its contribution to China-U.S. cultural exchanges over the last two decades and for co-hosting the Chinese New Year celebrations with the Chinese Embassy for 9 consecutive years.
2019年是中美建交40周年，今年的新春招待会具有特殊意义。40年前，两国领导人做出远见卓识的决定，不仅深刻地改变了中美两国，也给世界带来了深远影响。
Of course, this year’s celebration has a special significance. It marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S. The decision that our leaders took 40 years ago with such great vision and wisdom has not only changed our two countries in a profound way, but also had a great influence on the world. For both countries, the past 40 years have been successful and extraordinary.
40年来，中美关系助推我们两国的发展进步。中美交往范围之广，相互影响之深，使两个国家都变得更加富强。中美建交和改革开放，有力地推动了中国现代化进程，取得前所未有的发展成就，也给美国和全世界创造了和平与发展的历史机遇。
The past 40 years of China-U.S. relations have helped push forward the development of our two countries. China and the U.S. have interacted on such an extensive scale and influenced each other in so many ways that each is stronger and better than it would be otherwise. Normalization of relations with the United States and reform and opening-up have enabled China to concentrate on its modernization drive, while unprecedented development of China has provided the U.S. – and the rest of the world for that matter – with historic opportunities for peace and prosperity.
40年来，中美关系给两国人民带来了巨大福祉。目前，两国日均贸易额达15亿多美元，每天有1万多人往返于中美之间，到对方国家去工作、学习和旅游。两国已缔结50对友好省州和227对友好城市。双方关系前所未有地紧密。
The past 40 years of China-U.S. relations have delivered enormous benefits to our peoples. Now daily trade between us is worth more than $1.5 billion. More than 14,000 people fly between the two countries every day for work, study and leisure. There are now 50 pairs of sister states/provinces and 227 pairs of sister cities between the two countries. We are more connected than ever before.
40年来，中美关系加深了两国在众多国际和地区热点问题上的协作。双方携手应对全球金融危机、寻求朝鲜半岛问题政治解决方案，正是两国合作的成功范例。
The past 40 years of China-U.S. relations have brought about closer coordination and cooperation between us on numerous regional and global issues. Our cooperation in overcoming the global financial crisis and in finding a political solution to the situation on the Korean Peninsula are just two examples.
中美关系40年发展历程证明，中美合则两利，斗则俱伤。合作是双方最好的选择。
In a word, the past 40 years have proved that cooperation is in the interests of both countries while confrontation hurts both. There is no better option for us than cooperation.
当今世界正经历深刻复杂变化，新的全球性挑战层出不穷。当今世界比以往任何时候都更需要中美进行合作。两国人民需要中美携手共进。随着中美共同利益不断扩大，我们应当在过去40年成就的基础上，继续开拓和深化两国合作。
Today, the world is undergoing profound changes. New global challenges keep coming up. More than ever before, the world needs China and the U.S to work together. Our people need us to work together. As our common interests grow, we should continue to expand and deepen our cooperation on the basis of the achievements of the last four decades.
去年12月1日，习近平主席和特朗普总统在阿根廷会晤，双方同意共同推进以协调、合作、稳定为基调的中美关系。两国元首并就中美建交40周年互致贺信。两国元首为中美关系未来发展指明了方向。
At their meeting in Argentina on December 1st last year, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump agreed to pursue a China-U.S. relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability. The two presidents also exchanged congratulatory messages for the 40th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. They have charted the course for the future development of our relations.
为落实两国元首共识：
In order to implement the agreement between our two Presidents:
——我们要促进相互了解，增进互信，避免战略误判。我们需要更好地相互理解彼此的过去和现在，各自的经济和政治制度，以及文化和社会。中国人一直对更多地了解美国和向美国学习抱有浓厚兴趣，希望太平洋彼岸也做出同样努力更多地了解中国，包括中国的古代史和现代史，改革开放40年发展史，1949年中华人民共和国成立以来的70年奋斗史，了解中国人民经历的艰难困苦和多年来付出的艰辛努力。这样就不难理解中国的目标和意图以及中国梦对中国人的意义，不难理解中国人民完全有权利追求更美好的生活，但我们永远不会以牺牲别国利益为代价。中国致力于同世界各国一道，共同构建人类命运共同体。
– We need to promote mutual understanding so as to enhance mutual trust and avoid strategic miscalculations. We need better mutual understanding about each other’s past and present, economic and political systems, the culture and the society. People in China have always had a strong interest in learning more about America and from America. Hopefully there is a similar effort on this side of the Pacific to learn more about China, more about China’s ancient and modern history, about its 40 years of reform and opening-up, about the 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, about the hardships the Chinese people have gone through, and the strenuous efforts they have made throughout all these years. Then it would not be difficult to understand what China’s goals and intentions are and what the Chinese dream means for its people. Then it would not be difficult to understand that the Chinese people have every right to pursue a better life, but they will never do it at the expense of other nations and that China is truly committed to working with all other countries to build a community of nations for a shared future.
——我们要对彼此保持开放，加强联通。作为世界前两大经济体，我们可以做到优势互补。保持开放为双方带来更多机遇，加强合作使双方更加繁荣。“脱钩”对双方的经济乃至整个世界都将是灾难性的。中国将进一步扩大对美开放，期待两国加强各层级合作。今年4月，中国将主办第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛。中方欢迎美方继续参与这一重要会议，共享机遇。
– We need to stay open to each other and get more connected. We are the two largest economies in the world. Each has its own strengths. Each is complementary to the other. Both have much greater opportunities if we stay open to each other. Both will be much more prosperous if we cooperate with each other. The so-called “decoupling” would be disastrous for both economies and the world economy at large. China will open its door wider to the U.S. and look forward to more cooperation at various levels. In April this year, China will host the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The U.S. is welcome to participant in this important event to share the opportunities.
——我们应进一步加强人文交流，夯实两国关系民意基础。过去40年，中美友谊深深扎根于人民之中，帮助我们战胜两国关系发展过程中的种种困难；面向未来，两国人民的深厚友谊将继续成为中美关系发展最重要、最可靠的力量源泉。两国政府应携手努力，进一步鼓励和促进两国师生、科研人员、艺术家、运动员及各界人士友好往来。在中美两国人民之间煽动和散播不信任、敌意等做法同两国人民的意愿背道而驰。
– We need to step up people-to-people exchanges and enhance popular support for our relations. China-U.S. friendship is deeply rooted in the people. It has helped us to overcome twists and turns over the past 40 years and will continue to be the most important and reliable source of strength for the relationship in the coming decades. The two governments should make greater efforts to encourage and facilitate stronger ties between our students, teachers, scientists, artists, athletes and many more. To try to incite and spread distrust and animosity between Chinese and Americans is simply going against the will of the people.
——我们要妥善处理分歧。中美历史、文化和社会制度不同，但我们不能因差异而退缩。我们应该尊重彼此选择的社会制度和发展道路，照顾彼此核心利益和重大关切，坚持相互尊重、以诚相待、互利共赢。
– We need to properly handle differences. There is no denying that China and the U.S. differ in history, culture and social system, but we should not be intimidated by those differences; instead, we need to respect each other’s independent choice of social systems and paths of development, and accommodate each other’s core interests and concerns. Whether on economic or security issues, we can always find a way out if we address the differences with candor and good faith, based on mutual respect and common interest.
女士们，先生们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
过去40年在人类文明史中只是弹指一挥间，但分分秒秒我们都在创造历史。在纪念中美建交40周年的重要时刻，让我们携手并肩，共同努力，推动建设更加强劲、更加稳定的中美关系，让两国人民共筑梦想、友谊长存。
The past 40 years are no more than a split of a second in the history of human civilization, but in every second we are making history. On the occasion of this important anniversary, let’s pledge ourselves to work together for a stronger and more stable China-U.S. relationship so that our two peoples can develop a lasting friendship and have their dreams fulfilled together.
谢谢。
Thank you.
