Speech by Consul General Wang Donghua at the Reception in Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and the United States
(January 18, 2019)
Good evening!
Tonight, we are hosting a reception at the Chinese Consulate General in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. First of all, on behalf of the Consulate General, and in my own name, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all and profound gratitude to you for joining us in the celebration.
40 years ago, the older generation of leaders of China and the United States broke the ice of isolation between the two countries with extraordinary strategic vision and political wisdom, and made a historic decision to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries, which ushered in a new era in the history of China-US relations. The establishment of China-US diplomatic relations has been having a huge and profound impact on the development of our bilateral relations and the maintenance of world peace.
Over the past 40 years, under the guidance of successive leaders and thanks to joint efforts of people from all walks of life of both countries, China-US relations have achieved historic development despite ups and downs, delivering great benefits to the two peoples, and making significant contribution to world peace, stability and prosperity.
Trade between China and the United States has been growing rapidly. The bilateral trade in goods surged to 633.5 billion US dollars in 2018 from merely 2.45 billion US dollars in the early days of our relations, an increase of 260 times. The bilateral trade in services was almost zero then, and in 2017, it grew to 75 billion US dollars, among which US exports to China were more than 57.6 billion US dollars.
Investment between China and the United States has been expanding. Two-way investment which was insignificant in the early days of our relations exceeded 230 billion dollars in cumulative terms in 2017. About 68,000 US-funded companies have been operating in China, and they achieved a sales volume of 606.8 billion US dollars in 2016, 400 billion US dollars more than the sales volume of Chinese companies in the United States.
Personnel exchanges have been increasing year by year. In the early days, only several thousand Chinese and Americans visited the other country. In 2017, the number was over 5.3 million. Among them, more than 3 million were Chinese tourists, who spent as much as 33 billion dollars while traveling in the US. At present, the number of US students studying in China has increased to 20,000. And there are over 400,000 Chinese students studying in the US, contributing some $180 billion to local revenues.
Bilateral interactions take different forms. High-level exchanges are frequent, in particular, the interactions of our heads of state provide an important guide to the development of the bilateral relations. In addition, the two countries have established four high-level dialogue mechanisms, including the Diplomatic Security Dialogue, the Comprehensive Economic Dialogue, the Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Dialogue, and the Social and Cultural Dialogue. We have also established exchange mechanisms like governors forum and sub-national legislatures cooperation forum of the two countries. 50 pairs of provinces and states, and 227 pairs of cities have established sister relationship.
The cooperation between our two countries on international issues are fruitful. We are having increasingly close cooperation on international and regional issues of common concern. From dealing with regional hot-spot issues to anti-terrorism and non-proliferation, from coping with international financial crisis, disease control and prevention, environmental protection to lunar exploration, the list of cooperation between us is growing. Without coordination and cooperation between China and the US, the proper resolution of many issues would not have been possible.
The development of relations between our two countries over the past 40 years shows that China and the United States are important partners rather than strategic adversaries. China-US cooperation is mutually beneficial instead of a zero-sum game. The hard-won progress achieved in the China-US relations comes from the wisdom and hard work of generations of leaders and people of both countries, and needs to be cherished and carefully nourished. Here, on behalf of the Consulate General, I would like to extend my highest respect and heartfelt thanks to all the people, especially those from our consular district, for all they have done to support the development of China-US relations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
China-US relations have become one of the bilateral relations with greatest potential and influence in the world today. How to better develop China-US relations in the future depends on what judgments and choices we make today. An ancient Chinese saying goes that by taking history as a mirror, you can understand the reasons for the rise and fall of one country. Similarly, taking history as a mirror, we can take better hold of the future relationship between countries. Looking back at the past 40 years, I think that we have both experience to review, and lessons to learn.
First, great inspiration from China-US exchanges is that cooperation benefits the two sides, while conflict can only hurt both. Over the past 40 years, China and the United States have both undergone tremendous changes in their respective national conditions and external environment, but the mutually beneficial nature of cooperation between the two countries remains unchanged. With the deepening of globalization, the economic interdependence between China and the US has been increasing, the convergence of interests has been expanding. By focusing on common interests and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, we have effectively promoted our respective development. Now, the world is undergoing a new round of profound changes and adjustments. As the two largest economies in the world, the two countries have more common interests instead of less, and need to strengthen cooperation more than ever to achieve further development and respond to new challenges. Cooperation is in the best interests of the two countries and the two peoples, and is the best choice for both countries. Neither party can afford the cost of disengagement or confrontation. Any move that harms the other party will eventually come back to haunt oneself, and the more one hurts the other, the deeper he hurts himself.
Second, the right way for the two countries to get along is seeking common ground while putting aside differences with mutual respect. Even brothers fight, and the five fingers of the same hand are of different lengths. It is only natural for countries to disagree, and harmony does not mean uniformity. The development of China-US relations tells us that as long as the two sides respect each other, cooperate in good faith, and seek common ground while putting aside differences, there will be no knots that cannot be untied and no hurdles that cannot be cleared. The successful cooperation between China and the US in responding to the 2008 international financial crisis proves that the two countries can transcend differences and disagreements, fully leverage our respective advantages, and work together to address common risks and challenges. The escalation of China-US trade friction in the recent past warns that the failure to keep promises, pointing fingers and groundless accusations do not help solve the problem, but give rise to more differences and confrontations. At the crucial moment, the two presidents turned the tide and reached important consensus to avoid further escalation of trade frictions, pointing the direction for the development of our bilateral relations. Teams of the two countries are intensifying their efforts to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, which laid the foundation for resolving economic and trade cooperation issues between the two sides. This is another proof that cooperation is the most effective way to solve problems. As long as the two sides sit together, treat each other as equals, negotiate sincerely, and understand each other, we can always find a solution.
Third, the foundation for the healthy development of China-US relations is mutual understanding and mutual trust. Without mutual understanding, there is no mutual trust. And without mutual trust, there will be no mutually beneficial cooperation. A lack of trust will inevitably lead to mutual suspicion, even strategic misjudgment, make it difficult to manage crisis and cope with challenges effectively, thus create a big problem out of a small one and make the resolution of a problem harder than easier. At present, China-US relations have encountered some difficulties. One important reason is the rising doubts over China (on the US side). China does not intend to challenge or replace the United States. We are firmly committed to the path of peaceful development, and to the pursuit of a better life for the Chinese people through development. No matter how much stronger it may become, China will never seek expansion, hegemony, and spheres of influence. China will continue to deepen reform in a comprehensive manner, further open up, share development fruits with other countries, and never pursue its own development at the expense of others. Under the current new circumstances, it is all the more important for China and the United States to strengthen exchanges, clearly understand each others' strategic intentions, enhance strategic mutual trust, and avoid strategic misjudgment, so as to lay a solid foundation for the healthy development of China-US relations.
Fourth, a prerequisite for the healthy development of China-US relations is respecting each other's critical interests. Every country has its own critical interests, and China and the United States are no exception. In state-to-state relations, the most important interests are sovereignty and territorial integrity and national and institutional security. Those are red lines that cannot be crossed. From our exchanges since the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations, we see that as long as the two sides abide by the three China-US joint communiqués including the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, adhere to the one China principle, respect each others' important interests and concerns, our bilateral relations and mutually beneficial cooperation will develop smoothly, and major issues of common concern will be easier to resolve. On the other hand, constantly challenging the other's important interests will ultimately harm one's own important interests. We are willing to work with the US to accurately grasp and fully respect each others' important interests, properly handle issues concerning each others' important interests, and ensure that China-US relations will always develop in the right direction.
Ladies and gentlemen,
At present, China-US relations are at a crucial stage. Confucius said that "when reaching forty, one should no longer have any doubts", meaning that when people reach the age of 40, they should be sure and calm, and no longer feel confused about their lives. China-US relationship is over 40 years old. The two sides should have more understanding and less misunderstanding, more trust and less doubts, and act more with reason and less on impulse. In this way, the relations between the two countries will be more stable, the cooperation more rewarding, and the two peoples more prosperous.
China attaches great importance to China-US relations. China can develop well only when the United States develops well, and vice versa. Only by strengthening cooperation will the two countries enjoy better development. President Xi Jinping said that there are a thousand reasons for China and the US to maintain a good relationship and there is no reason to ruin it. Recently, in his multiple interactions with President Donald Trump, President Xi pointed out that the two sides should jointly promote a relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability, so as to better benefit people of the two countries and beyond. President Trump stressed that developing cooperative and constructive US-China relations is one of his priorities. China is ready to work with the US to implement the consensus of the two presidents and promote the healthy and stable development of China-US relations in the next 40 years.
The world pays great attention to China-US relations. A sound China-US relationship makes the world a better one for us, and contributes more to the world peace and common development. Developing good China-US relations has a bearing on everyone, and we all have a part to play for it.
The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco will work together with everyone to make new contributions to the everlasting friendship between the people of our two countries, and to the long-term, healthy and stable development of China-US relations!
Now, please join me in a toast, to the better China-US relations, to the everlasting friendship between our two countries, and to everyone's health, prosperity, and happiness. Cheers!
Thank you all!