因应新形势 共促新发展
——刘光源特派员在《南华早报》中国年会上的主旨演讲
各位嘉宾，
女士们，先生们，
大家好！很高兴应邀为《南华早报》中国年会做主旨演讲。我谨代表外交部驻港公署对本届年会召开表示热烈祝贺！
我注意到，此次年会主题提到了“新常态”。我认为“新”字十分准确，在此就以三个“新”为主题，同各位分享我对当前形势的些许感受。
一是国际合作呼吁“新”作为。世界百年未有之大变局和新冠肺炎疫情全球大流行交织影响，国际格局演变深刻复杂。面对前所未有的时代课题，国际社会必须携起手来，凝聚共识，形成合力，坚持以团结反对分裂、以共赢取代零和、以合作促进发展。发展是解决一切问题的关键。国家之间首先应该加强互利互惠合作，寻求共同发展繁荣。我们不排斥积极良性竞争，但反对动辄搞脱钩断链的恶性竞争，更反对强迫第三方选边站队。一个和平发展的世界应该承载不同形态的文明，民主不是哪个国家的专利，而是各国人民的权利。国际社会要大力弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值，个别国家打着“民主”旗号搞“小圈子”和零和博弈逆历史而动，不得人心，不会成功！
二是中国外交进入“新”时代。在习近平外交思想引领下，新时代中国特色大国外交以推动构建人类命运共同体为总目标，积极构建以相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢为核心的新型国际关系，推动建设持久和平、普遍安全、共同繁荣、开放包容、清洁美丽的世界。中国始终是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者。同时，中国外交以坚决维护国家主权、安全、发展利益为出发点和落脚点。“中国人民不惹事也不怕事”。中国人向来讲求“以和为贵”“和而不同”，从不盲目树立“假想敌”，但如果有人企图挑战中国的道路和制度、阻挠中国的发展进程、侵犯中国国家主权和领土完整，我们必将坚决反击，斗争到底！
三是香港发展迎来“新”机遇。回归以来，香港“一国两制”实践取得举世公认的成功。同时，在实践过程中也遇到了新情况新问题，特别是2019年“修例风波”使香港陷入回归以来最严峻的局面。中国中央政府果断出台香港国安法，完善特区选举制度，落实“爱国者治港”原则，引领香港实现由乱到治的重大转折。今年9月，特区政府发布《香港营商环境报告》，用详实的数据、扎实的论据全面展示了香港社会秩序恢复后的良好营商环境和光明发展前景，国际持份者“真金白银”地“用脚投票”，充分展示了他们对香港前景笃定而放心。随着国家构建新发展格局、推进粤港澳大湾区建设、“十四五”规划赋予香港“一个枢纽、三个中心”新定位, 香港未来发展空间不可限量，发展机遇千载难逢。
女士们，先生们，
今年是中国共产党成立100周年。上月，中国共产党隆重召开了十九届六中全会，全面总结了党的百年奋斗的重大成就和历史经验，体现了中国共产党重视和善于运用历史规律的高度政治自觉，体现了中国共产党牢记初心使命、继往开来的自信和担当。正如不久前我在《南华早报》发表的署名文章中所说，中国共产党在百年奋斗历程中，始终做独立自主走自己道路的探索者，始终做坚持人民至上的践行者，始终做勇于自我刮骨疗毒的革新者，始终做构建人类命运共同体的力行者。站在新的历史起点，中国共产党将带领中国人民，满怀信心，勇往直前，在新时代新征程上赢得更加伟大的胜利和荣光。
不久前，习近平主席同美国总统拜登举行了坦诚而富有建设性的会晤。中国领导人向美方阐明了立场、划清了底线，也展示了寻求合作、妥处分歧的诚意。中美双方都认为，两国关系极为重要，不能搞坏；中美两国需要相互尊重、和平共处。习近平主席郑重提出中美双方应当相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢的三点原则，以及应当着力推动的四方面优先事项。这些重要论述体现了中国领导人对中美关系发展演变的深刻思考，也为中美关系的未来走向明确了基本框架。
中美利益深度交融，合则两利、斗则俱伤。习近平主席指出，地球足够大，容得下中美各自和共同发展。要坚持互利互惠，不玩零和博弈，不搞你输我赢。中美在经济、能源、两军、执法、教育、科技、网络、环保、地方等诸多领域存在广泛共同利益，应该互通有无、取长补短，做大中美合作的“蛋糕”。
关于中美关系的未来，习近平主席把两国比喻为两艘乘风破浪的巨轮，指出双方一定要把稳方向，不偏航、不失速，更不能相撞。我们希望美方言行一致，把不打“新冷战”、不寻求冲突对抗、不支持“台独”等重要表态真正落实到具体的政策和行动当中，这样才能让中美关系行稳致远，既造福两国，也惠及世界。
女士们，先生们，
参加年会的各位都是国际商界翘楚和专家学者，是国际关系包括中美关系的关注者、参与者、持份者。借此机会，我想再与大家谈三点建议：
一是积极与中国合作共赢。中华民族实现伟大复兴的历史进程不可逆转，这既是全体中国人民的共同理想，也是人类整体发展进步的重要成就。中国通过自身发展给世界创造更多机遇，也愿意同世界各国分享发展机遇。希望各方能够理性、公正、客观地看待中国发展，善于从中国发展中找到合作机遇，相互促进，共同发展，为推动构建人类命运共同体、为世界和平与发展事业作出新的更大贡献。
二是正向推动中美关系建设。中美关系不是一道是否搞好的选择题，而是一道如何搞好的必答题。国之交在于民相亲。50年前，中美两国乒乓球队互访，以小球推动大球，拉开了中美关系正常化的序幕。50年后的今天，中美两国运动员组队出战世乒赛混双比赛，并获佳绩，续写了“乒乓外交”新篇章。希望大家传递理性与善意，积蓄和平与友谊，在各自领域发挥积极作用，为回答好中美关系这一必答题贡献正能量。
三是踊跃分享香港发展机遇。香港发展面临新的历史机遇。前不久，外交部驻港公署同香港特区政府、广东省政府共同举办的“对接新机遇，助力新征程”外国在港商界“云参访”大湾区活动，在香港外国商界中产生热烈反响。我们继续鼓励和支持商界朋友以香港为平台，积极参与大湾区建设，在维护香港繁荣稳定、助力香港融入国家发展大局中，共享大湾区红利，共谋共建共赢未来。
最后，预祝本届年会圆满成功!
谢谢！
Promoting New Development in Response to New Situation
Keynote Speech by Commissioner Liu Guangyuan at
The China Conference of the South China Morning Post
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Greetings to you all! I’m very honored to be invited to give a keynote speech at the China Conference of the South China Morning Post.
Let me begin by extending warm congratulations on the opening of the conference on behalf of the Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR.
The theme of the conference is “navigating the NEW normal in US-China relations”. I think the word “new” is most on-point to today’s world. Here, I’d also like to use three “NEW” to share my views about the current situation.
First “new” is—international cooperation calls for NEW actions.
The international dynamics is undergoing profound and complex changes under the combined impact of the transformation and the pandemic both unseen in a century.
In the face of these unprecedented issues of our time, the international community must join hands, build consensus,and form synergy. We need to oppose division with unity, replace zero-sum with win-win, and promote development through cooperation.
Development is the key to solving all problems, so all countries have a priority now—that is to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation for common development and prosperity.
We welcome virtuous competition for growth, but reject vicious competition for decoupling and oppose forcing third parties to take sides.
A world of peace and development should embrace civilizations of various forms. Democracy is not a special right reserved to an individual country, but a right for the people of all countries to enjoy.
The international community needs to advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity. Attempts of certain countries to form exclusive blocs and play zero-sum games under the cover of “democracy” run counter to the historical trend. They cannot gain any support and will certainly fail.
Second “new” is—China’s diplomacy has entered a NEW era.
Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, our major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era sets “building a community with a shared future for mankind” as its overarching goal. We are now working for a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation and aim for building an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.
China is a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order. At the same time, we firmly safeguard our national sovereignty, security and development interests. Chinese people do not cause trouble to others and we won’t back away from facing up to any troubles.
“Valuing peace” and “seeking harmony without uniformity” are in Chinese people’s DNA. We never have imaginary enemies. But if anyone tries to challenge China’s development path and social system, stunt China’s growth, and infringe upon China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will fight every inch of the way.
Third “new” is—Hong Kong embraces NEW development opportunities.
“One country, two systems” has achieved widely recognized success in Hong Kong since its return. However, in the implementation of the policy, we encountered some new problems. The 2019 turbulence pushed Hong Kong into the most serious situation since 1997.
The Chinese Central Government thus has taken decisive actions of adopting the National Security Law, improving Hong Kong’s electoral system, and implementing the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”. These measures have ensured Hong Kong to transform from chaos to stability.
In September this year,the HKSAR government released the “Report on Hong Kong’s Business Environment”, which displayed the favorable business environment and bright development prospect of today’s Hong Kong with solid data and irrefutable facts. Growing investment from international stakeholders indicates that they are confident about Hong Kong’s future.
As China builds a new development paradigm, advances the Greater Bay Area development, and positions Hong Kong as an international financial, shipping and trading center and the global offshore RMB business hub in the 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong enjoys rare opportunities and unlimited space for future development.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Last month, the Party held the sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, which had a comprehensive review of major achievements and historical experience of the Party over the past century. It reflects our party’s high political awareness of attaching great importance to applying the historical laws, and demonstrates our party’s confidence and sense of responsibility in keeping to its founding mission and building on past achievements to usher in a new future.
As I said in my article published in the South China Morning Post last month, the Communist Party of China has achieved great success over the past century, because our Party has always followed its development path, always put people first, always prepared for the pain of self-reform, and always upheld the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Standing at a new starting point, the Communist Party of China will continue to lead all Chinese people to move forward and make new strides with greater confidence in a new era.
Not long ago, President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had a candid and constructive virtual meeting. President Xi stated China’s position and bottom line, and at the same time expressed our sincerity about cooperation and proper management of the differences. Both sides believe that the bilateral relationship is extremely important and must not be messed up, and that the two countries need to respect each other and co-exist in peace.
President Xi also put forward three principles for China-U.S. ties, namely mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation, and on that basis, identified four priority areas for China and the US to focus on. These important remarks reflected the Chinese leader’s deep thinking on the evolution of the China-US relations, and also outlined the framework for its development in the future.
The interests of China and the US are deeply intertwined. The two countries stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. President Xi Jinping pointed out that the world is big enough for our two countries to develop individually and collectively. The right thing to do is to choose mutual benefit over zero-sum game or the I-win-you-lose approach.
With broad common interests in a wide range of areas including economy, energy, mil-to-mil, law-enforcement, education, science and technology, cyber, environmental protection and sub-national cooperation, the two countries may draw on what each other has to offer and make the pie bigger for China-U.S. cooperation.
When talking about the future of China-US relations, President Xi Jinping compared China and the US to two giant ships that are breaking waves and forging ahead. He pointed out that the two sides must keep a steady hand on the tiller to make sure that the two ships will not deviate from the route, lose speed, or even collide with each other.
We hope that the US will match its important statements including not fighting a new Cold war, not seeking conflict or confrontation, and not supporting “Taiwan independence” with specific policies and real actions. Only in this way can the China-US relationship achieve steady and long-term growth and benefit both countries and the whole world.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As business leaders and influential experts, you all are followers, participants and stakeholders in international relations, including China-U.S. relations. I wish to take this valuable opportunity to share three of my expectations:
First, I hope you will cooperate with China for mutual benefit.
The great re-juvenation of the Chinese nation is irreversible. It is not only the common dream of all Chinese people, but will be a big achievement in the progress of humanity as a whole.
China has created a lot of opportunities for the world through its own development, and is willing to share these opportunities with others.
It is my hope that all of you will take a rational, fair and objective view of China’s development,and find cooperation opportunities in China’s development for common progress. Let’s work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind and promote world peace and development.
Second, I hope you will contribute more positive energy to the development of China-US relations.
Getting the relationship right is not optional, but is something we must do and must do well.
Amity between the people holds the key to state-to-state relations. Fifty years ago, Chinese and American table tennis teams exchanged visits. The story of “a small ball moving the big ball” ushered in the normalization of China-U.S. relations.
Today, 50 years on, Chinese and American players formed a mixed doubles team and won good result at the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships, marking a new chapter of “Ping Pong diplomacy”.
I wish you carry forward rationality and goodwill, build up peace and friendship, play a positive role in your respective fields, and contribute your share to the growth of China-US relations.
Third, I hope you will join and share Hong Kong’s development opportunities.
Hong Kong is facing new historical opportunities. Weeks ago, our Commissioner’s Office, together with the HKSAR Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government, jointly organized a virtual tour to the Greater Bay Area for foreign businesses in Hong Kong, which was warmly welcomed and widely received.
We encourage and support all friends from the business community to pitch in to safeguard Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and help Hong Kong further integrate into the overall national development. All of you are welcome to take an active part in the Greater Bay Area through Hong Kong and reap benefits from the Greater Bay Area so that we could build a better future together.
Finally, I wish the China Conference every success!
Thank you so much!