Director General Dr. John Chipman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a real pleasure and privilege for me to speak at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. I want to thank Dr. Chipman for his kind invitation.
Being a world-leading institute in strategic studies, IISS’s research and analysis on global security, world politics and military conflict is held in high regard world-wide. The publications The Military Balance and Strategic Review are on the must-read list of many scholars in international affairs.
Take Military Balance 2011 for example, which I quoted many times in my speeches.
Military Balance 2011 showed clearly China’s defence spending was low compared with other major countries.
In 2010 Chinese defence spending made up only 1.3% of China’s GDP. This figure was much less than that of traditional military powers like the US, UK and Russia. In addition the data showed that Chinese defence spending was comparatively lower than emerging economies like India and Brazil.
Military Balance 2011 also revealed that on per capita terms China’s military spending was even lower. It accounted for merely one thirty eighth of the US and one twentieth of Britain. I am deeply impressed by Military Balance 2011 as these figures are so striking and convincing.
Now back to the theme of my speech today. That is China’s Diplomacy in the New Era.
There are three reasons why I stress the ‘New Era.’
First, there has been a major leadership change in China in recent months.
As these new leaders take office we can expect them to maintain overall consistency with China’s foreign policies. However, inevitably there will be some new features in China’s diplomacy.
Second, today’s China is very different from the China of ten years ago - or even five years ago.
China is now the second largest economy of the world. China’s foreign trade volume is basically on the par with the United States. China has the world’s largest foreign exchange reserve. Last year China had overtaken the United States and become the largest international tourism consumer. The number of outbound Chinese tourists reached 83 million. They spent 102 billion US dollars.
Third, the world today is undergoing unprecedented changes.
Billions of people and a large number of developing countries are marching towards modernization. For the first time emerging market economies and low income countries make up over half of global GDP.
These trends show global growth gravity is shifting.
Developing countries contribute more than 50% to global economic growth. At the same time interdependence among countries are deepened as never before. Interests of all peoples are increasingly intertwined.
So, what do all these global changes mean for Chinese diplomacy? To understand China’s diplomacy in the new era, I believe we need to grasp the goals and actions of China’s diplomacy.
The goals of China’s diplomacy explain what kind of world China wants to build. This raises the question of what kind of world best serves the interests and development of China? My answer is China needs three kinds of world:
First, it should be a world of peace and development.
The past three decades saw the unprecedented growth of China. This directly evolved from China’s ‘reform and opening’ up policies.
It is also well worth stressing that this growth of China is equally attributable to the overall peace and stability in the world.
However, today’s world is far from being tranquil:
· Global threats and challenges of various kinds crop up one after another.
· Local turbulence and hotspot issues remain intractable.
· International terrorists, ethnic separatists and religious extremists are still rampant in some regions. The Boston bombings two days ago are just a case in point.
· Without peace, neither China nor the world can achieve its development goals.
As an ancient Chinese saying goes:
“When a bird’s nest is overturned, no egg can survive.”
China wants to realize its dream of economic growth, national revival and the contented life of its people.
However, to realize this dream China has to do the following:
· China must strive to create an external environment of lasting peace and stability.
· China must work hard to make sure that peace and development will prevail in the world.
· China must also work to get other countries on board for a path of peaceful development.
In the past decades, China has taken an active part in globalization and benefited great deal from it.
A striking feature of globalization is openness and cooperation.
China has followed this trend and fully integrated itself into the world. The result is China has achieved development through openness and cooperation. Today’s China is the largest trading partner of dozens of major trading countries.
If we take a look at the world economic landscape, we will see that the international financial crisis has wreaked great damage.
Uncertainties and destabilising factors in global economic growth are on the rise.
It is, and should be, of very deep concern that the spectre of protectionism is looming.
In such circumstances China even more strongly advocates and supports a multi-lateral trading regime. There is compelling evidence of the mutual global benefits of a trading system that is open, free and facilitating. It is critical that globalization advances and does not retreat.
Two days ago China and Iceland signed a free trade agreement. This is the first bilateral free trade agreement China has concluded with a European country. It is one of the concrete actions that China has taken to promote China-Europe win-win cooperation. The aim is to advance trade and investment liberalisation. I believe it will play a positive role in promoting free trade in the world.
The third kind of the world we need is a world of diversity and harmony.
Today’s world is moving towards multi-polarity. This means we feel the presence of not only the East and the West, but also the South and the North.
Many have quoted from The Ballad of East and West by British poet Rudyard Kipling to accentuate the estrangement and confrontation between the East and the West.
This is the most famous line from the poem:
“East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.”
But, this is only the first stanza of the poem.
The division it talks about is limited to geography. Many have failed to get the real import of this poem expressed in the lines that follow:
“But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth, When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth!”
China believes that there should be diversity in world civilization.
The world is rich and diverse only when nations and peoples maintain their distinct characteristics.
Along this line of thinking China also believes that there is not a one-size-fits-all model.
Countries should be allowed to choose their development paths based on their own national conditions. As Chinese President Xi Jinping has recently pointed out:
“Only the wearer knows whether the shoes are fitting.”
What I have described above are China’s dream about the world.
Then how will China make this dream come true? That leads to the question what China’s diplomacy will do. I believe China’s diplomatic actions will concentrate on three areas.
First, we will carry out the spirit of mutual benefit and pursue friendship and cooperation with all other countries in the world.
In his book The Grand Chessboard, Zbigniew Brzezinski describes the Eurasia continent as the geopolitical chessboard or focal point for American diplomacy.
China thinks much more broadly. The Chinese diplomatic chessboard reaches far beyond the Eurasia continent.
China will improve and develop relations with developed countries. We will broaden cooperation areas and properly manage differences.
More importantly, China will not repeat the history of the current established powers who confronted each other and fought for ascendancy.
Rather China will build a new type of relations between big countries that feature openness, inclusiveness and mutual trust. In their recent telephone conversation, President Xi Jinping and President Obama have reached important agreement on this new type of relations between China and the United States.
China and the EU have established a comprehensive strategic relationship. This is very significant as we are each other’s largest trading partner.
China firmly supports the EU efforts to tackle debt crisis. We are now discussing with the EU about institutional building for China-EU mid and long term cooperation. At the same time we will redouble efforts to advance cooperation in urbanization, new energy, scientific innovation and green development.
China will stick to the policy of developing friendly and good-neighborly relations with surrounding countries.
Following this policy, China will strengthen friendship with our neighbors. Also, China will deepen mutually beneficial cooperation so that China’s development will bring greater benefits to countries in our neighborhood.
China’s trade with its neighboring countries now stands at 1.3 trillion US dollars. This is more than combined volume of China-EU and China-US trade.
China will take an active part in Asian regional cooperation. We also firmly support opening Asia for cooperation with other regions.
We welcome countries out of the region to play a constructive role in the region’s stability and development.
Of course, there is no denying that China has territorial disputes with some neighboring countries. On these territorial disputes there are clear principles:
· China will not compromise its legitimate rights and interests.
· Nor will China sacrifice its core national interests.
· But China is always committed to handling and resolving disputes through peaceful consultation and negotiation.
· China will always be a force for regional peace and stability.
· We are keeping a close eye on the recent destabilizing factors in our neighboring area.
· China will not allow anyone to make trouble on its doorstep.
· Nor will we allow any country to disturb Asia.
Turning to relations with other developing countries.
China will consolidate solidarity with developing countries. We will always be a reliable friend and sincere partner of developing countries.
President Xi Jinping has recently visited Africa. There he stated that in deepening friendship and cooperation with Africa, China would stress “sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith.’
In this spirit, in the coming three years China will provide Africa with strong support. This includes:
· 20 billion US dollars of loans.
· Train 30 thousand personnel of various specialties for African countries.
· And offer 18 thousand scholarships for African students.
China will step up cooperation with emerging economies like the BRICS countries to achieve common development.
Our objective is to boost economic growth of BRICS countries, improve the cooperation mechanism and make our collaboration more fruitful.
China will push forward the initiatives of the New Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangement. China will work to speed up practical cooperation in a wide range of areas so that political consensus can be translated into actions.
The second area of China’s diplomatic action is in multilateral diplomacy.
· China will actively participate in multilateral affairs.
· China will contribute to the building of international system and global governance in the new era.
Profound changes have taken place in the international situation. The result is that all countries need to work together as passengers in the same boat.
China believes that the multilateral system in the 21st century should keep pace with the times and be more just and reasonable. To this end, it needs to be more representative, more fair and more effective.
China is a player, builder and contributor of the international system. We will always bear in mind the interests of both Chinese people and peoples around the world.
To be specific:
· China will take a more active part in international political, security and development affairs.
· China will play the role of a responsible big country.
· China will join hands with other countries to address global challenges.
· China will continue to support the United Nations, G20, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. It will encourage each to play their positive role.
· We believe that efforts should be made to improve the international monetary system. That means increased coordination on macro economic policies; toughen international financial regulation; and increase developing countries’ representation and say in international financial institutions.
· China will continue to play a constructive role on international and regional hotspot issues.
· China will help to resolve the issues or ease the tension.
· China will work to maintain peace and stability of the Korean peninsula.
· China will promote the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation.
· China will help move forward the political process of resolving the Syrian issue.
· China will continue to actively participate in international security dialogue. That means cooperation in disarmament and arms control; nuclear non-proliferation; counter terrorism and combating sea piracy.
Turning to the third area of China’s diplomatic action.
China will redouble its efforts in public diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges.
This will increase mutual understanding between China and the rest of the world.
It must be pointed out that in many Western countries the public read much more bad news about China than good news. One of the reasons is that Western media tend to be negative. This reminds me of an English saying “Good news never goes beyond the gate, while bad news spread far and wide.”
Maybe it is because Western media believe that bad news is more eye-catching and increases more readership. But the result is the public in Western countries has been denied a full and true picture of China.
Therefore an important task of China’s diplomacy is to make China’s voice heard and let the world know good news about China.
This means China must be much more effective in telling the real story about China.
This means that China must energetically promote people-to-people exchanges between China and the rest of the world. Through such efforts:
· People in other countries would know about China’s history, culture, tradition and its current unique system.
· They would appreciate the long journey China has traveled, how it has traveled and where it is headed in the future.
· They would understand China’s economic, political, social and foreign policies.
· They would get an idea of Chinese people’s feelings, thoughts and daily lives.
If we can do this, there will be more understanding, less miscomprehension about China. There will be more people seeing China as an opportunity rather than a threat.
My speech today can be regarded as a part of these efforts. I do hope it will help you with a better understanding of China’s diplomacy.
This morning I attended Baroness Thatcher’s funeral as representative of the Chinese government. I know there are diverse opinions about her in British public and media.
However, we in China fully acknowledge her historic contribution to the development of China-UK relations, in particular the resolution of the Hong Kong question.
I read an article in Financial Times suggesting that a major diplomatic legacy of Baroness Thatcher was “firm principle, faith and necessary flexibility.”
People may debate whether this is an accurate summary of Thatcherite diplomacy. But, I do feel that diplomacy needs to allow both principle and flexibility.
A review of China’s diplomacy since the founding of the People’s Republic shows some striking features. This is that Chinese diplomacy is upholding principles and pursuing ideals.
At the same time we stress combination of principle and flexibility.
In this new era, China’s diplomacy has identified its goals and set out its actions.
We will maintain consistency and make innovations.
For these reasons, I am convinced that China’s diplomacy will achieve, advance and make many more contributions.
In this way China will help make the world a better place for us all to live.
Thank you.
原文链接：http://www.iiss.org/events-calendar/2013-events-archive/april-2013/the-foreign-policy-of-the-new-chinese-government/
尊敬的奇普曼所长，
女士和先生们：
很高兴应奇普曼博士邀请来到国际战略问题研究所（IISS）。国际战略问题研究所是世界政治和安全领域知名研究机构。你们出版的《军事力量对比》和《战略研究》是许多国际问题学者的必读刊物。记得我在以前的演讲中就曾引用过2011年《军事力量对比》中关于中国军费开支的相关内容，那份年度报告清楚地表明中国的军费在世界各国中处于较低水平，2010年仅占GDP的1.3%，不仅远低于美国、英国、俄罗斯等传统军事强国，也低于印度、巴西等新兴国家。如果从人均军费角度看，中国则更低，仅有美国的1/38，英国的1/20。由于这些内容非常具有说服力，所以我一直记忆犹新。
我今天演讲的主题是“新时期的中国外交”。为什么说是“新时期”，我想主要有三个因素：
第一，众所周知，从去年底到今年初，中国刚刚进行了党和国家领导人的换届。随着中国新一代领导人的执政，中国外交在继承和延续的基础上，必然会创新和发展。
第二，今天的中国与五年前、十年前都不可同日而语。中国现在已是世界第二大经济体，中国的对外贸易量基本与美国持平，中国具有世界上最多的外汇储备。我最近看到的一个消息是，去年中国超过美国成为世界第一大国际旅游消费国，中国海外旅游的游客人数达到了8300万，境外消费1020亿美元。
第三，今天的世界格局正经历前所未有的变化。全球几十亿人口和大批发展中国家正加速迈向现代化；新兴市场国家和低收入国家第一次占全球GDP权重的一半以上；全球增长重心发生转移，发展中国家对全球经济增长的贡献已超过50%。同时，各国相互联系、依存程度空前加深，人类越来越成为“命运共同体”。
新时期的中国外交是什么？回答这个问题，我认为要把握两条主线：一是中国外交的目标；二是中国外交的行动。
中国外交追求的目标，也就是说中国希望建立一个什么样的世界？什么样的世界最符合中国的利益，有利于中国的发展？我的回答是：“三个世界”。
首先是和平发展的世界。过去三十多年，是中国发展最快的时期，这得益于中国自身的改革开放，也得益于世界总体保持了和平稳定。但是今天的世界并不安宁，各种全球性威胁和挑战层出不穷，局部动荡和热点问题复杂难解。国际恐怖势力、民族分裂势力、极端宗教势力在一些地区仍很猖獗。前天在美国波士顿发生的爆炸事件再次证明这一点。没有天下太平，中国和世界都不可能顺利发展。中国古语说：“覆巢之下，岂有完卵”。中国要实现国家富强、民族复兴、人民幸福的“中国梦”，就必须致力于营造一个持久和平稳定的外部环境，就必须努力推动和平与发展始终成为世界的主题，就必须促进世界各国与中国一起走和平发展的道路。
第三是多元和谐的世界。今天的世界，既有南与北，也有东与西。不少人曾引用英国诗人吉卜林的《东西方民谣》中第一句话：“东是东，西是西，两者永不相期”，来强调东西方之间的对立与隔阂。殊不知，吉卜林所指的隔阂仅仅是地理意义上的，而这首诗的下面几句才是作者的本意：“但当两位巨人相对而立，无所谓东也无所谓西，也别在意那种族与血裔，尽管他们来自世界的两极。”中国主张世界文明应保持多样性，只有保留各国各民族的特色，世界才是丰富多彩的。中国也认为天下没有放之四海皆准的模式，各国应当选择适合自己国情的发展道路。正如习近平主席指出的，“鞋子合不合脚，自己穿了才知道。”
这“三个世界”也可以说就是中国的“世界梦”。中国如何去实现这“世界梦”，也就是中国外交将做什么？我认为主要是三个方面：
第一个方面是贯彻互利共赢精神，全面发展与世界各国的友好合作关系。
布热津斯基曾写过一本书《大棋局》，将欧亚大陆视作美国外交的地缘战略大棋盘。中国外交的这盘棋则超出了欧亚大陆，要宽广得多。
我们将改善和发展同发达国家关系，拓宽合作领域，妥善处理分歧，不走大国争霸、对抗的历史老路，而是建立开放、包容、互信的“新型大国关系”。最近习近平主席和奥巴马总统通话，两国领导人就中美构建新型大国关系达成重要共识。中欧建有全面战略伙伴关系，双方互为最大贸易伙伴。中国一贯坚定地支持欧洲应对债务危机的努力，也正在与欧方商谈中欧中长期合作的机制建设，双方在城镇化、新能源、科技创新和绿色发展等领域的合作正在积极推进。
中国将坚持与邻为善、以邻为伴的周边政策，巩固睦邻友好，深化互利合作，努力使自身发展更好惠及周边国家。现在，中国同周边国家贸易额达1.3万亿美元，超过中欧、中美贸易之和。中国将积极参与亚洲区域合作进程，坚定支持亚洲地区对其他地区的开放合作，欢迎域外国家为本地区稳定和发展发挥建设性作用。不可否认，当前中国与一些邻国存在领土争议，在这个问题上，中国不会放弃我们的正当权益，不会牺牲国家核心利益，但中国始终致力于和平协商谈判，妥善处理和解决争议，努力维护地区和平与稳定。中国也高度关注近来出现的周边不稳定因素，中国不会允许任何人在中国家门口生事，也不能允许任何国家把亚洲搞乱。
中国将加强同广大发展中国家的团结合作，永远做发展中国家的可靠朋友和真诚伙伴。习近平主席最近访问非洲时，表示中国将加大与非洲国家发展“真、实、亲、诚”的关系，深化中非友谊与合作。为此，未来三年内，中国将向非洲提供200亿美元货款，为非洲国家培训3万名各类人才，提供1.8万个奖学金留学生名额。
中国将加强与金砖国家等新兴经济体的携手合作、共同发展，使金砖国家经济增长更加强劲，合作架构更加完善，合作成果更加丰富。中国将积极推进金砖国家开发银行、外汇储备库等项目，加快各领域务实合作，把政治共识转化为具体行动。
第二个方面是积极参与多边事务，努力为新时期国际体系建设和全球治理做出贡献。中国认为面对国际形势深刻变化和世界各国同舟共济的客观要求，21世纪的国际多边体系应与时俱进，朝着公正合理的方向有序发展，应当扩大代表性，提升公正性，增强实效性。
中国作为国际体系的参与者、建设者、贡献者，将坚持把中国人民利益同各国人民共同利益结合起来，以更加积极的姿态参与国际政治、安全和发展事务，发挥负责任大国作用，同各国一道共同应对全球性挑战。
中国将继续支持联合国、二十国集团、上海合作组织、金砖国家机制等发挥积极作用，将继续主张完善国际货币体系、加强各国宏观经济政策协调、强化国际金融监管、增加发展中国家在国际金融机构中的发言权和代表性。中国将在国际和地区热点问题上继续发挥建设性作用，推动问题的解决和降温。
中国将努力维护朝鲜半岛和平稳定，促进通过对话谈判解决伊朗核问题，推动叙利亚问题政治解决进程。中国将继续积极参与国际裁军与军控、核不扩散、反恐、打击海盗等领域的国际安全对话与合作。
第三个方面是大力开展公共外交和人文交流，促进中国与世界的相互了解。今天，在不少西方国家，对中国的负面消息传播得多，正面信息报道得少。这其中很大一个原因是西方传媒的报道倾向，认为媒体就是要专报坏消息。这使我想起英语有句谚语：“好消息不出门，坏消息到处传”。也许西方媒体认为坏消息更能吸引读者，更有利于报纸的销量，但结果是西方读者看不到一个全面的中国，西方民众了解不到一个真正的中国。
今天，中国外交的一项重要任务就是要让世界听到中国的声音，听到中国的好消息，就是要向世界各国的民众全面、客观地介绍中国，大力推进中国与世界各国的人文交流，使各国民众了解中国的历史变革、文化传统和制度特色；了解中国发展全貌、进步轨迹和前进方向；了解中国的经济、政治、社会和外交政策；了解中国的民情、民意和民生。只有这样，世界才会少一些对中国的误解，多一些对中国的理解；少一些“中国威胁论”的论调，多一些“中国机遇论”的声音。
我今天与大家交流，也可以说是一次公共外交和人文交流，让大家更加深入地了解中国外交。
今天上午，我作为中国政府代表出席了英国前首相撒切尔夫人的葬礼。关于撒切尔夫人的评价很多，英国公众和媒体看法也不尽一致。我们充分肯定她为中英关系的发展，特别是为香港问题的解决所做的历史性贡献。我读到《金融时报》一篇文章称，撒切尔夫人的重要外交遗产就是坚定的原则和信念及必要的灵活性。这是否是对撒切尔外交的准确评价人们还可以讨论，但我认为外交的确要兼顾原则性与灵活性。纵观六十多年新中国外交，一大特点就是坚持原则，秉承理念，同时强调原则性与灵活性的结合。在新的时期，中国外交有目标、有行动，我们既要保持连续性，又要不断创新。我相信，中国外交将更有作为。
谢谢。
