Vigorously Building up People’s Friendship and Promoting China-U.S. Relations

Vigorously Building up People’s Friendship and Promoting China-U.S. Relations

--- A Speech Delivered at the 9th China-U.S. Civil Peace Forum

By Wang Yajun

CPAPD Adviser and Vice Minister of IDCPC

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and gentlemen, friends;

Good Morning.

First of all, I wish to congratulate the successful convocation of the 9th China-U.S. Civil Peace Forum. I am honored to have the opportunity to get together with new and old friends to discuss important strategies for the Sino-U.S. relations development. For many years in the past, American Friends Service Committee, American Chamber of Commerce in the PRC and enterprises concerned as well as experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs present of both countries work hard for advancing the Sino-U.S. friendship, and make many years of painstaking efforts. I like to take this opportunity to express my sincere respect and heartfelt thanks.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends;

President Xi Jinping stresses that the state-to-state relations is in the end the relations between peoples, and the peoples friendly exchanges are the source of running water for the state-to-state relations. This year is the 40thanniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and the United States, but days for the peoples’ friendly exchanges between the two countries goes far back in history. Looking back at the peoples’ friendly exchanges and the history of the relations development between the two countries, we can draw an important enlightenment: the peoples of the two countries are the real builders of the Sino-U.S. relations and the development of the Sino-U.S. relations is benefited from the support of the two peoples.

The peoples’ friendly exchanges between China and the United States goes back to ancient times. As far back as 230 years ago, the U.S. tradingboat the Empress of China made the maiden voyage across the Ocean, opening the trading lane voyage between China and the United States, and also raised the curtain for the friendly exchanges between the two peoples. About 150 years ago, over 14,000 Chinese builder, in the special spirit of enduring hardships and with wisdom, together with the American people built the Pacific railway from east to the west across the United States, having made important contributions to the U.S. social and economic development.

The peoples of China and the United States share valuable friendship to safeguard peace. During World War II, China and the United States as allies during the war fought shoulder to shoulder to safeguard world peace and justice. The stories about the Chennault-commanded American Flying Tigers together with the Chinese people in their fight against the Japanese invaders are widely known in China, and members of the group also built deep friendship with the local Chinese people. Over a 1000 American fighters contributed their precious life for the just cause of the Chinese people. We Chinese people will never forget the just support and valuable aid provided by the American people to the Chinese people in their resistance against aggression and struggles for freedom and independence.

The peoples of China and the United States make joint efforts to push forward the constant development of the Sino-U.S. relations. During the Cold War, under the conditions of estrangement between China and the United States, the strong aspirations of the two peoples for exchanges help to bring about the Ping-Pong diplomacy, smartly open the door to normalization of bilateral relations, achieve the diplomatic goal of “small Ping-Pong ball plays a big role”, and leave behind a favorite topic in the Sino-U.S. relations history. Over the past 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the sustainable dedicated hand-in-hand efforts of the peoples of the two countries recorded one historical achievement after another in the Sino-U.S. relations, and brought the Sino-U.S. relations to the height unimaginable 40 years ago. In summary, the Sino-U.S. relations is the embodiment of the unremitting and painstaking efforts of several generations of the two peoples, and is not achieved easily and valuable indeed.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends;

The Sino-U.S. relations has grown with common support of the peoples of the two countries, and the two peoples including all present today are both builders for the Sino-U.S. relations and also beneficiary of the tangible results of the Sino-U.S. relations development.

The healthy and stable development of the Sino-U.S. relations creates an international environment for the peoples of the two countries to enjoy peace and development. During the Second World War, China and the United States were fighting shoulder to shoulder, helped the peoples of the two countries and the world to triumph over the fascist invasion, and recovered the peaceful and good life. In the post-War period, China and the United States together with other countries concerned established and maintained the international system with the United Nations at the core and sustainably provide the international institutional foundation for peoples of various countries including those of China and the United States to enjoy peace and development. Currently, both China and the United States are facing the challenges of development and transition, so we need more healthy and stable development of the Sino-U.S. relations, and create sound conditions for the peoples of the two countries to advance their national development.

The healthy and stable development of the Sino-U.S. relations have brought about tangible economic benefits to the peoples of the two countries. In 1979 soon after the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and the United States signed China-U.S. Trade Agreement, strengthening economic exchanges are the urgent needs by both sides. Today after 40 years, the daily trade volume between the two countries is as high as US$1.5 billion, close economic and trade exchanges are not only in favor of China’s economic development, but also provides a strong impetus for sustainable and stable U.S. economic development. A large number of U.S. business, through trade and investment with China, share the huge dividend of China’s development, and received heavy returns. In line with the report of AmCham China, about 2/3 of American corporation in China recorded the business profitability equal to or higher than their global business profitability. Meanwhile, nice and cheap Chinese goods exported to the United States reduce the living cost of the American people, and save about US$ 850 for average American family annually.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends;

Currently, the Sino-U.S. relations again comes to a critical historical juncture, so both sides need to make a correct strategic choice with wisdom and courage. No matter how the situation changes, the nature of the Sino-U.S. mutual benefit and win-win results has not changed, and support and expectation for the Sino-U.S. relations by the two peoples have not changed either. The Chinese people still believe that the Sino-U.S. relations is one of the most important bilateral relations, the United States is one of the most important countries for China’s economy and one of the most important security cooperation partners. In March last year, the Gallup poll showed that the U.S. public favorability for China was 53%, having reached the highest level over 30 years. Even with the backdrop of the Sino-U.S. trade frictions, 87% of American enterprises doing business in China express their continuous stay in China,74% of the members of AmCharm PRC plans to expand investments. The support and expectation of the peoples of the two countries give us reasons to have full confidence in the Sino-U.S. relations, and the two sides should work together to promote the comprehensive, coordinated and stable development of the Sino-U.S. relations, collectively create a better future for the welfare of the peoples of the two countries.

First of all, vigorously strengthening strategic mutual trust between the two sides. Trust is the foundation for human relations and precondition for state-to-state exchanges. Statesmen of the two countries should be bold to shoulder historical responsibilities under the new conditions, plan the bilateral relations with strategic height and long-term vision, enhance mutual understanding and trust through routine communications, so as to make the foundation for the Sino-U.S. cooperation more solid and the impetus stronger.

Secondly, unswervingly promoting open cooperation. President Xi Jinping stresses that win-win cooperation is always the sole correct choice for the Sino-U.S. relations development. Presently, China has constantly taken new steps for deepening reform and expanding opening-up, China and the United States share increasing communications on international and regional affairs and global issues, so the bilateral cooperation space is bound to enlarge. Various circles of the two counties should firmly grasp the opportunity, actively search for and enlarge the convergence of interests, and work continuously for achieving new cooperation results.

Thirdly, properly managing and controlling the differences between the two sides. The world is in diversity, differences are natural. The history and culture, social systems, and domestic situation between China and the United States are different, so it is only normal for the two sides to have different views and interests on some specific issues, however, the existing differences does not mean going confrontational. Both sides should fully recognize the common interests they share, properly handle and effectively control differences, seek common ground while shelving differences and achieve common development.

As Chinese ancient maxim says, It's better to rise and act than to sit and talk. Dr. Martin Luther King said: “The time is always right to do what is right.” It is the Sino-U.S. Civil Peace Forum and all those present who rise to act and do what is right. The Sino-U.S. Civil Peace Forum has successfully been held 8 times since it is established in 2008, has become an important platform for people –to-people exchanges, and has played an active role for enhancing mutual exchanges and understanding between the peoples of the two countries and promote the Sino-U.S. relations. I believe that with joint efforts of both sides, the Forum will be run better with increasing influence and play a bigger role for the sustainable, healthy and stable development of the Sino-U.S. relations.

I wish the 9th China-U.S. Civil Peace Forum a complete success!

Thank you.