以史鉴今，面向未来，把握中美关系正确方向
Drawing on History and Looking to the Future to Advance China-U.S. Relations Along the Right Track
纪念中美“乒乓外交”50周年
In Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of China-U.S. Ping-Pong Diplomacy
杨洁篪 2021年4月29日
Yang Jiechi 29April 2021
一
I
今年是中美“乒乓外交”50周年。1971年4月，参加在日本名古屋举行的第三十一届世界乒乓球锦标赛的美国乒乓球代表团应中国乒乓球代表团邀请访问中国。一年后，中国乒乓球队回访美国。访问期间，两支球队都受到彼此国家和人民的热烈欢迎与热情接待。中美“以小球转动大球”，融化了两国历时20多年相互隔绝的坚冰。
This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-U.S. Ping-Pong diplomacy. In April 1971, the U.S. table tennis team, which was attending the 31st World Table Tennis Championships in Nagoya, Japan, paid a visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese table tennis team. One year later, the Chinese team made a return visit to the United States. During the visits, both teams were warmly welcomed and received by each other’s country and people. The two sides enabled the little ball to move the big ball, thus thawing the ice of over two decades of estrangement between the two countries.
50年前，毛泽东主席、周恩来总理和尼克松总统、基辛格博士等中美两国老一辈领导人，从两国人民共同利益出发，以非凡的战略眼光和政治勇气，作出了重新开启两国交往大门的战略决策，亲自决策并推动实施了中美“乒乓外交”。1971年7月，基辛格博士秘密访华。1972年2月，尼克松总统访问中国，中美实现“跨越太平洋的握手”，翻开了两国关系的新篇章。
Back fifty years ago, the elder generation of Chinese and American leaders-Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, President Richard Nixon and Dr. Henry Kissinger-acted in the common interests of the two peoples and demonstrated strategic vision and extraordinary political courage, with their strategic decision to reopen the door of exchanges between China and the United States. They were personally involved in the decision-making to bring about the Ping-Pong diplomacy. In July 1971, Dr. Kissinger paid a secret visit to China. In February 1972, President Nixon visited China. A “handshake that crossed the vast Pacific Ocean” was realized between China and the United States, which opened a new chapter in relations between the two countries.
二
II
50年来，中美关系历经风雨不断向前，取得历史性成就，不仅给两国和两国人民带来了实实在在的利益，也有力促进了世界的和平、稳定与繁荣。
Over the past five decades, China-U.S. relations have braved wind and rain and continued to move forward and score historic achievements. This has not only brought real benefits to the two countries and peoples but also contributed significantly to world peace, stability and prosperity.
建交以来，中美双边贸易额不断增长。尽管遭遇新冠疫情，去年两国货物贸易额逆势增长8.3%，达5800多亿美元。今年第一季度，中美贸易额同比增长61.3%。中美经贸合作长期是双向互惠的。
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-U.S. trade has kept growing on a steady basis. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, trade in goods grew by 8.3 percent last year to exceed US$580 billion. In the first quarter of this year, two-way trade surged by 61.3 percent over the same period of last year. Such trade and economic cooperation has served the mutual benefit of the two sides over the years.
中美携手推动达成气候变化《巴黎协定》，为全球气候变化合作提供重要动力。4月22日，习近平主席应拜登总统邀请出席“领导人气候峰会”并发表重要讲话，表示中方期待同包括美方在内的国际社会一道，共同为推进全球环境治理而努力。不久前，中美还在上海发表了《中美应对气候危机联合声明》。中美合力应对1997年亚洲金融危机和2008年国际金融危机，为维护国际金融稳定、促进世界经济复苏作出了重要贡献。中美在东帝汶开展粮食安全三方合作，在非洲联手抗击埃博拉疫情，双方在反恐、防扩散、禁毒、疾病防控、维和等领域开展了良好协调与配合，在中东等地区热点问题上保持沟通与协调。
China and the United States have joined forces for the conclusion of the Paris Agreement on climate change, lending important impetus to global climate cooperation. On 22 April, President Xi Jinping attended the Leaders Summit on Climate at the invitation of President Joe Biden and delivered important remarks. President Xi underlined that China looks forward to working with the international community including the United States to jointly advance global environmental governance. At an earlier date, the two sides also released a Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis in Shanghai. China and the United States worked together in responding to the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 international financial crisis, making important contribution to international financial stability and world economic recovery. China and the United States have carried out trilateral cooperation on food security in Timor-Leste and jointly combated Ebola in Africa. The two sides have also coordinated effectively in such fields as counter-terrorism, nonproliferation, anti-narcotics, disease prevention and control and peacekeeping, and have maintained communication and coordination on the Middle East and other regional hotspot issues.
中国领导人亲自参与和推动中美民间往来。习近平主席多年来高度重视并亲自推动两国民间交往，同美国艾奥瓦州老朋友历时30余载的友谊、帮助年近8旬的加德纳女士完成其丈夫重游福建鼓岭遗愿的故事，广为传颂。
Chinese leaders have been involved on a personal basis in promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Over the years, President Xi Jinping has attached great importance to and been personally engaged in people-to-people interactions between the two sides. His 30-year long friendship with old friends in Iowa and his support to Elizabeth Gardner who, in her late 70s, fulfilled her late husband’s wish to revisit Guling in Fujian province, are all fondly remembered stories of China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges.
自1972年中美乒乓球队实现互访后，两国乒乓球界经常进行交流。2002年中国乒乓球队应邀访问芝加哥和洛杉矶，双方老中青三代运动员以球会友，续写“乒乓外交”情谊。中美在文化艺术交流、自然灾害应对等方面保持密切交流协作，在共同抗击新冠疫情中相互支持帮助。
Since the mutual visits between the two table tennis teams in 1972, Chinese and American table tennis players have engaged in frequent exchanges. In 2002, the Chinese table tennis team was invited to Chicago and Los Angeles, where three generations of table tennis players from both sides gathered to renew the friendship initiated by Ping-Pong diplomacy. The two sides have also enjoyed close exchanges and cooperation in the field of arts and culture and on natural disaster response, and have supported and assisted each other in addressing COVID-19.
中美已建立50对友好省州、232对友好城市。疫情期间，两国各界人士仍然频繁通过电话、书信、视频等多种方式保持着沟通交流。上述成果凝聚了中美两国几代人的心血，值得倍加珍惜。
There are now 50 pairs of sister provinces and states and 232 pairs of sister cities between the two countries. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, people across sectors in the two countries have maintained frequent contacts, through either phone calls, correspondence or video conferences. All these come as the result of long-term dedication and commitment by Chinese and American peoples through generations, and all must be cherished and taken good care of by both countries.
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III
我们纪念“乒乓外交”50周年，回首中美关系发展的风雨历程，为的是总结过去，把握现在，开辟未来。从这段历史中，我们至少可以得出以下3条重要启示：
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ping-Pong diplomacy, we look back at the past journey of China-U.S. relations, with all its ups and downs, so that we could learn from history, stick to the present and open up the future. To say the least, that past history may give us the following three important inspirations:
第一，中美应该也完全可以实现和平共处、合作共赢。50年前中美之所以能够在长期对立隔绝的状态下实现破冰并随后开启正式建交大门，50年来中美之所以能够在诸多领域开展合作并取得积极成果，根本原因是双方能从两国和两国人民的共同利益出发，在尊重彼此的政治制度和发展模式的基础上求同存异。
First, China and the United States need to and are fully capable of living in peace and engage in win-win cooperation. The fundamental reason why the two countries were able to break the ice of long-term antagonism and estrangement to establish full diplomatic ties fifty years ago, and why they have since enjoyed fruitful cooperation across the board, lies in the very fact that both countries have managed to act in the shared interests of the two countries and two peoples, as they aspired to seek common ground while reserving differences on the basis of respecting each other’s political systems and development models.
1972年发表的“上海公报”中就明确指出，中美两国社会制度和外交政策有着本质的区别，同意各国不论社会制度如何，都应根据尊重各国主权和领土完整、不侵犯别国、不干涉别国内政、平等互利、和平共处的原则来处理国与国之间的关系。双方还声明，中美关系走向正常化符合所有国家利益。“上海公报”“中美建交公报”和“八·一七公报”共同确认了中美相互尊重、平等相待、求同存异等处理两国关系的准则，构成了中美关系的政治基础。
The Shanghai Communiqué of 1972 explicitly stated that “there are essential differences between China and the United States in their social systems and foreign policies. Yet, the two sides agreed that countries, regardless of their social systems, should conduct their relations on the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, non-aggression against other states, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence”. The two sides stated that progress toward normalizing China-U.S. relations served the interest of all countries. The Shanghai Communiqué, the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, and the 1982 Joint Communiqué established the principles of mutual respect, equality and seeking common ground while putting aside differences as the guiding principles in conducting China-U.S. relations. They form the political foundation of China-U.S. relations.
中国无意否定美国或任何其他国家的政治制度和发展道路，也不谋求在世界上推广中国的政治制度和发展道路，但如果有人要挑战中国共产党、中国政治制度和领导体制，中国人民也绝不会答应。中国将坚定捍卫国家主权、安全、发展利益。
It is not China’s intention to dismiss the political system and development path of the United States or any country in the world. Nor is it China’s desire to disseminate its own political system and development path elsewhere. Nonetheless, the Chinese people will never concede to anyone attempting to challenge the Communist Party of China, China’s political system, or its structure of leadership. China will firmly defend its own sovereignty, security and development interests.
中美两国存在一些分歧是正常的，关键是要相互尊重，平等相待，以建设性方式加以管控和处理，确保中美关系沿着正确方向发展。
It is normal that China and the United States may have differences. What is crucial is that the two countries respect and treat each other as equals, and manage their differences constructively to ensure that the bilateral relationship move forward in the right direction.
第二，作为最大的发展中国家和最大的发达国家、世界前两大经济体、联合国安理会常任理事国，中美承担着特殊国际责任和义务，两国拥有广泛而重要的共同利益。中美合作可以办成有利于两国和世界的大事，中美对抗对两国和世界肯定是灾难。
Second, as the largest developing country and the largest developed country, and as the world’s two largest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the United States shoulder special global responsibilities and obligations, and share extensive and important common interests. China and the United States working together can make great things happen for the two countries and the world at large, while the two countries stuck in confrontation spells disaster for both countries and beyond.
各国从没有像今天这样休戚与共、紧密相连，人类是一个命运共同体。没有哪一个国家能够独善其身、包打天下，只有同舟共济、团结协作，才是正确方向。中美两国应顺应时代发展潮流，以更广阔胸襟和视野看待和处理彼此间关系，努力构建不冲突不对抗、相互尊重、合作共赢的新型大国关系，为促进世界和平与发展作出重要贡献。
Never before have countries in the world been so interdependent and so closely interconnected. Humankind are in a community with a shared future. No country can prosper in isolation or meet all challenges on its own. Embracing unity, cooperation and coordination is the only right way forward. China and the United States should keep pace with the times, and view and handle their relationship with a broader vision and mind. The two countries should work together toward a new model of major-country relations featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, so as to make important contribution to peace and development in the world.
作为拥有14亿人口的发展中大国，中国市场潜力不可限量。中国正抓紧构建以国内大循环为主体，国内国际双循环相互促进的新发展格局，将进一步打造市场化、法治化、国际化营商环境，这必将为包括美国企业在内的各国企业提供更广阔发展空间。我们乐见美国在华企业获得成功，同中方一道维护产业链、供应链安全稳定，更好实现互利共赢。
As a big developing country with 1.4 billion people, China has tremendous market potentials. We are stepping up efforts to foster a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. We will further improve the business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law, and up to international standards. All this will create greater development space for companies from around the world, including those from the United States. We are happy to see American companies succeed in China. We hope they will join us in keeping industrial and supply chains safe and stable for the benefit of both sides.
新冠疫情是人类共同的敌人，抗疫应该成为中美合作的新平台。两国医学专家、科研团队、企业应就疫苗研发、疫情防控开展更多合作，为全球共抗疫情作出贡献。
COVID-19 is the common enemy of humankind, and containing the pandemic should become a new platform for China-U.S. cooperation. Medical experts, research teams and businesses from the two countries should work more closely together on vaccine R&D and COVID response to contribute to the global fight against the virus.
气候变化事关人类前途命运，需要各国携手应对。中美应同其他各方一道加强《巴黎协定》的实施，办好生物多样性公约第15次缔约方大会、联合国气候变化框架公约第26次缔约方大会等活动，为更好应对全球气候环境挑战作出努力，构建人与自然生命共同体。
Climate change concerns the future of humankind, and it calls for a joint response from all countries. China and the United States should work with other parties to better enforce the Paris Agreement and ensure the success of COP15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity, COP26 to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and other events, so as to contribute to the global endeavor to address climate and environment challenges and build a community of life for man and Nature.
中方愿继续与美方就反恐、防扩散等国际地区问题并在联合国、二十国集团等多边框架内加强合作，共同维护地区和世界的和平、稳定与发展。
China is ready to enhance cooperation with the United States on counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and other international and regional issues as well as under multilateral frameworks including the United Nations and the G20, so as to jointly safeguard regional and world peace, stability and development.
第三，民间交往是中美关系健康稳定发展的重要基础和不竭动力。“国之交在于民相亲”。“乒乓外交”50年来，中美民间交往在维护和促进中美关系发展中的作用愈发重要。中美社会各界的交流与往来，有利于加深两国相互理解和友谊，有利于促进两国人民共同利益，有利于中美关系健康发展。近年来美方一些人抱持冷战零和思维，不断给两国正常民间交流制造干扰、设置障碍，是站在了历史的错误一边和两国人民的对立面，注定不得人心。
Third, people-to-people exchange is an important foundation and enduring driving force for the sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations. “Amity between the people holds the key to state-to-state relations.” Over the past five decades since Ping-Pong diplomacy, people-to-people exchange has played an increasingly important role in upholding and advancing China-U.S. relations. Communication and interaction between the two peoples from various sectors help to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries, expand common interests of the two peoples, and facilitate sound development of bilateral relations. In recent years, some in the United States, out of the Cold-War zero-sum mentality, have caused disruption and created obstacles to normal people-to-people exchanges. They stood on the wrong side of history and moved against the will of the people, and their attempt enjoyed no support from the people.
人民是历史的创造者，中美民间友好交往的故事每天都在发生。上个月，第五届中美省州立法机关合作论坛在线上成功举办，中美双方各7个省州立法机关负责人出席并发言。中美友好机构共同主办了“美中农业圆桌论坛”，两国政府农业部门负责人，地方、企业、院校代表和美国国会议员等踊跃出席并发来视频，积极探寻经贸、教育、智库等领域交流合作机遇。本月，双方还在京举办了“乒乓外交”50周年纪念活动，王岐山副主席、美国前国务卿基辛格发表重要视频致辞，中美政商学体各界代表参会，当年“乒乓外交”亲历者隔空对打乒乓，现场气氛热烈感人。
It is the people that make history. Every day stories take place of friendly exchanges between the Chinese and American peoples. Last month, the fifth China-U.S. Subnational Legislatures Cooperation Forum was successfully held online. Leading officials of seven Chinese provincial legislatures and seven U.S. state legislatures spoke at the event. Chinese and U.S. friendly organizations co-hosted the China-U.S. Agriculture Roundtable. Leading officials of agricultural departments, representatives from subnational governments, the business community and educational institutions of both countries, as well as members of the U.S. Congress attended the event and sent video messages. And they actively explored opportunities for business, educational, and think-tank exchanges and cooperation. Earlier this month, the two sides held commemorations in Beijing for the 50th anniversary of Ping-Pong diplomacy. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger delivered important remarks through video links, and representatives from political, business, academic, sport and other sectors of both countries attended the event. Chinese and American participants who were involved in Ping-Pong diplomacy 50 years ago played a virtual ping-pong game in a lively atmosphere that touched the hearts of the audience in both countries.
我们要认真倾听两国人民求和平、促发展、谋合作的心声，为两国地方、企业、智库、媒体、民间团体等开展交往合作创造有利条件，让更多人成为中美关系的参与者、受益者、支持者。
It is now important that we listen to the call of the people on both sides for peace, development and cooperation, and work to create enabling conditions for exchanges and cooperation at the subnational levels and between businesses, think tanks, media and non-governmental groups of the two sides, so that more will join, benefit from and become supporters of China-U.S. relations.
面向未来，中美两国人民友好交往的势头不可阻挡，中美关系保持稳定发展也是两国人民和国际社会的共同期盼。希望美方与中方一道继承和发扬“乒乓外交”所承载的精神，以习近平主席和拜登总统通话精神为指引，认清世界大势，顺应时代潮流，聚焦合作，管控分歧，推动中美关系健康稳定向前发展，同各国一道携手推进世界和平与发展的崇高事业。
We see in front of us the unstoppable trend of friendly exchanges between the Chinese and American peoples, as well as the common aspiration of the two peoples and the wider world for China-U.S. relations to maintain stability and grow further. We hope that the United States will work with China to carry forward and promote the spirit of Ping-Pong diplomacy. We hope the two sides will act on the guidance of the phone call conversation between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden, take a clear grasp of the global trend, and go along the tide of the times. We hope the two sides could focus on cooperation, manage differences, move China-U.S. relations forward in a sound and steady manner, and work with other countries in the world to jointly advance the noble cause of world peace and development.