Respect History, Look to the Future and Firmly Safeguard and Stabilize China-US Relations

尊重历史 面向未来 坚定不移维护和稳定中美关系

Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee

中共中央政治局委员、中央外事工作委员会办公室主任 杨洁篪

The relations between China and the United States are among the most important bilateral relationships in the world. To safeguard and stabilize China-US relations concerns the welfare of the Chinese and American people and people in the world. It also bears on peace, stability and development in the world. President Xi Jinping pointed out, back in 2014, that past and current experiences show that China and the US stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. China and the US working together can make great things happen for the two countries and the world at large, while China and the US stuck in confrontation spells disaster for the two countries and beyond.

中美关系是世界上最重要的双边关系之一。维护和稳定中美关系事关两国人民和世界各国人民福祉，也关乎世界和平、稳定、发展。习近平主席2014年即指出，历史和现实都表明，中美两国合则两利、斗则俱伤。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。

It is important for both China and the US to stand high and look far, and work together to increase cooperation. Commitment to cooperation and non-confrontation between China and the US brings benefit to both countries and to all in the global community. In the exchange of congratulatory messages between the two Presidents on the 40th anniversary of China-US diplomatic ties, President Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past four decades, the bilateral relations have made historic progress despite twists and turns, delivering tremendous benefits to their peoples and contributing significantly to world peace, stability, and prosperity. History has made it abundantly clear that there is no better option than cooperation for both countries. The US side also recognized the enormous progress in US-China relations achieved over the decades. 

双方应该登高望远，加强合作，坚持合作，避免对抗，既造福两国，又兼济天下。在两国元首庆祝建交40周年互致贺信时，习近平主席指出，中美建交40年来，两国关系历经风雨，取得了历史性发展，为两国人民带来了巨大利益，也为世界和平、稳定、繁荣作出了重要贡献。历史充分证明，合作是双方最好的选择。美方也表示，多年来，中美关系取得了巨大发展。

The world is now going through major changes unseen in a century, and peace and development remain the overriding theme of the times. To uphold world peace and promote development for all is the shared mission and responsibility for China and the US. What it requires is for the two countries to view and handle their relationship in a proper manner and seek a way of peaceful co-existence despite differences. It was based on such a recognition that China and the US agreed to work together toward a new model of major-country relations featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. It was also based on this recognition that the two sides, after the current US Administration took office, agreed to jointly promote a China-US relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability.

世界正经历百年未有之大变局，和平与发展仍然是时代主题。维护世界和平、促进共同发展是中美两国的共同责任和使命，需要双方正确看待和妥善处理彼此关系，形成和而不同的相处之道。正是基于这一点，中美双方同意共同构建不冲突不对抗、相互尊重、合作共赢的新型大国关系，本届美国政府执政后中美双方同意共同推动以协调、合作、稳定为基调的中美关系。

Nonetheless, for some time, some politicians in the US have kept making false statements and groundless remarks against China. They have viciously attacked the Communist Party of China (CPC) and China’s political system. They have deliberately distorted and even attempted to write off the history of China-US relations for the past nearly 50 years. What they are up to is to stitch up lies to blind the American people and fool international public opinion. For the international community, it is clear that the US Administration has chosen unilaterally to be provocative. The erroneous words and moves by the US Administration constituted interference in China’s internal affairs. They undermined China’s interests and seriously disrupted China-US relations, putting the relationship in a most complex and grave situation since the establishment of diplomatic ties. In response to the US move, the Chinese Government has expounded its position in a comprehensive manner and reacted resolutely to firmly defend China’s sovereignty, security and development interests and firmly safeguard and stabilize China-US relations.

但是，近一个时期以来，美国一些政客接连抛出种种谬论，恶毒攻击中国共产党和中国政治制度，蓄意歪曲并全盘否定近50年来中美关系的历史。他们试图用谎言蒙蔽美国人民，欺骗国际舆论。国际社会有目共睹，是美执政当局单方面挑起事端，采取一系列干涉中国内政、损害中方利益、严重破坏中美关系的错误言行，导致两国关系出现建交以来异常复杂严峻的局面。对此，中国政府已经全面阐明了中方立场，予以坚决回应，坚定不移维护国家主权安全发展利益，坚定不移维护和稳定中美关系。

A sound and stable China-US relationship affects the well-being of China, the US and the world at large, both now and in the future. It is what the people of both countries and the wider world expect to see. We must never allow a handful of self-serving US politicians to push the relationship into serious jeopardy.

中美关系的健康稳定发展事关中美两国和世界的当下与未来，符合中美两国人民和世界各国人民的共同愿望。绝不能任由美国一小撮政客出于一己私利，把中美关系推到十分危险的境地。