如何认识中国

尊敬的影阁就业与养老金大臣伯恩阁下，

女士们、先生们：

欢迎大家出席今天的午餐会。不久前，你们赴中国出席第二届中英青年领导者圆桌会。圆桌会取得了圆满成功，我谨向你们表示祝贺，并感谢活动的英方组织者——英中协会的辛勤工作及与中方的默契协调，同时也感谢此次会议的赞助商渣打银行。

此行，你们访问了两个地方——北京和内蒙古，了解、感受了中国的现代化大都市和草原牧区；你们在研讨中回顾了两位著名历史人物——孙中山和凯恩斯，借此比较分析中英历史文化特点，展望两国发展前景；你们在活动中进行了两场模拟游戏——“达·芬奇密码”和“贸易战”，通过这种生动活泼的方式，充分证明跨文化交流的必要性和中英合作的重要性。

英语谚语说：“出行拓宽思想。”作为一名职业外交官，我对此深有体会，也相信你们此行有不少体会和收获。趁你们的印象还很深刻、记忆还很鲜活，我愿与大家一起探讨三个值得深思的问题。

第一个问题是：如何认识、解读共产党领导下的中国？

我这个问题比较直接，但这个问题是当前西方尚未解开的心结。这一心结不解，西方对中国心里总有一块疙瘩，中西方关系总蒙有一层阴影。

再过两个星期就是中国共产党成立90周年。中国共产党执政已有62年，中西方打开交往大门也有40年，冷战也早已结束20年。但西方看待共产党领导下的中国时，并没有完全摆脱冷战思维和零和思维，总是戴着有色眼镜看中国，时常给中国戴上各种帽子。这种旧思维和偏见有百害而无一利。

在西方，很多人听到“共产主义”就会产生心理障碍，因而也就难以客观地看待共产党领导下的中国，看不到正是中国共产党领导中国成为世界第二大经济体和第一大出口国。我认为，认识一个国家，最基本的就是看它的内外政策，认识共产党领导下的中国亦是如此。

共产党领导的中国对内致力于实现民族复兴。20世纪前半叶，中国在共产党领导下获得了民族独立和人民解放，完成了中华民族面对的第一大历史任务；今天，共产党正在带领中国完成第二大历史任务，即实现国家繁荣富强和人民共同富裕。30多年来，中国坚持改革开放，坚持走适合中国国情的发展道路，成就举世瞩目，进步前所未有。

共产党领导的中国对外致力于实现和平发展。中国不是苏联，中国不当头争霸，不搞军备竞赛，不拉帮结盟，不输出意识形态。中国始终不渝走和平发展道路，坚持独立自主的和平外交政策，奉行互利共赢的开放战略，全方位开展对外交往合作，倡导建设持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐世界。中国的发展对世界不是威胁，而是机遇。中国不是国际体系的旁观者、搅局者和破坏者，而是参与者、建设者和贡献者。

一个成功领导本民族走向复兴的政党是一个应当赢得尊敬的政党，一个内求发展、外求和平的国家是一个应当值得信任的国家。

孔子曰：“君子和而不同。”中国与西方政治体制、意识形态不同，但这本不应当成为我们合作的障碍。只要我们互相包容、和而不同，放弃遏制与同化，我们完全能够在同一片天空下共同发展。

第二个问题是：英国媒体是否在客观反映一个真实的中国？

我每次与英国朋友谈到英国媒体，他们总是告诉我，对它不要太认真。

但有时英国媒体实在让人难以捉摸。当中国社会和国际舆论热议“十二五”规划——这一今后五年中国的发展目标时，英国媒体却在集中关注一个所谓中国的“行为艺术家”；当英国政府欢迎中国的企业将英作为投资欧洲首选地时，英国媒体却刊登文章，提出要警惕中国企业的所谓“共产党阴影”论调，鼓吹限制中国企业对英投资；当中国大力发展互联网产业、加强网络问政、增强网络安全时，英国媒体却在捕风捉影地将中国政府和军方视为全球范围内网络黑客的背后“主谋”。

为什么在英国媒体眼中的中国，与中国人民正在努力构建的中国如此不同？当然，中国在前进发展的道路上会遇到各种挑战，但中国正在努力跨越各种障碍，消解各种矛盾。无疑，中国不指望世界上所有人对中国的进步满堂喝彩，但也不希望外界总是将中国视作“异类”，并且拿着显微镜从鸡蛋里挑骨头。

我到任一年多来，先后在英主流报刊上发表了一些文章，介绍中国的发展、中国的外交和中英双边关系。但区区一人之力，显然是不够的。不久前，英国一个高级退役将军代表团访问了中国，之后代表团团长拉姆陆军中将有感而发，在《泰晤士报》上写了一篇文章，明确指出西方媒体不应“妖魔化”中国，不应制造一个新敌人，并认为中国致力于发展经济，中国近些年在国际舞台上的举动大都是正面的，中国愿与世界开展对话，西方也应当与中国加强对话。可惜，这样的声音在英国媒体上是少而又少。

在座的各位朋友，你们也刚从中国归来，我希望你们也能不虚此行，将访华的体会和观察凝练成文字，见诸报端，介绍一个你们看到的、感受到的中国。这算是我今天的一个“不情之请”。

第三个问题是：如何不断推进中英关系的发展？

英国联合政府成立一年多来，中英关系总体保持稳定发展势头。双方高层互访不断，合作亮点频现，交流沟通顺畅。但也要看到，中英关系中还有一些问题要得到妥善处理。中英双方应继续齐心协力，共同抓住机遇，克服挑战，深化合作。

我认为，进一步发展中英关系，就如同驾驶一辆汽车，要想跑得又快又舒适，必须牢牢抓住三个关键。

一是方向要稳。中英两国是合作伙伴，不是竞争对手。双方要坚持发展中英全面战略伙伴关系这一大方向不动摇，保持领导人的密切沟通与协调，努力实现2015年贸易额达到1 000亿美元的目标，增强在国际事务中的对话与合作，扩大两国人文交流，增进民众的相互了解。

二是动力要足。当前，中英各领域合作的意愿强、潜力大，双方应加大“油门”，推动合作取得更多实质性成果。比如，中英当前都将调整经济结构、促进经济增长作为第一要务，都希望扩大出口和双向投资。我们应争取在今后几年使经贸关系有质的提升，打造更多像MG6（上南合作下生产的首款重量级车型）这样的标志性合作项目，推动更多像华为公司这样的中国企业在英建立欧洲总部，促进更多像生态城市、低碳建筑这样的技术和创新合作。

三是路况要好。一辆汽车开得平稳顺畅，光靠车辆本身性能还不够，还取决于路面状况。因此，加强中英合作需要良好的环境。具体来说，双方要深化政治互信，发挥政府的主动引导作用；重视合理关切，为合作扫清障碍，创造条件；坚持以平等和相互尊重的原则开展对话，处理分歧；积极营造舆论氛围，使合作成为两国社会的共识。

令人高兴的是，温家宝总理即将访英。这是联合政府成立以来最高级别中国领导人访英，对中英关系来说，这无疑将是一次难得的契机、一大有力的推动。我们愿与英方共同努力，确保访问取得圆满成功，使中英关系迈上新的台阶。

最后，祝愿中英青年领导者圆桌会越办越好，为不断增进中英理解和友谊做出贡献。

谢谢！

How to Understand China

The Rt Hon Liam Byrne,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Chinese Embassy.

I am reminded of an English proverb following your visit to China and participation in the second China-UK Young Leaders Roundtable.

That well-known proverb is that“travel broadens the mind.”

In my career as a diplomat, I really know the value of that proverb. I have had the privilege of working outside China in the USA, Egypt, DPRK, now Britain, and of travelling to more than 60 countries.

Most of you gathered here are at an earlier stage in your careers. You have not had so much time for travel.

I do hope all of you gained valuable experience from this visit to China. In turn I sincerely wish that you share the knowledge to build understanding of China. As China rises it becomes ever more critical that China and the world understand each other.That is the path to a peaceful, sustainable and harmonious world.

I am told that the second China-UK Young Leaders Roundtable was a great success.I must congratulate you on the achievements of the event!

Also, I must say how much I appreciate the hard work of our British organiser—the Great Britain-China Centre. Along with their Chinese colleagues at the All-China Youth Federation, they have displayed tremendous teamwork. Warm thanks should also go to the businesses, such as Standard Chartered Bank, who helped sponsor the Roundtable.

For many of you I gather this may not have been the first visit to China. But I am sure it must be a very interesting and special one.

I was told that you went to Beijing and Inner Mongolia. After that you gained first hand experience about China’s modern cities and its pastoral areas.

In addition, I learned how you studied two great men in our respective histories—Dr. Sun Yat-sen and John Maynard Keynes.

I was briefed that through studying their lives you analysed the historical and cultural traits of our countries. You then used these as a foundation to explore where our countries may be heading.

I gather that you ran two interesting simulations based on The Da Vinci Code and The Trade War . These exercises were designed to impress why intercultural exchanges are so necessary. In turn that highlights why the China-UK partnership is so crucial.

Today I wish to build upon your experiences in China. I propose to do this by raising three questions. In turn, these questions may help renew your memory about China,and hopefully provoke some thoughts.

This is the first question. How do we perceive China under the leadership of the Communist Party?

For Chinese people this is a straightforward question.

But I recognise that the question has been a puzzle that has been bothering China West relations over the years.

In just two weeks’time, the Communist Party of China will celebrate its 90th birthday. It has been a ruling party in China for 62 years.

Also, it has been 40 years since China and the West reestablished relations.

And the Cold War ended over 20 years ago.

But regrettably, the Cold War mentality is still casting its shadow as the West looks at China under the leadership of the Communist Party.

This Cold War mentality hampers the building of trust and respect, which underpins all global collaboration. This mentality makes it a serious challenge to achieve progress on trade and investment and on global issues such as climate change, global financial systems and nuclear safety. It results in prejudice and unfair accusations against China.

I believe to understand a country, it is important to keep an open mind and study the country’s actual domestic and foreign policies. This is especially true when it comes to understanding China.

For too many people in the western world the mere mention of the word“Communism”induces an immediate mental block. That prevents an open examination of the impact of“Communism”as it has been applied in China.

An open mind would immediately grasp the benefits that the Communist Party in China has brought. Over the past three decades the Communist Party in China has brought unprecedented economic advances in the history of the world.

That Chinese economic strength has had profound consequences in the wake of the most recent financial crisis to hit the western world. The global economy could have been plunged into a far deeper crisis if China had not acted. Those actions manifested themselves as China emerged to rank as the world’s second biggest economy and the largest exporter.

Domestically, China led by the Communist Party is committed to revitalising the country.

The first half of the 20th century saw the Communist Party lead the Chinese nation to secure its first historical mission—national independence and liberation. The Communist Party founded in 1949 a New China and ended decades of chaos and extreme deprivation for the Chinese people.

Today the Party is leading the nation and its people towards prosperity—a second historical mission China has to accomplish. No government in the history of the world has taken so many hundreds of millions out of poverty. And that has been achieved in only a few decades.

Over the past three decades and more, China has been committed to reform and opening-up. This has set China on a path to the development suited to China’s realities.The result has been remarkable achievements and progress in China.

Internationally, China is committed to peaceful development. China will be totally misunderstood by those who choose to compare it to the former Soviet Union and its interpretation of“Communism.”

China has no intention to seek hegemony in the world.

China does not favour any arms race.

China has no ambition to export any ideologies.

China pursues peaceful development unswervingly. That means an independent and peaceful foreign policy.

China is engaged in extensive international cooperation. The Chinese government advocates a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

China’s development presents opportunities to the world—certainly not threats.

China is a player and contributor in the international system—not an outsider. The last thing China can be accused of is being a saboteur of global peace and harmony.

A political party that has managed to lead its nation to such historically unprecedented revitalisation deserves respect. A country so committed to national development and international peace has earned the right to be trusted.

Confucius is quoted as saying that“harmony can be won without uniformity.”In other words, we do not all have to be identical in government systems in order to secure global peace and harmony.

China’s diferences with the West in political system and ideology should not stand in the way of cooperation. All we need to do to advance together is to be inclusive and accommodating. We must abandon attempts to contain or convert.

Turning to the second of my three questions for you today. That is about how media in this country presents China to the public.

I talk about the British media with some of my friends in this country. They always say:“Don’t take British media too seriously!”

Let me give you an example of my confusion about the priorities of the British media. The example is the analysis and coverage of the publication of China’s 12th Five-Year Plan.

As you might know, this very important Plan was published a few months ago.In Chinese and the international media, there were very extensive discussions about China’s 12th Five-Year Plan.

However, the British media seemed indiferent. Instead, the British media became incredibly obsessed with a so-called Chinese“protest artist.”

The British government repeatedly stresses its welcome for Chinese businesses in the UK. That welcome has been successful, as the UK has become the top EU destination for Chinese investment. From my observations, that welcome message from the British government is not reflected in the UK media. Instead, a news story warned the British business community of the so-called“Communist spies”within Chinese investors. The British media even suggested restrictions over Chinese investment in the UK.

In your travels in China, you will have been aware of the scale of the growth of the Internet industry in China. One leading British analyst in China is predicting the next Internet innovations worldwide will come from China. But the UK media in this country runs stories that the Chinese government and military are the masterminds behind web hacking worldwide.

Why in the reports of the British media does China attract such negative coverage?

Why do the stories not reflect the reality of what is happening in China today?According to a top economist of the British Standard Chartered bank, China is experiencing an“industrial revolution”with many years to run and this revolution ofers British businesses tremendous opportunities. It is my sincere wish that they could learn more about this in the British media.

There is much to be positive about in my country. Certainly, China is indeed confronted with challenges of one kind or another in its way forward.

But China is also doing all it can to overcome these challenges and bridge the diferences.

China does not expect everybody in the world to applaud its progress. But China certainly does not wish to be treated as if it were a“diferent species.”

I arrived in London as the Ambassador of China 16 months ago. Since then, I have written several articles in major newspapers. Through these I wanted to tell the British public more about China’s development, its foreign policy and its relations with the UK.

But a better understanding about China requires much more than what I can do.

That is why I am heartened by the Times article of retired Lieutenant-General Sir Graeme Lamb. He has recently led a senior delegation of British veteran generals to China. After that trip, he wrote:“We should talk to China, not demonise it.……The danger lies in making a new enemy.……China’s absolute priority remains economic growth……and China’s most recent move on the international stage was a positive one.……When it comes to relations with the Chinese,……it’s good to talk. That applies to both sides.”

I do hope that voices like this will get louder in the British media.

All of you present today are just back from China. My hope is that you will translate what you saw and felt about China into newspaper and web comments. That will help people in this country know more about what China is really like.

My third and last question is how we take China-UK relations forward.

The coalition government has been in place for over one year now. I am glad to say that China-UK relations are in good shape.

We have seen regular exchange of high-level visits, fruitful cooperation and smooth dialogue and communication. But we are also aware of the issues in our relations that need to be tackled properly. I believe that all we need is to continue to work closely,grasp opportunities, overcome challenges and deepen cooperation.

I will use this analogy to describe how I believe we can further China-UK relations.If you want to be a good driver, here are three tips to bear in mind.

The first tip: keep to the right direction.

China and the UK are partners, not rivals. The comprehensive strategic partnership is the one thing we need to strengthen. This ensures close dialogue and coordination at the top level.

In turn that leads to:

By working together, we will strive to double China-UK trade by 2015 to reach 100 billion US dollars.

The second tip: make sure there is enough horsepower.

Various sectors of both China and the UK have shown a keen interest and potential to cooperate. We need to hit the accelerator and facilitate more substantive results.

For instance, China and the UK take economic restructuring and growth as their top priority. Both hope to increase exports and mutual investment.

We should work for significant improvement in the quality of our business ties through more flagship projects. For example, like the MG6, and more businesses like Huawei that has set up its European headquarters in the UK.

Cooperation in technology and innovation is also key, such as with eco-cities and low-carbon buildings.

The third tip: check the road condition.

A smooth road trip does not just depend on how good the car is, but also the road.

China-UK relations also need a smooth road to run fast, or an environment conducive to cooperation.

To be specific, it means deepening political mutual trust:

Also, popular support for cooperation in both countries needs to be strengthened.

Reflecting on our high-level dialogue, I am pleased that Premier Wen Jiabao is coming for an oficial visit very soon.

Premier Wen Jiabao will be the most senior Chinese leader to visit the UK since the coalition government was formed.

This is no doubt a rare opportunity and a strong boost for our relations. We in China are ready to work with our British partners to make the visit a success and bring the relationship to a new level.

Before I conclude, I wish the China-UK Young Leaders Roundtable ever greater success in the future, fostering deeper friendship and understanding between China and the UK!

Thank you. CbxCIJwFdQL2ZheRp9siF7lHlnUJf2Nfa6TVl5qld9dD67cDTE9KV9K6Q+ov9FN3