Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai at the International Symposium to Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Establishment of China-US Diplomatic Relations

　　尊敬的吉米·卡特总统，

　　尊敬的李小林女士，

　　女士们，先生们，

　　首先，请允许我向卡特总统、卡特中心、中国人民对外友好协会和中国社科院美国研究所表达诚挚谢意，感谢你们为纪念中美建交40周年国际研讨会所做努力。同时，我也要感谢所有来宾为中美关系发展做出重要贡献。

President Jimmy Carter,

Madam Li Xiaolin,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me start by thanking President Carter, the Carter Center, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, for organizing this Symposium to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China-US diplomatic relations. My sincere thanks also go to all participants here for your precious contribution to the development of the relations.

　　40年前，中国和美国建立外交关系。几乎是同一时期，中国开启了改革开放进程。过去40年里，两国和两国关系都实现了跨越式发展，为两国人民乃至世界各国人民带来巨大福利。正如卡特总统近日在《华盛顿邮报》上撰文指出，“40年的中美关系充分证明，拥有不同历史、文化和政治体制的国家能够为了更大福祉而携手共进。

　　孔子有句名言，“四十而不惑。”然而，在我们纪念40周年时，也必须看到对中美关系仍存在一些非理性质疑和谬见。

Forty years ago, China and the US established diplomatic ties. Almost in the same period, China launched its reform and opening-up. Over the past 40 years, both countries and our relations have developed by leaps and bounds, delivering huge benefits to the people of our two countries and the whole world. Just as President Carter wrote in his recent article in the Washington Post: "The 40th anniversary of this relationship is a testament to the ability of countries with different histories, cultures and political systems to work together for the greater good. "

As Confucius famously said and is quoted on many occasions, "At forty I had no doubts". However, while we are commemorating the 40th anniversary, we cannot but notice some irrational doubts and myths about our relations.

　　一个错误观点认为，美国过去四十年的对华政策失败了，因为中国没有复制美国的政治和经济体制模式。很明显，持这种观点的人完全不了解两国为何建交，不是为了以一国模式重塑另一国，不是为了消除两国之间所有不同。至少，中国从未有过任何改造美国的想法，而迄今为止，也没有任何一届美国政府将改变中国社会体制、发展道路或意识形态正式作为其政策目标。40年前，是共同利益和责任让我们走到一起；今天，也依然是共同利益和责任让中美关系继续向前拓展。

One myth claims that the US policy toward China in the last forty years has failed, as China has not copied the American model in its political and economic systems. Obviously, people holding this view have no idea why we established diplomatic relations in the first place. It is not to remodel one side after the other; it is not to remove all distinctions between our two countries. At least China never has the slightest idea of transforming the US, and not a single US administration so far has formally taken changing China's social system, development path or ideology as its official policy. Forty years ago it was our common interests and responsibilities that brought us together, and it is still the same that have enabled our relationship to continue to grow and expand today.