Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai At the Gala 2019 of the US-China Business Council

尊敬的格林伯格主席、佐利克大使、艾伦会长，

女士们，先生们、朋友们：

　　大家晚上好。很高兴参加今天的晚宴，与新老朋友欢聚一堂。

Chairman Evan Greenberg,

Ambassador Robert Zoellick,

Ambassador Craig Allen,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Good evening. It is my great pleasure to attend the Gala Dinner of the US-China Business Council (USCBC) and join so many old and new friends at this annual event.

　　商界常说：在商言商。但是从来没有离开政治的经济，也没有离开经济的政治。美中贸委会和美国工商界朋友深谙这个道理。1973年，早于中美建交6年，美中贸委会就正式成立，成为促进中美经贸合作和两国关系发展的先行者。40多年来，你们的智慧、远见、坚持和贡献取得了丰硕成果，中美两国人民都会永远铭记。

　　今天中美关系正处在关键路口。过去一年多来，贸易争端的乌云笼罩着中美两国。两国经贸团队正在为解决分歧而共同努力。我们相信，只要坚持在平等互利和相互尊重基础上对话磋商，中美经贸关系就能克服困难，重回互利共赢的正确轨道。

We sometimes hear people say, business is business. But far too often, business is not just business, as economy and politics are always interwoven and interdependent. Our friends at the USCBC and American business community know this very well. The USCBC was founded as early as in 1973, six years ahead of the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations, and since then it has been a pioneer and pathfinder for our economic and trade cooperation and for the overall bilateral relations. Over the past four decades, your wisdom, vision and commitment have turned into concrete and fruitful achievements in China-US relations, which will always be remembered by the Chinese and American people.

Today's China-US relations are at a critical crossroads. Over the past year or so, our two countries have been overshadowed by the trade frictions, and our two sides are working hard to address our differences. We believe that as long as we engage in dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect, we will be able to tide over the difficulties and return to the right track of win-win cooperation.

　　同时，我们必须高度警惕，正当贸易争端复杂难解时，一些破坏性势力正在趁虚而入。“脱钩”、“新冷战”、“文明冲突”等极端主张登堂入室。美国一些人把矛头指向中国的执政党和中国的国家制度，试图在中美之间重建经济、科技和意识形态的“柏林墙”，在两国人民之间散布敌意，甚至在两国之间挑起冲突。我们不禁要问，这样的中美关系是我们40多年来所努力追求的吗？如果任由猜疑、敌意、隔绝、对抗滋长和肆虐，将给两国人民和世界带来什么？

At the same time, we must be alert that some destructive forces are taking advantage of the ongoing trade frictions. Extreme rhetoric, such as decoupling, a new "Cold War", and clash of civilizations, are having their way here. Some people in this country are pointing fingers at the governing party and national system of China. They are trying to rebuild the "Berlin Wall" between China and the US in the economic, technological and ideological fields. They are trying to spread hostilities and even create conflicts between us. In this context, we cannot help but ask, is this a China-US relationship for which we have worked so hard for the past 40 years? If suspicion, animosity, estrangement and confrontation are allowed to grow without any constraint, what consequences will the two peoples and the whole world have to suffer?

　　朋友们，

　　正如习近平主席指出，当前中美双方要纲举目张，就战略性问题加强沟通。这世界上本无所谓“修昔底德陷阱”，真正的陷阱来自误解误判和执迷不悟的偏见。

Friends,

As President Xi Jinping pointed out, China and the United States need to get the basics of their relations right and strengthen communication on strategic issues. There is no "Thucydides trap" in the world, and the real trap will only come from misunderstanding, misjudgment and obstinate prejudice.