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Speech by Consul-General Zhao Jian at the 7th University of Chicago Graduate China Forum
2022-05-12 01:20

Distinguished guests and students, 

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, 

It is my great pleasure to attend the University of Chicago Graduate China Forum again. In the past few years, the forum has engaged in in-depth discussions on key issues of economic and social development, and consistently promoted exchanges and cooperation between our two countries, establishing itself as an important platform at the campus. On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the success of this year’s forum.

As President Xi Jinping pointed out, changes of the world, of our times and of history are unfolding in ways like never before. We have yet to walk from the shadow of a once-in-a-century pandemic, but new traditional security risks are already emerging; The global economic recovery is still weak and faltering, and non-traditional security threats such as climate change, food security, refugee issues, and terrorism are emerging one after another. In the face of unprecedented challenges, how countries can properly deal with them and work together to overcome those difficulties is an important question of the times.

Firstly, we should build up the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Our world today is far from being tranquil. Rhetorics that stoke hatred and prejudice linger on. The COVID-19 pandemic has once again taught us that all countries are a community of a shared future, and no country can prosper in isolation or deal with major crises on its own. Only by advocating the spirit of partnership, mutual assistance and solidarity can all countries defeat the pandemic. Only by staying committed to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation can we effectively respond to various traditional and non-traditional threats and challenges, preserve common security, and safeguard the well-being of all mankind. 

Secondly, we need to uphold the spirit of openness and inclusiveness. All Countries should adhere to true multilateralism. We should remove barriers, not erect walls. We should open up, not close off. We should seek integration, not decoupling. We should all be broad-minded, advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, keep industrial and supply chains stable and functioning, promote the orderly flow of resources, and create an open, just and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological innovation. This is the way to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all, and to fully unleash the vitality of the world economy. The world is a colorful place and civilizations are diverse. Stoking conflict and confrontation along ideological lines hurts the interests of others as well as one's own. Instead, we need to embrace a global governance philosophy that emphasizes extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, promote the common values of humanity, and advocate exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations. Different countries and civilizations may prosper together on the basis of respect for each other, and seek common ground and win-win outcomes by setting aside differences.

Thirdly, we should adhere to a people-centered philosophy of development. China has realized the  building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and brought about a historic resolution to the problem of extreme poverty at home, and we are committed to meeting people’s growing needs for a better life and promoting common prosperity, enriching people’s lives in both the material and non-material sense. We will continue to develop the economy, to both make the economic pie bigger and divide it fairly. We will try our best to properly balance the relationship between equity and efficiency, promote social fairness and justice as well as the all-round development of people. China is willing to work with all other countries to fully implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, sharing more opportunities for common development and making economic development benefit more people across the world in a more equitable way. 

Fourthly, we should seek the harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and foster a community of all life on Earth by promoting green and low-carbon development. Guided by the philosophy that clean waters and green mountains are just as valuable as gold and silver, China is now making every effort to conserve the ecological system, intensify pollution prevention and control, and improve the living and working environment for our people. China is committed to green and innovation-driven development, and pushing forward the transition and upgrading of our economic, energy and industrial structures, so as to secure sustainable development. China will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. China now has the world’s biggest carbon market and biggest clean power generation system. Our carbon reduction drive will require massive investment, thus creating huge market opportunities for cooperation. China will continue to  actively engage in international cooperation on climate change. All countries need to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Developed countries need to fully accommodate the special difficulties and concerns of developing countries, support them in financing, technology, and capacity building to develop green and low-carbon energies, make concrete efforts to help developing countries strengthen the capacity and resilience against climate change.

As the world’s two largest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, both China and the United States have the responsibility to play an active role in maintaining global security and stability while achieving their own development, lead the world in the direction of progress, and jointly promote human peace and harmony, all of which requires a healthy and stable China-US relations. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of President Nixon's visit to China and the signing of the "Shanghai Communiqué" between China and the US. Fifty years ago, the elder generation of Chinese and American leaders jointly broke the ice of the Cold War with an extraordinary strategic vision and started the normalization process of China-US relations for the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the people of the world. Today, China and the US have in fact become inseparable communities of economic interests and important stakeholders in the international system. The historical experience of the development of China-US relations tells us that both countries and the world will benefit from China-US cooperation, and both countries and the world will lose from China-US confrontation. In the next 50 years, the most important thing in international relations is that China and the US must find the right way to get along with each other. The stable development of China-US relations is not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, but also the general expectation of the international community.

During the virtual meetings between the leaders of China and the US, President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and the US must follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, which received positive responses from President Biden. These principles have pointed out the orientations for the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to make common efforts with the US to implement the important consensus reached by our leaders so as to bring real benefits to the peoples of our two countries and the world.

Dear students and friends,

The future belongs to the young people. I can feel great vigor and vitality and see promising future from youngsters like you. I sincerely wish that all young friends can undertake the mission of the times, push forward exchanges and cooperation between China and the US, advance mutual understanding, trust and friendship between the people of our two countries, and make contributions to promoting the common well-beings of peoples from both countries and the world.

Wish the forum a larger success.

Thank you.

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