刘晓明大使就中英关系举行中外记者会开场白 Opening Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Press Conference on China-UK Relationship （2020年7月30日，中国驻英国大使馆） Chinese Embassy in the UK, 30 July 2020 大家上午好！ Good morning! 欢迎大家出席今天的中外记者会。 Welcome to today’s press conference. 今年是中英关系开启“黄金时代”5周年。年初以来，习近平主席与约翰逊首相两次通电话，就推进中英关系及两国共同抗疫达成重要共识。两国政府各部门认真落实这一重要共识，积极开展多领域合作。中英双方本应珍惜这一良好势头，推动两国关系向前发展，但令人遗憾和痛心的是，近来，中英关系遭遇一系列困难，面临严峻形势。 This year marks the fifth anniversary of the China-UK “Golden Era”. Since early this year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have had two telephone conversations, during which they reached important agreements on advancing China-UK relations and enhancing joint response to Covid-19. The departments of the two governments have been working hard to implement these agreements and carry out cooperation in various areas. This was a positive momentum in China-UK relationship that should be cherished so that further progress could be achieved. To our regret however, this relationship has recently run into a series of difficulties and faced a grave situation. 人们在问；中英关系怎么了？英国媒体也在问，中英关系出现问题原因何在？是中国变了？还是英国变了？今天我就来回答这个问题：中国没有变，变的是英国。中英关系遭遇困难，责任完全在英方。 People are asking: What is happening to China-UK relationship? The British media are also asking: What has caused the current difficulties in China-UK relationship? Has China changed or has the UK changed? Today, I am going to give you my answer to these questions. My answer is loud and clear: China has not changed. It is the UK that has changed. The UK side should take full responsibility for the current difficulties in China-UK relationship. 首先，中方坚定奉行国际关系基本准则没有变。互相尊重主权和领土完整、互不干涉内政和平等互利，是《联合国宪章》确立的国家间关系的基本原则，是国际法与国际关系的基本准则，也是中英关系的基本原则，被写入两国建立大使级外交关系的联合公报。中国从不干涉别国的内政，包括英国的内政，也决不允许别国干涉中国的内政。但是，近期英方却一再违反这些重要原则：在涉港问题上无端指责香港国安法，改变英国国民（海外）（BNO）政策，暂停与香港引渡协定，粗暴干涉香港事务和中国内政，严重干扰香港稳定与繁荣；在涉疆问题上罔顾事实、颠倒黑白，在双边和多边渠道对中国治疆政策大肆抹黑攻击，借所谓新疆人权问题干涉中国内政，严重毒化中英关系氛围。 First, China’s determination to follow the basic norms governing international relations has not changed. These basic norms include: mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality, and mutual benefit. These are the fundamental principles that are enshrined in the UN Charter. They are the basic norms of the international law and state-to-state relations. They are also the basic guidelines that have been written into the Joint Communiqué of China and the UK on exchange of ambassadors and hence form the bedrock for China-UK relationship. China has never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries, including the UK, and we ask the same from other countries. Recently, however, the above-mentioned important principles have been violated time and again. On Hong Kong: There has been blatant interference from the UK in Hong Kong affairs, which are internal affairs of China, including groundless accusations against the National Security Law for Hong Kong SAR, change to the policy involving BNO passport holders, and suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong. These moves have severely disrupted the stability and prosperity in Hong Kong. On Xinjiang: The UK disregarded the facts, confused right and wrong, flung slanders recklessly at China’s Xinjiang-related policies and interfered in China’s internal affairs by raising the so-called “human rights issue” in Xinjiang, bilaterally and multilaterally. These actions have seriously poisoned atmosphere of China-UK relationship. 第二，中方坚持走和平发展道路没有变。走和平发展道路，是中国坚定不移的战略选择和郑重承诺。中国没有侵略扩张的基因，没有也不会输出自己的模式。中国发展是为了让人民过上好日子，而不是要威胁谁、挑战谁、取代谁。历史已经并将继续证明，中国始终是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者，中国的发展壮大只能使世界更和平、更稳定、更繁荣。而英国一些政客，抱守“冷战思维”，与英内外反华势力遥相呼应，大肆渲染“中国威胁”，将中国视为“敌对国家”，扬言要与中国全面“脱钩”，甚至叫嚣要对中国发动“新冷战”。 Second, China’s commitment to the path of peaceful development has not changed. Pursuing peaceful development is the unwavering strategic choice and solemn pledge of China. China has never invaded other countries or sought expansion. China has never and will not export its system or model. China seeks development because we want better life for our people. We do not want to threaten, challenge or replace anyone. History has proved and will continue to prove that China is always a defender of world peace, a contributor to global development and an upholder of international order. A stronger China will make the world a more peaceful, stable and prosperous place. However, some British politicians cling to the “Cold War” mentality and echo the remarks of anti-China forces in and outside the UK. They play up the so-called “China threat”, see China as a “hostile state”, threaten a “complete decoupling” from China, and even clamour for a “new Cold War” against China. 第三，中方认真履行自身国际义务没有变。今年是联合国成立75周年，中国是第一个签署《联合国宪章》的国家。中国参加了100多个政府间国际组织，签署了500多个多边条约。中国始终认真履行自身承担的国际责任和义务，从未“退群”、“毁约”，从不谋求本国利益优先。英方妄称中方出台香港国安法违反《中英联合声明》、未履行国际义务，这完全是错误的。《联合声明》的核心要义是中国恢复对香港行使主权，而香港国安法正充分体现了中国中央政府对香港的全面管治权。中国政府在《联合声明》中阐述的对港方针政策是中方单方面政策宣示，既不是对英方的承诺，更不是所谓国际义务，“不履行国际义务”的帽子扣不到中国头上。反倒是英方不履行国际义务，违背自身承诺，改变BNO政策，暂停与香港引渡协定，扰乱香港人心，干扰香港国安法实施，干涉中国内政。 Third, China’s resolve to fulfill its international obligations has not changed. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. China was the first country to put its signature on the UN Charter. It is now a member of more than 100 inter-governmental international organisations and has signed over 500 multilateral treaties. It has faithfully fulfilled its international responsibilities and obligations. It has never withdrawn from international organisations or treaties. Nor does it believe in “us first” at the expense of others. It is completely wrong to see the National Security Law for Hong Kong SAR as a violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration or a failure to honour international obligations. The core content of the Joint Declaration is about China’s resumption of exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. The National Security Law for Hong Kong SAR fully embodies the comprehensive jurisdiction of the Central Government of China over Hong Kong. The policies regarding Hong Kong laid out in the Joint Declaration were proposed by China on our own initiative. They are not China’s commitments to the UK or international obligations. The label of “failure to fulfill international obligations” should not be stuck on China. It is the UK side that has failed to fulfill its international obligations and went against its own pledges by changing the policy on BNO passport holders and suspending the extradition treaty with Hong Kong to create public confusion in Hong Kong, disrupt the implementation of the National Security Law and interfere in China’s internal affairs. 第四，中方致力于发展对英伙伴关系的意愿没有变。2015年习近平主席对英国国事访问期间，中英发表联合宣言，决定构建面向21世纪全球全面战略伙伴关系。中国始终将英国看做伙伴，致力于发展健康稳定的中英关系。正如王毅国务委员兼外长前天与拉布外交大臣通话时指出的那样：“对英国而言，中国始终是机遇而不是威胁，是增量而不是减量，是解决方案而不是挑战。”然而，英方近来对华认知和定位发生重大变化，出现严重偏差，“禁用华为”就是最突出例证。这不是英国如何对待一家中国企业的问题，而是关系到英国如何看待中国的问题。英国究竟是把中国看作机遇、伙伴，还是威胁、对手？是把中国看作友好国家，还是“敌对”或“潜在敌对国家”？英方领导人多次表示要发展平衡、积极、建设性的中英关系。我们听其言，观其行。 Fourth, China’s willingness to develop partnership with the UK has not changed. During President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK in 2015, China and the UK issued a joint declaration on building a global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century. China has always seen the UK as a partner and it has been committed to developing a sound and stable relationship with the UK. As State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said two days ago in his telephone conversation with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, for the UK, China is an opportunity rather than a threat, a factor for growth rather than a cause for decline, a solution rather than a challenge or a risk. However, there have been major changes and serious deviations in UK’s perception and definition of China. This is particularly evidenced by the recent ban on Huawei. The issue of Huawei is not about how the UK sees and deals with a Chinese company. It is about how the UK sees and deals with China. Does it see China as an opportunity and a partner, or a threat and a rival? Does it see China as a friendly country, or a “hostile” or “potentially hostile” state? The UK leaders have said on many occasions that they want to build a balanced, positive and constructive China-UK relationship. We hope they will match their words with actions. 当前，世界百年未有之大变局正向纵深发展。新冠肺炎疫情仍在全球肆虐，经济全球化遭遇严重冲击，世界经济陷入深度衰退。面对这样的形势，我们需要一个什么样的中英关系？中英都是联合国安理会常任理事国和二十国集团等国际组织重要成员国，都是具有全球影响的大国，都肩负着维护世界和平、促进发展的重要使命。一个健康稳定发展的中英关系，不仅符合中英两国人民的根本利益，也有利于世界的和平与繁荣。我们有一千个理由把中英关系搞好，没有一条理由把中英关系搞坏。如何搞好中英关系？我认为，做到以下三点至关重要： The world is undergoing increasingly profound changes unseen in a century. Covid-19 is still ravaging, dealing a heavy blow to economic globalization and resulting in a deep recession of the world economy. What kind of China-UK relationship do we need in face of such a situation? China and the UK are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and important members of the G20 and other international organizations. Both are countries of global influence. Both shoulder the important mission of safeguarding world peace and promoting development. A sound and stable China-UK relationship is not only in the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries but also conducive to world peace and prosperity. We have a thousand reasons to make this relationship successful, and not one reason to let it fail. How can we make it successful? I think it is critically important to follow three principles: 一是相互尊重。历史告诉我们，只要国际法和国际关系基本准则得到遵守，中英关系就向前发展；反之则遭遇挫折，甚至倒退。中国尊重英国主权，从未做任何干涉英国内政的事。英方也应以同样态度对待中方，尊重中国主权，停止干涉香港事务和中国内政，避免中英关系受到进一步损害。 First, respect each other. History tells us that when international law and the basic norms governing international relations are observed, China-UK relationship will move forward; otherwise, it will suffer setbacks or even retrogression. China respects the UK’s sovereignty and has never interfered in the UK’s internal affairs. It is important that the UK do the same, namely, respect China’s sovereignty and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, so as to avoid further harm to China-UK relationship. 二是互利共赢。中英经济互补性强，利益深度融合，双方从彼此合作中都获得了巨大收益，不存在谁更依赖谁、谁多占谁便宜的问题。希望英方不要受个别国家的压力和胁迫，为中国企业提供开放、公平、非歧视的投资环境，重塑中国企业对英国的信心。在“后脱欧时代”和“后疫情时代”，中英在贸易、金融、科技、教育、医疗卫生领域有广阔合作空间，在维护多边主义、促进自由贸易、应对气候变化等全球性挑战等方面拥有广泛共识。英国要打造“全球化英国”，绕不开、离不开中国。与中国“脱钩”，就是与机遇脱钩，就是与发展脱钩，就是与未来脱钩。 The second principle is: engage in mutually-beneficial cooperation. China and the UK have highly complementary economies and deeply integrated interests. The two sides have both benefited tremendously from cooperation. Such mutual benefit should not be gauged by an over-simplified comparison of who is more dependent on the other or who has been “taken advantage of”. It is our hope that the UK would resist the pressure and coercion of a certain country, and provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investment, so as to bring back the confidence of Chinese businesses in the UK. China and the UK already share broad consensus on safeguarding multilateralism, promoting free trade and addressing global challenges such as climate change. When Brexit is completed and Covid-19 is over, there will be unlimited prospects for China-UK cooperation in the areas of trade, financial services, science and technology, education and health care. It is hard to imagine a “global Britain” that bypasses or excludes China. “Decoupling” from China means decoupling from opportunities, decoupling from growth, and decoupling from the future. 三是求同存异。中英历史文化、社会制度、发展阶段不同，难免存在分歧。70年前，英国在西方大国中第一个承认新中国。70年来，中英本着求同存异的精神，超越意识形态差异，推动中英关系不断向前发展。70年后的今天，中英关系更加丰富、更加深入，不是你输我赢的“对手关系”，更不是非此即彼的“敌对关系”，而是平等相待、互利共赢的伙伴关系。我们应当有足够的智慧和能力管控和处理好双方分歧，不让反华势力和“冷战分子”“绑架”中英关系。 The third principle is: seek common ground despite differences. China and the UK differ in history, culture, social system and development stage. It is natural that we do not always see eye to eye. Seventy years ago, the UK was the first major Western country to recognize New China. For the past 70 years, China and the UK have found common ground despite differences and went beyond ideological differences to achieve continuous progress in their bilateral relationship. Today, after 70 years, this relationship has been more substantial and profound. It is not a relationship between rivals, where one side’s gain is the other’s loss. Still less is it a relationship of “either-or” that exists between hostile states. China-UK relationship is one of partnership, which is defined by equal treatment and mutual benefit. China and the UK should have enough wisdom and capability to manage and deal with differences, rather than allowing anti-China forces and “Cold-War” warriors to “kidnap” China-UK relationship. 我常说，只有拥有独立自主的外交政策，“不列颠”才是名符其实的“大不列颠”。无论是1950年英国在西方大国中首个承认中华人民共和国，1954年与中国建立代办级外交关系，还是英国选择加入亚投行、与中国构建面向21世纪全球全面战略伙伴关系，英国在关键历史节点，都顶住外部压力，做出了正确的战略抉择。现在，中英关系再次处于关键历史节点。我希望，英国政治家和各界有识之士，认清国际大势，排除各种干扰，把握时代潮流，做出符合中英两国人民根本利益的战略抉择。 I often say “Great Britain” cannot be “Great” without independent foreign policies. The UK has withstood the pressure from others and made the right strategic choices at many critical historical junctures, from becoming the first major Western country to recognize the People’s Republic of China in 1950, to establishing diplomatic relationship with China at the chargé d’affaires level in 1954; from taking part in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to building a global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century with China. Now, China-UK relationship is once again standing at a critical historical juncture. It is my hope that political leaders and visionary people from all sectors in the UK would keep in mind the big picture of the international trend, prevent various disruptions and make the strategic choice that serves the fundamental interests of the peoples of our two countries. 谢谢大家。
