Looking to a Bright and Prosperous Future for Anglo-Chinese Relations

中國(guó)和英國(guó)應(yīng)該攜手共建美好未來(lái)

--Article for the Daily Telegraph by H.E. Ambassador LIU Xiaoming

——?jiǎng)悦鞔笫乖谟?guó)《每日電訊報(bào)》上發(fā)表的署名文章

June 28, 2013

2013年6月28日

Last weekend China and Britain signed a currency swap line with an upper value of ￡21 billion. This agreement marks great progress in Anglo-Chinese financial cooperation; its significance should not be underestimated. It is the first currency swap agreement ever signed between China and a major developed country. It is also a big step forward in London becoming a centre of offshore RMB business.

上周末，中英兩國(guó)央行簽署了規(guī)模為2000億元人民幣的貨幣互換協(xié)議。這一協(xié)議是中英在金融領(lǐng)域的一大新合作成果，其重要性在于，它是中國(guó)與主要發(fā)達(dá)國(guó)家首個(gè)貨幣互換協(xié)議；它也表明倫敦又向人民幣離岸業(yè)務(wù)中心目標(biāo)邁出了一大步。

This follows a recent wave of private sector deals between China and Britain. Not long ago I witnessed the signing of China’s ABP project worth ￡1 billion to develop the area just south of London City Airport in the Royal Albert Docks into a modern business park.

這樣的合作近來(lái)層出不窮。上個(gè)月，中國(guó)的總部基地公司就準(zhǔn)備投資10億英鎊改建皇家阿爾伯特碼頭為現(xiàn)代辦公區(qū)，我出席了該項(xiàng)目的簽字儀式。此外，中國(guó)的大連萬(wàn)達(dá)集團(tuán)在英國(guó)進(jìn)行了兩筆總共10.2億英鎊的投資，一筆是7億英鎊在倫敦建造一家五星級(jí)酒店；

Then there are the investments announced last week by China’s Wanda Group. One involves a ￡700 million deal to build a five-star hotel by the River Thames; the other is to buy a 92% share of yacht maker Sunseeker for ￡320 million. This is positive news and provides hard evidence of the considerable advantages that the UK enjoys in business and economic links with China.

另一筆是3.2億英鎊收購(gòu)英國(guó)的圣汐游艇公司92%的股權(quán)，據(jù)說(shuō)這家游艇公司為007影片提供游艇。我注意到《每日電訊報(bào)》在報(bào)道這條消息時(shí)，放到了一個(gè)欄目下，叫“英國(guó)好消息”。這表明了一種態(tài)度，英國(guó)市場(chǎng)歡迎中國(guó)投資，認(rèn)為這種投資對(duì)英國(guó)有利。

An open market is a primary reason why China sees Britain as an important partner for collaboration; not every country is so warm toward Chinese investments. Some countries have turned a cold shoulder to investment from China either for reasons of protectionism or out of political considerations.

英國(guó)的這種市場(chǎng)開(kāi)放態(tài)度，實(shí)際上正是中國(guó)為什么認(rèn)為英國(guó)是中國(guó)重要合作伙伴的一個(gè)原因。在今天的這個(gè)世界上，不是所有國(guó)家都這么歡迎中國(guó)投資的，其背后的原因既有保護(hù)主義因素，也有政治原因。

But good news about Anglo-Chinese relations is not limited to business and economics. Earlier this month, the British Council launched Generation UK, an ambitious project with the aim of sending more than 15,000 young Britons to China in the coming three years to study at universities there or work as interns in Chinese companies. I am looking forward to the arrival of China’s Shanghai Ballet Troupe in August; they are staging a production adapted from Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre. The list could go on because China and Britain have an immense amount to offer each other in culture, education, tourism, business and economics.

中英之間令人興奮的合作很多，因?yàn)橹杏⒔?jīng)濟(jì)各有優(yōu)勢(shì)，具有很強(qiáng)的互補(bǔ)性；中英在文化、教育、旅游等領(lǐng)域相互吸引，具有巨大合作潛力。在教育領(lǐng)域，英國(guó)文化委員會(huì)日前啟動(dòng)了一項(xiàng)雄心勃勃的名為“英國(guó)未來(lái)計(jì)劃”的交流項(xiàng)目，英國(guó)計(jì)劃在3年內(nèi)使去中國(guó)留學(xué)或?qū)嵙?xí)的年輕人達(dá)到15000人。在文化領(lǐng)域，我正期待上海芭蕾舞團(tuán)即將在英上演由夏洛蒂·勃朗特名著改編的芭蕾舞劇《簡(jiǎn)愛(ài)》。這是在中國(guó)盡人皆知的英國(guó)文學(xué)作品，它在中國(guó)被搬上了舞臺(tái)，如今又將回到它的故鄉(xiāng)。

Of course, we also have differences and have been through some less pleasant experiences. China and Britain differ in history, culture, social system and values; we are at different stages of development so it is natural that we have different views on some issues. What matters is how we deal with these differences. China and Britain need to respect each other’s concerns, strengthen mutual trust and, in this way, engage in ‘win-win’ cooperation. I believe this is how we can increase deeper shared understanding. Differences should be discussed by open dialogue rather than standing in the way of our relations.

當(dāng)然，我們也不否認(rèn)中英之間也有分歧和不愉快的事情。中國(guó)與英國(guó)歷史文化、社會(huì)制度、價(jià)值觀念和發(fā)展階段各異，兩國(guó)之間在一些問(wèn)題上有分歧本屬正常，但關(guān)鍵是如何妥善處理這些分歧。我們應(yīng)當(dāng)相互尊重對(duì)方關(guān)切，加強(qiáng)政治互信建設(shè)，樹(shù)立合作共贏理念，增進(jìn)彼此了解和理解，我們應(yīng)當(dāng)讓分歧僅僅成為兩國(guó)間對(duì)話溝通的議題，而不是讓分歧成為影響兩國(guó)關(guān)系發(fā)展的障礙。

In the Chinese language there is a saying: ‘No hassle, no friendship.’ I have learned that there is an English equivalent: ‘No discord, no concord.’ In recent months The Daily Telegraph has reported on snags in China-UK relations; I hope we are getting over the difficult times and we now have a better understanding of each other’s concerns, our respective interests and common values. This means we are in a better position to properly manage our differences.

中國(guó)有句古語(yǔ)：“不打不成交”，英語(yǔ)中也有同樣的諺語(yǔ)：“沒(méi)有分歧就沒(méi)有共識(shí)”（No discord, no concord）。 事實(shí)上貴報(bào)就曾經(jīng)報(bào)道過(guò)中英間的齟齬。我希望當(dāng)事情過(guò)去后，我們彼此更加了解對(duì)方的關(guān)切，更加了解自己和雙方共同利益所在，更加知道如何妥善處理分歧。

I have noticed that Prime Minister David Cameron recently reaffirmed British policy toward Tibet, saying: “We recognise Tibet as part of China. We do not support Tibetan independence, and we respect China’s sovereignty” He also stated that Britain wants to have a strong and positive relationship with China. Most recently, Foreign Secretary William Hague has reiterated this policy in Parliament and made clear that Britain understands Chinese sensitivities and concerns about Tibet.

我注意到卡梅倫首相不久前在議會(huì)下院重申了英國(guó)政府的涉藏政策，即英國(guó)尊重中國(guó)的主權(quán)，承認(rèn)西藏是中國(guó)的一部分，不支持“西藏獨(dú)立”，并表示英方愿發(fā)展強(qiáng)勁和積極的對(duì)華關(guān)系；我也注意到黑格外交大臣最近在議會(huì)再次重申上述政策，并表示英方理解涉藏問(wèn)題的敏感性和中方關(guān)切。

Following these statements, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Mr Hague had a phone call earlier this week. This phone call was a great moment. Both sides stated their commitment to improving bilateral relations and strengthening Anglo-Chinese exchanges and cooperation in various fields. I hope this phone call marks not only the beginning of the end, but also the start of a new chapter in our relations.Much time has been lost in the mutually shared aim of advancing the interests of our two countries. It is high time that we looked to the future and stepped up our cooperation.

本周初，中國(guó)外長(zhǎng)王毅和英國(guó)外交大臣黑格進(jìn)行了一次具有重要意義的通話，雙方在通話中都一致表示重視改善和發(fā)展雙邊關(guān)系，致力于加強(qiáng)各領(lǐng)域交流合作。我衷心地希望這是“結(jié)束的開(kāi)始”，兩國(guó)關(guān)系從此翻開(kāi)新的一頁(yè)。中英之間已經(jīng)失去了太多的時(shí)間，現(xiàn)在是雙方面向未來(lái)，加緊開(kāi)展合作的時(shí)候了。

Six months ago, I was interviewed on BBC Newsnight by Gavin Esler. He quoted Rudyard Kipling’s famous phrase: ‘East is East, West is West, and never the twain shall meet.’ I replied that the right way for East and West to meet is to ‘discard pride and prejudice and apply sense and sensibility.’ I believe this is also the right way for China and Britain to meet and work for an even brighter future for Anglo-Chinese relations.

半年前，BBC 《新聞之夜》節(jié)目主持人凱文·艾斯勒采訪我時(shí)曾引用英國(guó)詩(shī)人吉卜林的一句話：“東方是東方，西方是西方，東西方永不攜手”。當(dāng)時(shí)，我回答說(shuō)，東西方相處之道是摒棄“傲慢與偏見(jiàn)”，培養(yǎng)“理智與情感”。現(xiàn)在，我更加相信中國(guó)和英國(guó)可以也應(yīng)該攜手合作，共建美好未來(lái)。

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