On 3 November 2017, the Evening Standard and its website published a signed article by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming entitled "China is entering a new era and the world will be better for it". The full text is as follows:
2017年11月3日,英国主流媒体《旗帜晚报》在纸质版和网络版同时刊登刘晓明大使题为《进入新时代的中国将给世界带来更多福祉》的署名文章。全文如下:
China Is Entering a New Era and the World Will Be Better for It
进入新时代的中国将给世界带来更多福祉
China has just concluded the 19th Party Congress, where General Secretary Xi Jinping outlined from a historical and global perspective where China is standing and where it is heading. My personal take on this landmark meeting is that as our socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, growth in China is going to demonstrate four salient features.
中国共产党第十九次全国代表大会已胜利闭幕。习近平总书记在会上所作报告,以历史的眼光和全球的视野,为中国标定了历史新方位、擘画了发展新蓝图、明确了前进新方向。作为会议亲历者,我深深地感到,此次是具有里程碑意义的历史性大会,它将引领中国特色社会主义进入新时代,推进中国经济实现“四大发展”:
First, China will maintain steady growth. The Congress sets out several goals with a specific time frame, namely a moderately prosperous society by 2020, basic socialist modernisation by 2035 and a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the middle of this century. This means an annual growth of more than 6.3 per cent from 2018 to 2020, a mid-to-high rate that will satisfy the need to maintain domestic development and at the same time drive the global economy forward.
一是稳步发展。大会明确了从现在到本世纪中叶中国发展的时间表,到2020年完成全面建成小康社会,到2035年基本实现社会主义现代化,到本世纪中叶建成富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国。2018至2020年,中国国内生产总值年均增速将在6.3%以上。中国经济保持中高速发展既是国内发展的需求,也为世界经济增长提供强大动力。
In fact, over the past five years, China's growth has contributed more than 30 per cent of global growth, and China's investment and trade created 15 million jobs worldwide every year, including 180,000 jobs in the countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road routes.
过去五年,中国对世界经济增长贡献率超过30%。中国对外投资和贸易平均每年直接拉动各国1500万个就业岗位,仅“一带一路”建设在沿线国家就创造了18万个就业岗位。
Meanwhile, China is clearly aware of the potential systemic financial risks and is taking counter-measures to guard against them. We are strengthening financial monitoring, curbing the increase in local debt and de-leveraging state-owned enterprises. We are improving state-owned asset management to prevent state asset drainage. We are introducing a negative-list approach with regard to market access to encourage fair competition and thwart monopoly. A China that maintains steady growth will contribute to the prosperity and stability of the world.
中国对发展中的潜在风险有着清醒的认识,将健全金融监管体系,严控地方政府债务增量,稳步推进国企去杠杆,筑牢防控系统性金融风险大坝;完善各类国有资产管理体制,防止国有资产流失;全面实施市场准入负面清单制度,鼓励公平竞争,防止市场垄断。一个稳步发展的中国,将为促进人类繁荣与进步做出贡献。
Second, China will focus on the quality of its growth. High-speed growth is now giving way to high-quality growth, and China will seize this moment to press ahead with supply-side reform, advance industrial transition, speed up structural upgrading and facilitate innovative development in order to build a modern economic system.
二是高质发展。中国经济已从高速增长阶段转向高质发展阶段。我们将持续推进供给侧结构性改革,推进产业转型升级和创新发展,建设现代化经济体系。
With a booming advanced manufacturing sector and with the industries moving up the value chain, China will find new ways to boost growth, through high-end consumption, innovation, green and low-carbon technology, sharing economy, modern supply chain and human capital services. Other significant aspects of China's economic modernisation include the internet, AI and big data.
随着先进制造业加快发展、经济产业不断向价值链中高端迈进,中国将在中高端消费、创新引领、绿色低碳、共享经济、现代供应链、人力资本服务等领域培育新增长点、形成新动能。互联网、人工智能、大数据等将成为中国经济现代化进程中的新亮点。
However, growth will amount to nothing if it comes at the expense of the environment. China recognises this and will encourage green finance, energy efficiency, environmental protection, clean production and clean-energy industries. We will establish agencies to manage state-owned natural-resource assets and monitor ecosystems. We will strengthen environmental control on water, air and land pollution and bring polluters to account. High-quality growth in a major country with a population of 1.3 billion will be key for sustainable development in the world.
金山银山,不如绿水青山。中国将大力发展绿色金融、节能环保、清洁生产和清洁能源产业;设立国有自然资源资产管理和自然生态监管机构,强化水、大气、土壤等污染防治,坚决惩处破坏生态环境行为。一个13亿多人口的大国实现高质发展,对世界可持续发展至关重要。
Third, China advocates inclusive growth. Our main task now is to address unbalanced, inadequate development in order to meet its people's need for a better life as well as for greater democracy, the rule of law, justice, security and a better environment. China believes in putting people first and wants well-rounded development for every individual and social progress in all respects. The Chinese dream means equal opportunities – and that means no one is left behind.
三是公平发展。中国社会主要矛盾已经转化为人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的发展之间的矛盾。人民在民主、法治、公平、正义、安全、环境等方面的要求日益增长。中国始终秉持以人民为中心的发展理念,推动人的全面发展和社会全面进步。“中国梦”就是要让人民共同享有同时代一起成长进步的机会,一个都不能少,一个都不能掉队。
Inclusive growth is now our overriding task. Every citizen must be able to get a sense of personal fulfilment, happiness and security from the nation's development. To ensure that, China will make its pension system and medical insurance system more extensive and inclusive, covering both urban and rural residents. We will provide more affordable housing and increase investment in higher education and vocational schools. A China committed to inclusive growth will provide the world with a huge market of enormous potential.
主要矛盾转化决定了根本任务转变。新时代的中国经济将更加注重公平发展,使人民在发展中有更多获得感、幸福感、安全感。中国将实现更广泛和公平覆盖的城乡居民养老和医疗保险制度,提供居民能够负担的住房,增加高等教育和职业技能培训投入,使发展更好惠及所有国民。一个致力于公平发展的中国,将为世界提供一个具有巨大潜力的大市场。
Lastly, China's growth will be win-win for the world. It will be 40 years next year since China adopted the policies of reform. For four decades, China has pursued development through reform, opening-up and win-win cooperation. This will remain unchanged. China will open up even more to the world by allowing greater access to the services sector, enhancing intellectual property law protection, trying out free trade ports and advancing the Belt and Road Initiative. Later, Shanghai will host the first International Import Expo.
四是共赢发展。明年是中国改革开放40周年。改革开放促发展,互利共赢谋合作,这已成为中国基本国策。中国将坚定不移扩大开放,大幅放宽包括服务业在内的市场准入,加大知识产权保护,探索建设自由贸易港,继续推进“一带一路”建设。2018年下半年,中国将首次举办国际进口博览会。
Looking ahead, China hopes to play an even more important role in global economic governance, economic globalisation, trade liberalisation and common development. And as we do so, we seek co-operation not confrontation with other nations; we want win-win outcomes, not zero-sum games. We will not take the old trajectory where "power leads to hegemony" but blaze a new trail of win-win co-operation where everyone has a stake in decision-making and a share of the benefit.
展望未来,中国将在完善全球经济治理、推进经济全球化和贸易自由化、推动各国共同发展等方面发挥重要作用。一个主张以合作取代对抗、以共赢取代零和的中国,将打破“国强必霸”的老路,走出一条与世界各国共商共建共享共赢的发展新路。
History is the best teacher. During the most difficult times in 1940, Winston Churchill said: "It is victory. Victory at all costs – victory in spite of all terrors – victory, however long and hard the road may be...that mankind shall move forward toward his goal." Seventy-seven years on, in response to the challenges facing the world, President Xi Jinping said: "We should not give up on our dreams just because the reality around us is too complicated; we should not stop pursuing our ideals just because they seem out of our reach. We call on the people of all countries to work together to build a community of shared future for mankind."
历史是未来最好的老师。1940年在当时严峻的世界局势下,英国首相丘吉尔曾说,“不论前路如何漫长、如何艰苦,都要去夺取胜利。人类应当向自己的目标迈进,群策群力,并肩前进。”时隔77年,面对人类面临的共同挑战,习近平主席呼吁,“不能因现实复杂而放弃梦想,不能因理想遥远而放弃追求。各国人民应同心协力,构建人类命运共同体”。
At the 19th Congress, China shared its story and its wisdom, and contributed its solutions. This is how the Congress will be remembered.
中国共产党十九大传递的中国声音,彰显的中国智慧,提供的中国方案,必将造福世界人民,也将为世界历史所铭记。