韩叙大使1989年(8)

　　附录

　　Current developments in

　　China and China-U.S. relations

　　Dear Mr. Bob Kirkpatrick,

　　Members of the club,

　　Ladies and gentlemen,

　　Thank you, Mr. Ellington, for your kind introduction. I deeply appreciate this opportunity to appear before this distinguished audience and to speak to you. This is the first time that I have spoken to the American public since those turbulent developments occurred in China several months ago. As the Chinese ambassador to the United States, I have spoken on numerous public occasions throughout the country. I talked about the economic progress under way in China, and I talked about the expanding relations between our two great peoples. Yet, to be frank, I little expected that I would be today talking to you about something that I wish had not happened in my country and in our relations. However, perhaps it is precisely because of this, there is all the more reason that I should come and speak to you. Many questions have been asked, and many questions need to be answered.

　　The whole world has been watching closely the unfolding of events in China in recent months and the unfortunate trends in China-U.S. relations. The inevitable questions I guess that are on everyone’s mind are: What happened in China? And as a result, where are China-U.S. relations headed? It seems that there is a pervasive sense of pessimism, frustration and even hopelessness. People are concerned that China will once again fall back to its old days of isolation and that the ties between our two countries are beyond repair. I happen to be the one that believes otherwise. And I wish to share with you my personal thoughts on these critically important issues.

　　My government believes that it confronted a serious political upheaval in Beijing. My government has stated that a mob led by a small number of people prevented the normal conduct of the affairs of state. For example, demonstrators marred the important visit of President Gorbachev. And after a protracted period of patience, with considerable advance warning, military forces dispersed the mob. There was, I regret to say, loss of life on both sides. I do wonder whether any other government confronting such an unprecedented challenge would have handled the situation any better than mine did.

　　I know that most of you would describe the events differently than my government does. This is understandable. I am afraid the media has not been able to present the complete picture, namely, the very important historical context, which I am going to touch in a moment. I also suspect that in our limited time together, I will not be able to persuade you of my government’s viewpoint.

　　So let me not spend my time in unproductive pursuits. Rather, let me sketch for you the broader political and economic situation that confronts my government, and indicate what its objectives are. With that background, I think it becomes possible to understand why my government places so much emphasis upon the maintenance of order and unity and why it must respond vigorously to signs of chaos and turmoil.

　　During the past decade, the Chinese people, under the leadership of the Chinese Government, have been engaged in what may be the single most important social experiment in the contemporary world, namely, to reform China’s economy and open the country to the outside world. Under what conditions is this gigantic undertaking carried out? No go?vernment faces similar challenges: China is a diverse land with many ethnic nationalities. It has a population of 1.1 billion, which amounts to fully 22% of the world total. Yet it has only 7% of the world’s arable land to feed its population. Out of this population, 800 million are rural and, for the most part, still use hand tools to make a living. Many industries are several decades or even a century behind present-day standards. Vast areas are still underdeveloped and impoverished. The scientific and technological level is still low, and nearly one fourth of the population is illiterate or semi-illiterate. All this predetermines that China'’ road towards the reform will inevitably be pitted with potholes and full of risks and uncertainties. China is sailing in uncharted waters. Therefore, the maintenance of order and stability is a primary task of governance.

本文摘自《钱其琛作序推荐》

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　　 世界发生了重大而又深刻的变化，我们的时代已经从战争与革命的时代进入了以和平与发展为主题的时代。在以和平与发展为主题的时代里，外交的作用上升，事实上中国的外交已经迎来了一个黄金时期。吴建民同志这本《外交案例》用作教材我认为是一件好事。