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

中国和英国应该携手共建美好未来

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

——刘晓明大使在英国《每日电讯报》上发表的署名文章

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，中英两国央行签署了规模为2000亿元人民币的货币互换协议。这一协议是中英在金融领域的一大新合作成果，其重要性在于，它是中国与主要发达国家首个货币互换协议；它也表明伦敦又向人民币离岸业务中心目标迈出了一大步。

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.

这样的合作近来层出不穷。上个月，中国的总部基地公司就准备投资10亿英镑改建皇家阿尔伯特码头为现代办公区，我出席了该项目的签字仪式。此外，中国的大连万达集团在英国进行了两笔总共10.2亿英镑的投资，一笔是7亿英镑在伦敦建造一家五星级酒店；

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.

另一笔是3.2亿英镑收购英国的圣汐游艇公司92%的股权，据说这家游艇公司为007影片提供游艇。我注意到《每日电讯报》在报道这条消息时，放到了一个栏目下，叫“英国好消息”。这表明了一种态度，英国市场欢迎中国投资，认为这种投资对英国有利。

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.

英国的这种市场开放态度，实际上正是中国为什么认为英国是中国重要合作伙伴的一个原因。在今天的这个世界上，不是所有国家都这么欢迎中国投资的，其背后的原因既有保护主义因素，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.

中英之间令人兴奋的合作很多，因为中英经济各有优势，具有很强的互补性；中英在文化、教育、旅游等领域相互吸引，具有巨大合作潜力。在教育领域，英国文化委员会日前启动了一项雄心勃勃的名为“英国未来计划”的交流项目，英国计划在3年内使去中国留学或实习的年轻人达到15000人。在文化领域，我正期待上海芭蕾舞团即将在英上演由夏洛蒂·勃朗特名著改编的芭蕾舞剧《简爱》。这是在中国尽人皆知的英国文学作品，它在中国被搬上了舞台，如今又将回到它的故乡。

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.

当然，我们也不否认中英之间也有分歧和不愉快的事情。中国与英国历史文化、社会制度、价值观念和发展阶段各异，两国之间在一些问题上有分歧本属正常，但关键是如何妥善处理这些分歧。我们应当相互尊重对方关切，加强政治互信建设，树立合作共赢理念，增进彼此了解和理解，我们应当让分歧仅仅成为两国间对话沟通的议题，而不是让分歧成为影响两国关系发展的障碍。

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.

中国有句古语：“不打不成交”，英语中也有同样的谚语：“没有分歧就没有共识”（No discord, no concord）。 事实上贵报就曾经报道过中英间的龃龉。我希望当事情过去后，我们彼此更加了解对方的关切，更加了解自己和双方共同利益所在，更加知道如何妥善处理分歧。

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.

我注意到卡梅伦首相不久前在议会下院重申了英国政府的涉藏政策，即英国尊重中国的主权，承认西藏是中国的一部分，不支持“西藏独立”，并表示英方愿发展强劲和积极的对华关系；我也注意到黑格外交大臣最近在议会再次重申上述政策，并表示英方理解涉藏问题的敏感性和中方关切。

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，中国外长王毅和英国外交大臣黑格进行了一次具有重要意义的通话，双方在通话中都一致表示重视改善和发展双边关系，致力于加强各领域交流合作。我衷心地希望这是“结束的开始”，两国关系从此翻开新的一页。中英之间已经失去了太多的时间，现在是双方面向未来，加紧开展合作的时候了。

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 《新闻之夜》节目主持人凯文·艾斯勒采访我时曾引用英国诗人吉卜林的一句话：“东方是东方，西方是西方，东西方永不携手”。当时，我回答说，东西方相处之道是摒弃“傲慢与偏见”，培养“理智与情感”。现在，我更加相信中国和英国可以也应该携手合作，共建美好未来。

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