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Dec——Concluding Addressby Dr. Yue Xiaoyong,Senior Research Fellow and Director for TheCenter of Global Studies of NADS at RUC, at SIGNAL's 5th Annual Conference on Israel's China Policy on Dec. 22nd, 2020
Ms. Carice Witte, Founder and Ex. Director of SIGNAL,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I want to thank SIGNAL for the kind invitation for me to attend this renowned platform for the 5thAnnual Conference on Israel’s China Policy. It is my pleasure taking this opportunity to share with you, all distinguished personalities, some updates and views about China’s foreign policy, bearing in mind that we really have a good relationship with Israel as well as Middle East in general.
After listening to distinguished experts’ presentations, my understanding of the situation in the Middle East is further deepened. This is indeed an important and hopeful region with many opportunities, and also facing constant new and complicated challenges ever since after the cold war and up to now in the Covid-19 pandemic, while some old problems remain. Let us hope that as all stake holders and countries in the region try harder and enhance unity and constructive efforts through dialogue and cooperation, we can solve those problems and have peace, stability, security and common development.
It is difficult for me to summarize all those wonderful speeches in our session, and I learned really a lot from them. Maybe as a contribution to the discussion, I may take this opportunity share with you my views about China’s foreign policy, China’s relations with the region, especially with Israel, and China-US relations.
First and foremost,about how China’s view of world conditions.
Number one, Global situation as we all have seen has been experiencing unprecedented turbulences this year, especially with Covid-19 pandemic spreading, bringing heavy damages to so many countries. As indicated in his speech by General-Secretary Xi Jinping at the fifth plenary session of the 19th National Congress of the CCP central committee, China still takes a cautious optimistic view on the main trends of global situation, which are clearly for peace, development and cooperation.We also see at the same time there are negative factors growing against unity, globalization andinternational cooperation, such as protectionism, unilateralism, populism and hegemonism in some big country, especially from some forces of the United States. International society needs very much be on guard against those “isms”, power politics and deeds irresponsible for multilateral efforts and enhance world governess in conformity with UN Charter through dialogue on mutual respect and cooperation.
China has been and will always be a constructive international force for peace，stability, security and development, a positive nation for strengthen multilateralism for mutual beneficial cooperation. The new “14th Five Year Plan” in economic and social development in China will give the world new and bigger opportunities for common prosperity in the years to come, as China will be ready to share their planning and economic construction in her deeper and wider opening up and reform tapping the potential of her domestic market and reaching out with the rest of the world.
Secondly, the Chinese leadership in the ruling party CCP and the government remains all along and will do in future that China will continue to stick to the Peaceful Development Path, which means that China willconsciously try harder to maintain world peace and promote common development with the rest of the world, to build together with all the partners and friends a community of shared future for the humanity.
Thirdly, China attaches great importance to a stable and constructive relations and cooperation with countries in the world. As always, China believes that the Middle East is an importantregion with countries of great civilization that would give indispensable contribution to the international community for a better, more secured and prosperous life for all.
My friends,
With that global view, China alsosees a very optimistic future on our relationship with Middle East in general and with Israel in particular.
After decades of development efforts of both China and countries in Middle East, there have laid out by efforts of both sides a solid foundation for our bilateral relations with deeper mutual understanding, ever growing cooperation and deep confidence in our shared future. Our cooperation and mutual support and assistance ever since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic is a very good example, and current on-going cooperation in substantial fields in Belt and Road Initiative, in battling the pandemic and for our common economy development are further evidence of our strong ties.
We in China also like to continue to develop a strong and fruitful relations with Israel as well as all the partners and friends in the Middle East region. Both China and Israel, as China and Middle East ties in general, need also to work together to strengthen multilateralism in international arena, promote peace and common development, and keep opposed to unilateralism through dialogue and better communication on all levels. Unity is the key. China is determined to go on to strengthen our ties with all countries in the Middle East, as we see many presentations made in this platform, to promote cooperation among all nations, and together to contribute to tackling challenges facing the global community, climate change, fighting the pandemic, improving public health, guarding against nuclear proliferation, hunger and poverty lifting, economic recovery and growth pushing, cyber-security.
I am very happy to say that Relations between China and Israel are strong and dynamic. In recent years this relationship has witnessed a rapid growth and enjoyed a real win-win cooperation with the two countries as comprehensive partners in innovation, great congruity in development ideas, highly mutual complimentary industries and ever-expanding fruitful collaboration.
During the pandemic, the Chinese and the Israelis have been working together with deep mutual understanding in joining hands to overcome challenges, demonstrating the power of unity and cooperation. At the critical moment of China's fight against the epidemic, President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israelis from all walks of life extended their sympathy and support to China.
China also firmly stands with Israel in this fight. We have held sessions of video conference between Chinese and Israeli medical experts and will continue to do so. We are facilitating Israel's procurement and transportation of medical supplies in and from China. Cities, businesses, universities and ordinary people from China are expressing their sympathies and donating PPEs to Israel. Moreover, Chinese investment and firms with projects in Israel have been steadily resuming their operations, contributing to Israel's efforts to in both battling pandemic and sustaining economic development.
Crises will never stop China and Israel to pursue greater cooperation. The governments and peoples of the two countries have every will and wisdom to prevail over the disease and reinvigorate the growth.
In the first half of 2020, the bilateral trade between China and Israel topped over 6.3 billion US dollars, registering an increase of 20%. Among which, Israel's export to China increased by 51% to 2.4 billion US dollars. Not long ago, the negotiating teams of our two countries concluded the latest round of FTA consultations, and both sides are positive on reaching the agreement at an earlier date. By the end of this year, the preparation meeting for the 5th Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation will be convened to formulate the blueprint of our future collaboration.
Looking into future, China-Israel relationship will continue to be very promising one. The two-way trade in the first half of 2020 has reached over 6.3 billion US dollars, an impressive growth of nearly 20% more than that of last year defying the pandemic still spreading. The bilateral joint platform for innovation works well, busy preparing 5th meeting. Our talk on free trade agreement is going on steadily, with both sides taking positive views for it. China and Israel will get over this difficult period for mankind and embrace a better tomorrow. From what I see and read, it can be well expected that in the years to come, with joined efforts and wise leadership from both sides, China-Israel friendship, cooperation and comprehensive innovation partnership will grow a new high. I am also confident that relationship between China and countries in the whole Middle East will see a new growth in many major fields, bringing wonderful blessing to peoples of both sides.
Ladies and gentlemen,
China-US relationship is now in a critical juncture, with new Joe Biden Administration to be running the White House, there is certainly new hope that these ties could get onto a more stable and predictable track, yet it may also go to some different way, which would be something peoples on either side would like to see. For me who happens to be used to work on this relationship for more than a decade, I want also to strike a fairly optimistic tone but with many wait-and-see notes too, as there have been too many bad things happening in recent years.
After general election, former Vice-president Joe Biden has been elected as new President of the US. President Xi Jinping has sent congratulation message to him. It is hoped that the new US Administration will work with China and the rest of the world to unite for the battle against the pandemic, economic recovery, global peace and development, through dialogue and cooperation, to bring stability and hope to the world and tackle better with challenges facing all mankind. Many people believe that a stable, coordinated and cooperative China-US relations are conducive to both of our two nations and to the rest of the world.
Let me take a little bit elaboration. With the sudden onslaught of COVID-19 countries have come to realize more than ever that global challenges require enhanced international coordination and cooperation, and that major countries in particular should lead by example. However, China-U.S. relations have spiraled down to the lowest level since the establishment of diplomatic ties 41 years ago. This is clearly not in the interests of the Chinese and American peoples, nor is it conducive to peoples in the rest of the world.
I am personally not as pessimistic as many people now would hold. As long as both sides can really see where their fundamental interests lie this relationship could see a return away from abnormal, in a more rational and stable way. At present, I have not seen the light yet, it needs the work on both sides, especially on the US’s side. In fact, this relationship is now at a critical historical juncture.
In his congratulation message to the President-elected Joe Biden, President Xi Jinping noted, "Promoting healthy and stable development of China-US relations not only serves the fundamental interests of the people in both countries, but also meets the common expectation of the international community. I hope that the two sides will uphold the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage differences, advance the healthy and stable development of China-US ties, and join hands with other countries and the international community to promote the noble cause of world peace and development". This is China's proposal and expectation on China-US relations in the next stage and hopefully would also become a shared view of the policy makers in the US. China is ready to work with US side in a direction that serves common interests of our two peoples as well as countries in the world for peace, stability and common development.
The serious difficulties encountered in China-US relations in recent years are something we do not want to see, and also something that all walks of the US society, including the business community, do not want to see. China and the US share a wide range of common interests and broad space for cooperation in spite of differences in history, culture, social system and development path. As the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the US should strengthen dialogue and cooperation and make greater contributions to the lasting peace and prosperity of the mankind. It is very much up to the US to adjust to a right direction, and concerted efforts from China are ready.
In my mind, five things need to be done sooner rather than later:
Firstly, have a right perception about China. The fundamental cause of the difficult situation in China-US relations these recent years lies in the fact that on US’s side something wrong has been very much in play, the old-dated Cold War mentality and the ideological prejudice, the zero-sum game viewpoint in treating China's economic growth, fabricating threat for containment, attacking the social system chosen by the Chinese people, and agitating for "decoupling". All such perceptions and way of handling the relationship are wrong, inconceivable and incomprehensible. It has been such a successful practice and achievement for China to have pursued peaceful developmentfor all those decades both for the well-being of our own people and that of the world. Peaceful development through win-win cooperation has become the will of the country and the mission of the ruling party. All countries including the US have benefited greatly for that and they know it. It is timefor the US policy makers to return to rationalityand bring this relationship back from abnormal.
Second, strengthening communication and dialogue. China and the US are to start dialogue at all levels and talk about face to face about anything they concern and care for in an effort to achieve outcomes and bring back confidence. The two countries can compile a list on dialogue, a list on cooperation and a list on managing differences to chart a clearer course for reorganizing, maintaining and developing China-US relations on a whole. We also need to encourage more people-to-people exchanges and communication to enhance the support for our relationship and mutual understanding to avoid misunderstanding, misinformation, misperception and miscalculation to misguide our ties continually to the wrong track.
Third, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. Dauntingand unprecedented global challenges as the wide-spreading Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and economic recession have shown are urgently calling for daunting and unprecedented joined efforts of humanity, China and the US should and can work together to support those efforts.Among those most pressing for instance are to contain the pandemic, to cooperate in treatment experience sharing, anti-pandemic supplies manufacturingand vaccine and drug development, to name a few. China and the US can also enhance economic and trade cooperation, reopen dialogue and coordination on economic policies, keep global industrial and supply chains stable, and support the economic recovery of both countries and the world. There are many other things both sides can collaborate with international community for global peace, security and stability, such aslaw enforcement, drug control, and cyber security, reinforce coordination as well as issues like poverty alleviation, counterterrorism and non-proliferation. Both sides can strengthen cooperation at United Nations, World Health Organization, G20 Group, APEC and other multilateral frameworks to further improve and enhance global governance and push towards a more balanced, inclusive and substantial globalization.
Fourth, managing bilateral disputes and conflicts. As the two countries with different social system, tradition, development stage as well as history and culture, we need to handle lots of differences, which is only natural. Mutual respect is the key, vision and wisdom are called for, and rules be followed. It is the rule of international law that any country should not interfere into other’s domestic affairs. China has not done that or exported its development model or inflicted ideological confrontation. With the issues that cannot be solved right away, manage them constructively and avoid the derail of the whole ties.
Fifth, tell people the truth that a stable, friendly and well communicated relationship between China and the US are blessing and conducive for peace, security, jobs and prosperity. China and the US need to support friendly exchanges between legislatures, local governments, businesses, think tanks, colleges, media outlets and youths of the two countries, to enhance mutual understanding.
I believe that as long as the two sides act in accordance with real common interests, adhere to mutual respect and work for peoples’ wellbeing instead of those of the few interests’ groups, the China-US relations will embrace a new start to the benefits of all mankind as well as our two nations.
Thank you.
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