中国驻美国大使崔天凯在庆祝中国人民解放军建军91周年招待会上的讲话
Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai at the Reception Celebrating the 91st Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Liberation Army
2018年7月30日 July 30, 2018
尊敬的凯文·伍尔夫霍斯特准将、罗伯特·斯伯丁准将、威廉·彭宁顿准将，
女士们、先生们、朋友们：
The Honorable Brigadier General Kevin Wulfhorst,
The Honorable Brigadier General Robert Spalding,
The Honorable Rear Admiral William Pennington,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
晚上好！欢迎大家出席今天的招待会，与我们一起庆祝中国人民解放军建军节。
Good evening. I would like to welcome you to today’s reception to join us in celebrating the 91st anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
中国人民解放军的历史，与中国共产党的发展紧密相连，与中华人民共和国的命运息息相关，是一部为中国人民谋解放谋幸福的光辉历史。过去，中国人民解放军为中国人民的解放事业，为中国人民的和平建设和改革开放，为捍卫国家主权、安全和发展利益，做出了不可替代、不可磨灭的贡献。现在，中国人民解放军依然是中国人民和平建设美好家园、追求幸福生活的“守护神”，是中华民族实现伟大复兴强国梦的“生力军”。
The history of the PLA is integral to the development of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and plays a vital part in the course the People’s Republic of China has gone through. It is a glorious chapter of striving for liberation and happiness of the Chinese people. In the past, the PLA has made irreplaceable and indelible contribution to the liberation and peaceful development of the Chinese people, to reform and opening-up of China, and to safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests of China. Today, the PLA remains a “guardian” for the Chinese people in their pursuit of a safe home and a better life, and it gives a strong boost to their efforts to fulfill the dream of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
中国人民解放军的战略任务，就是建设同中国国际地位相称、同国家安全与发展利益相适应的强大国防和一流军队，特别是要为捍卫国家主权和领土完整不遗余力。中国的领土我们一寸也不能丢，别人的东西我们一分一毫也不要。目前中国军队通过改革为实现强军梦迈出了关键步伐，以全新的面貌展现在世界面前。
The strategic task of the PLA is to build strong national defense and world-class forces commensurate with China’s international standing and in line with the national security and development interests. In particular, it must spare no effort to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We shall not lose even a single inch of our territory; at the same time, we will never covet even a tiny bit of what belongs to others. The PLA has taken essential strides in fulfilling the dream of building a strong military through reform, taking on a new look for the world.
中国坚持走和平发展道路，奉行防御性国防政策。中国军队将积极履行国际责任和义务，在联合国维和行动、亚丁湾海域护航、国际人道主义救援等领域发挥更为重要的作用。中国是联合国安理会五个常任理事国中派出维和部队最多的国家，也是联合国维和摊款最多的发展中国家。中国军队始终是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者。
China is committed to the path of peaceful development and adopts a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. The PLA will honor its international responsibilities and obligations and play a more important role in the UN peacekeeping operations, escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and international humanitarian rescue and assistance. China is the biggest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and takes up the largest share of peacekeeping assessment rates among developing countries. As such, the PLA is and will continue to be an important force that helps build world peace, contribute to global development and maintain the international order.
女士们、先生们、朋友们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
今年是中国改革开放40周年，明年将迎来中美建交40周年。当年两国建交破冰，不少人都觉得很意外，怀疑中美关系能否顺利发展。40年的历史证明，中美合作成果极大造福了两国人民和世界人民。
This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. And next year, we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US. Back then when diplomatic ties were just established between us, quite a few people were taken by surprise, calling into question the prospects of our relations. But the past four decades have proved that our cooperation has delivered huge benefits to the people of our two countries and the whole world.
中国一直是爱好和平的国家，长城本身就是防御的象征。中国的战略目标是发展自己，不是挑战别人。中国无意挑战任何国家在国际上的地位和利益，无意挑战现有国际秩序和国际体系。中国坚持和平发展、合作共赢的理念，不会走扩张主义和殖民主义道路。中国给世界提供前所未有的机遇，开启了共同构建人类命运共同体的前景。任何人只要没有偏见，都会看得很清楚。
China has always been a peace-loving country. The Great Wall itself is a symbol of defense. China’s strategic goal is to develop itself rather than to challenge anyone else. China has no intention to challenge the international standing and interests of any other country or the existing international order and system. China adheres to the principles of peaceful development and win-win cooperation and rejects any expansionist or colonialist path. China offers the world community unprecedented opportunities and opens up the prospects of jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind. Anyone without biases shall see this very clearly.
女士们、先生们、朋友们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
当前，中美关系处在一个重要发展阶段。历史上，中美两国在反法西斯战争中共同战斗过。当前，在保持世界经济强劲增长、改善国际经济治理、反恐和维护国际和平稳定、应对全球挑战等诸多方面有着日益增长的合作需要。未来，中美两国共同利益远远大于分歧，拥有广阔的合作前景。合作是中美两国唯一正确的选择。两国人民的利益赋予我们把中美关系搞好的历史责任，没有给任何人把它搞坏的权利。
The China-US relationship is at an important stage of development. Historically, our two countries fought shoulder to shoulder in the World Anti-Fascist War. Today, we have increasing needs for cooperation in promoting strong global economic growth, improving international economic governance, responding to numerous global challenges, combating terrorism and maintaining international peace and stability. Looking ahead, China and the US enjoy vast prospects for cooperation, as our shared interests far outweigh our differences. Cooperation is the only right choice that our two countries should make. What the interests of our two peoples have put on us is the historical responsibilities to get the China-US relationship right, not the liberty for anyone to make it fail.
中美之间难免会出现一些竞争，这也是国际关系中的正常现象。关键是以什么样的心态来看待竞争。我们认为，中美之间的竞争应该是良性的竞争、积极的竞争，旨在超越自我而不是要取代对方。双方应该以竞争助推合作，以合作创造双赢，这样才真正符合中美两国的利益，才能切实履行两国对世界所应承担起的责任。
At the same time, it is only natural for China and the US to compete in some areas, which is nothing unusual in international relations. The key is what kind of approach we take to such competition. We believe that our competition should be healthy and positive, aiming to improve ourselves, not to replace the other side. Our two sides need to promote cooperation through competition and achieve win-win results from cooperation. Only in this way can the interests of both countries be best served and can we honor our responsibilities to the whole world.
上半年，中国陆军司令韩卫国上将访美、美国国防部长马蒂斯先生访华，两军高层就增进军事互信、深化务实合作、管控风险挑战等达成重要共识。下半年，中国国务委员兼国防部长魏凤和上将、海军司令沈金龙上将还将访美。中美两军将做大共同利益的蛋糕，把握两军相互尊重、合作共赢的大方向，推动两军关系成为两国关系发展的“稳定器”。
Earlier this year, General Han Weiguo, Commander of the PLA Ground Force, visited the US, and US Secretary of Defense James Mattis visited China. During the visits, the leadership of the two militaries reached important agreement on increasing military mutual trust, deepening practical cooperation and managing risks and challenges. In the latter half of this year, General Wei Fenghe, China’s State Councilor and Defense Minister, and Admiral Shen Jinlong, Commander of the PLA Navy, will also visit the US. The two sides will work together to make the pie of shared interests even bigger and steer to the direction of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, with a view to making the mil-to-mil relationship a stabilizer in the bilateral relations.
我们愿与美方一道，本着相互尊重、合作共赢的原则，落实好两国元首北京会晤达成的一系列重要共识，聚焦合作、管控分歧，办好4个高级别对话机制第二轮对话，推动中美关系沿着正确轨道方向发展。
Guided by the principles of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, we would like to work with the US side to well implement the important consensus reached by our Presidents in their Beijing meeting, focus on cooperation, manage differences and successfully stage the second sessions of the four high-level dialogue mechanisms, so that China-US relations will move forward along the right track.
女士们，先生们，朋友们，
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
现在，我提议，
I would like to propose a toast,
为庆祝中国人民解放军建军91周年，
To the 91st anniversary of the founding of the PLA,
为中美两国关系不断健康稳定发展，
To the sound and steady development of our bilateral and mil-to-mil relations,
为中美两国人民友好合作，
To the friendship and cooperation between our two peoples,
为各位来宾的健康，
And to the health of all the friends present,
干杯！
Cheers!
