Zhao Lijian: China’s foreign trade and investment registered yet another great performance against the background of a surging pandemic driven by new flareups and a global economic recovery fraught with various risks. This is the practical outcome of China’s effort to foster a new development paradigm and pursue high-quality development. It is also a vivid illustration of China sharing development opportunities with the world.
在2021年第四届中国国际进口博览会开幕式上，习近平主席郑重承诺中国扩大高水平开放的决心不会变，同世界分享发展机遇的决心不会变，推动经济全球化朝着更加开放、包容、普惠、平衡、共赢方向发展的决心不会变。同年，中国举办了广交会、服贸会、中国—东盟博览会等一系列展会，为世界各国开拓中国市场、扩大出口提供了良机。据中国海关总署日前发布的数据，2021年，中国货物贸易进出口规模首次突破6万亿美元，创历史新高。全年实际使用外资首次突破万亿，全年对外直接投资近9400亿元，增长2.2％。其中，对“一带一路”沿线国家投资增长7.9％。截至2021年底，在境外经贸合作区中方累计投资507亿美元，上缴东道国税费66亿美元，为当地创造39万个就业岗位。事实证明，中国经济充满活力和韧劲，这对稳定全球产业链供应链、推动世界经济复苏发挥了积极作用。
At the opening ceremony of the fourth China International Import Expo in 2021, President Xi Jinping pledged that we will not change our resolve to open wider at a high standard; we will not change our determination to share development opportunities with the rest of the world; and we will not change our commitment to an economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. In the same year, China held a series of fair and expo events including the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), the China International Fair for Trade in Services and the China-ASEAN Expo, which have provided good opportunities for other countries to tap a broader China market and expand exports. According to latest statistics from China’s General Administration of Customs, in 2021, China’s trade in goods exceeded US$6 trillion for the first time, hitting a record high. In 2021, the paid-in FDI topped one trillion yuan for the first time, and China’s ODI reached around 940 billion yuan, up 2.2%. Specifically, investment in partner countries of the Belt and Road Initiative increased by 7.9%. By the end of 2021, China had invested US$50.7 billion in overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, paid US$6.6 billion in taxes to host countries, and created 390,000 local jobs. Facts have proven that China’s economy is very vigorous and resilient, which has played an active role in stabilizing the global industrial and supply chains and promoting world economic recovery.
Zhao Lijian: China adopts strict measures to regulate anesthetics, psychotropics and precursor chemicals. We have so far scheduled 31 types of precursor chemicals and one ephedrine substance, outnumbering that of the UN. China’s import and export of chemicals strictly abides by international rules and Chinese laws. China’s efforts and outcomes in this field are witnessed by the international community, which fully demonstrates China’s sense of responsibility in actively participating in global drug governance and safeguarding world security and stability.
防止非列管化学品流入制毒的责任在于进口国。众所周知，美国是全球化工原料大国。中方已于2019年5月1日整类列管芬太尼类物质，但美方至今未永久列管芬太尼类物质。美国混淆是非，一味推卸责任，拿非列管物质说事儿。这是对美国民众极不负责任的“甩锅”行为。
The responsibility to prevent non-scheduled chemicals from being used for drug production rests with the import country. As is known to all, the US is a major country of chemical raw materials. China announced the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances as a class on May 1st 2019, while the US has not yet taken permanent measures so far. It instead confounds right with wrong, persistently deflects blame and makes an issue out of non-scheduled substances. Such blameshifting is highly irresponsible to the American people.
Phoenix TV: First, When asked what the US administration made of the fact that China used a young Uyghur athlete to carry the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony of the Games in Beijing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that “we can’t allow this to be a distraction from the human rights abuses, the genocide that we’re seeing in parts of China. That is why we did not send a diplomatic delegation”. Do you have any response? Second, according to reports, US Secretary of State Blinken is going to attend the fourth Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Australia. At a press briefing via teleconference, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink said that part of that discussion will relate to the challenges that China poses to democratic values and the international order. Do you have any comment on that?
Zhao Lijian: On your first question, I already briefed you about relevant situation the other day. The selection of the final torchbearer at the opening ceremony is a normal arrangement made by China. The US is in no position to make wanton remarks. Its “genocide” allegation is a lie of the century, which fully exposed its sinister intention of politicizing the Games and maliciously smearing China with Xinjiang-related issues. Its erroneous practice is unpopular and is doomed to fail, which will only lead to its further isolation from the international community.
美方历史上对印第安人进行种族灭绝，也有长期系统性歧视少数族裔的痼疾。印第安人口从15世纪末的500万骤减至20世纪初的25万，减少到1／20。什么是种族灭绝？美国对印第安人实施的政策才是真正的种族灭绝。美方应该做的，是认真清算自身对印第安人种族灭绝的历史罪行，采取切实措施减少针对印第安人、非裔、亚裔等少数族裔的种族歧视。
Throughout history, the US committed genocide against Native Americans. It is also plagued by persistent systemic discrimination against ethnic minorities. The Native American population nosedived by 95% from five million at the end of the 15th century to 250,000 at the beginning of the 20th century. What is genocide? What the US has done to the Native Americans was true genocide. The US should reckon with its historical crimes of genocide against Native Americans and take effective measures to reduce racial discrimination against ethnic minorities including Native Americans and people of African and Asian descent.
关于第二个问题，我想强调三点：
On your second question, I have three points to make.
第一，民主是全人类共同价值，不是少数国家自诩的专利。一国是否民主，只能由该国人民来评判。美国所谓“民主”人设早已崩塌，却仍强迫他国接受其“美式民主标准”，以民主价值观划线、拼凑小集团，这是对民主彻底的背叛。
First, democracy is a common value of humanity, not a monopoly of a few countries. It’s up to the people of a country to decide whether this country is democratic or not. Despite its ruined democratic brand, the US still forces other countries to accept its democratic standards and cobbles together cliques by drawing the ideological line. This is sheer betrayal to democracy.
第二，中国是地区秩序的福音。中国求和平、谋发展、促合作，推动构建平等、开放、包容、不针对第三国的亚太地区安全体系，反对构建各种封闭排他的小圈子、群中群，反对制造阵营对抗。中国同大多数国家一道，承认和拥护以联合国为核心的国际体系和以国际法为基础的国际秩序，而不是一国或几国单方面定义的所谓“以规则为基础的秩序”。
Second, China presents a boon for the regional order. China pursues peace, development and cooperation and promotes the building of an equitable, open and inclusive security system in the Asia-Pacific Region that does not target any third country. We reject moves to create exclusive cliques and incite bloc confrontation. Like most countries, China recognizes and supports the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, rather than the so-called “order” unilaterally defined by a single or a handful of countries.
第三，任何多边机制都应顺应和平与发展的时代潮流，有助于增进各国互信与合作。希望美国等有关国家看清大势，放平心态，摒弃冷战思维，少给地区国家关系“添油加醋”，多为地区和平、稳定与繁荣“添砖加瓦”。
Third, any multilateral mechanism should conform to the overriding trend of peace and development and be conducive to enhancing mutual trust and cooperation between countries. We hope the US and other countries concerned will grasp the trend of the times, adopt a proper mindset and discard the Cold War mentality. They should contribute more to regional peace, stability and prosperity instead of putting a strain on the relations between regional countries.
On your second question, I am not aware of the specifics yet. I will keep you informed when I get more information.
