Respect history, look to the future and firmly safeguard and stabilize China-US relations

III

China-US relations are now faced with a new international and domestic environment. To safeguard and stabilize the relationship against this backdrop, the right attitude is to respect history, keep pace with the times, and build on past achievements, and not to distort and deny history, or turn back the wheel of history.

The once-in-a-century major shift in the world landscape is picking up speed. Instability and uncertainties in the international situation are growing markedly. COVID-19 and the like pose new challenges to the security and development of all countries. In the meantime, countries are interconnected economically. Progress is made in science and technology with each passing day. Mankind shares a common future in a world that has become a global village where countries are interdependent on each other. No country can handle all this on its own. As President Xi Jinping pointed out in his important speech at the UN Office at Geneva in 2017, there is only one Earth in the universe, and we mankind have only one homeland; caring for and cherishing the Earth is the only option for mankind. All countries should work for a new type of international relations and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

We live in a diverse world. Countries have different histories, cultures, political systems and development models, and each follows a development path suited to its national conditions. We respect the paths chosen by other countries and wish them all success. China is firmly committed to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The CPC's leadership is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In pursuing this path, China has made tremendous achievements, and contributed significantly to safeguarding world peace and stability and promoting common development of all countries. Some US politicians, out of arrogance and ignorance, have acted in violation of the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations, and have willfully and blatantly interfered in the internal affairs of other countries. But US attempts to smear and slander China's political system and drive a wedge between the CPC and the Chinese people are doomed to fail. They should have known that the leadership role of the CPC is a choice of history and of the people, and the CPC enjoys firm support of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. For the CPC, the goal is always to meet the aspiration of the people for a better life. And that is the fundamental reason why it has won the wholehearted endorsement and support of the people. The harder the US politicians try to sever the strong bond between the CPC and the Chinese people, the greater indignation they will arouse among the Chinese people. And the Chinese people will forge ahead with even greater resolve under the strong leadership of the CPC. It must be pointed out that in the information age, the Chinese people have clear and profound knowledge of the world and the US. They are capable of making the right judgment, and are not easily misguided by some in the US. China has no interest in meddling in US domestic politics. Likewise, the US should respect China's choice of development path. The Chinese people's legitimate rights to pursue national development and a better life should be respected. Any attempt to take away from the Chinese people their right to development is daydream. The Chinese people have strong confidence, and the international community sees this clearly as well.

Today, the Chinese people are rallying closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and are making unremitting efforts toward the Two Centenary Goals. China is firmly committed to the path of peaceful development, and hopes that other countries will also follow the path of peaceful development. China is firmly committed to fostering a new type of international relations, building a community with a shared future for mankind, and bringing about an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world with lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. China is firmly committed to deepening reform and opening-up, and will open its door even wider to the world. China is firmly committed to enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, jointly promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, promoting a Silk Road of Health through collective efforts, and building a global community of health for all. In the first half of this year, the Chinese economy outperformed expectations in spite of the grave COVID-19 situation around the world. This is a telling example of the resilience and potential of the Chinese economy. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, "The Chinese economy is not a pond, but an ocean. Big winds and storms may upset a pond, but never an ocean." We welcome companies from around the world, including the US, to continue to invest in China. We will continue to improve the business environment for them.

On developing relations with the US, China has all along pursued a consistent policy stance, and showed great stability and continuity. We are committed to developing a China-US relationship featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. In the meantime, we are resolved to safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests. The fundamental goal of China's development is to bring about a better life for the Chinese people and contribute more to regional and global peace, stability, development and prosperity. Dialogue and cooperation between China and the US does not just benefit one side, nor is it a favor granted by one side to the other. It features equality and mutual benefit. China values principles, reason and credibility as well as mutual respect and win-win cooperation. The international community has made it clear that it hopes to see a healthy and stable China-US relationship and does not want to see confrontation or conflict between the two countries. Some US politicians, out of self-serving interests, have resorted to coercive means to force other countries to take sides. This is deeply deplorable to the international community, and those US politicians will never get their way.