合作共赢是中澳应对全球挑战的正确选择
感谢《澳金融评论报》资深编辑尼克逊先生，
女士们、先生们：
上午好！
很高兴出席2024年《澳金融评论报》（AFR）商业峰会。感谢AFR总编斯塔奇伯里先生的邀请。过去两年，自我到任以来，中国使馆与AFR保持了良好合作。AFR对我进行的专访令我印象深刻。此外，AFR还多次在报纸评论版刊发了我就中澳关系和中国经济的署名文章，我对此表示赞赏。再次感谢斯塔奇伯里先生去年10月来我官邸做客，我很高兴你对北京烤鸭赞不绝口。
本次峰会分析研究国际形势，聚焦澳大利亚未来发展，探讨合作应对挑战的举措，十分必要和及时。作为中国驻澳大使，下面我愿从中国视角分享三点看法。
第一，关于国际形势，中方认为当前世界百年未有之大变局正加速演进。
世界之变、时代之变、历史之变正以前所未有的方式展开，世界进入新的动荡变革期，不确定、不稳定、难预料因素增多，乌克兰危机、巴以冲突及其“外溢效应”等诸多挑战层出不穷。单边主义、集团政治重创国际体系，保护主义、泛安全化冲击世界经济，人工智能、气候变化等新挑战接连浮现。
面对“世界怎么了，我们怎么办”这一深刻的世界之问、历史之问、时代之问，习近平主席提出构建人类命运共同体理念。在习近平外交思想的指引下，中方倡导平等有序的世界多极化和普惠包容的经济全球化，坚持大小国家一律平等，支持各国走出符合自身国情的发展道路，致力解决国家间和各国内部发展失衡问题，践行真正的多边主义。
第二，尽管中国发展面临诸多风险和挑战，我们对中国发展前景抱有坚定信心。中国经济回升向好、长期向好的基本趋势没有改变。
今年中国全国“两会”今天下午即将胜利闭幕，中国国务院总理李强代表中国国务院在第十四届全国人大二次会议开幕会上向大会作了政府工作报告。《报告》回顾了去年的成绩，展望了今年中国经济发展形势，并指出今年中国经济增长预期目标为5%左右。可以说，“两会”不仅是中国政治生活中的一件大事，也是外界观察中国、读懂中国，特别是了解和感知中国经济的重要窗口。
在刚刚过去的一年，中国顶住外部压力、克服内部困难，付出艰辛努力，圆满完成全年经济社会发展主要目标任务，高质量发展扎实推进，社会大局保持稳定，全面建设社会主义现代化国家迈出坚实步伐。中国经济总体回升向好，2023年国内生产总值增长5.2%，增速居世界主要经济体前列。中国制造业等传统产业加快转型升级，新能源和生物技术等战略性新兴产业蓬勃发展，量子科技和生命科学等未来产业有序布局；国有企业改革和促进民营经济发展壮大的政策陆续实施；出口占国际市场份额保持稳定；实际使用外资规模仍保持历史高位，结构进一步优化，高技术等高端产业实际使用外资规模不断扩大。中国就业保持稳定，城镇新增就业1244万人，同比多增38万人。中国新能源汽车产销量占全球比重超过60%，电动汽车、锂电池、光伏产品出口同比增长近30%。
展望未来，中国将继续坚持高质量发展，加快发展以科技创新为核心的新质生产力，继续扩大高水平对外开放，主动对接高标准国际经贸规则，加大吸引外资力度，继续缩减外资准入负面清单，全面取消制造业领域外资准入限制措施，放宽电信、医疗等服务业市场准入，提升外籍人员来华工作、学习、旅游便利度。
与此同时，在全球经济复苏乏力、需求收缩背景下，中国经济仍然存在房地产市场风险、有效需求不足等潜在问题，但这些问题是阶段性的。中国政府也正积极采取措施努力应对这些挑战。可以说，中国既立足当前，又着眼长远。中国经济韧性强、潜力大、活力足，中国拥有14亿人口的超大规模市场，中产阶级规模有望在2035年达到8亿，创新动能强劲，推动高质量发展具有良好基础和有利条件，经济回升向好、长期向好的基本趋势没有改变。
第三，合作共赢才是中澳携手应对全球挑战的正确选择。
中澳同为亚太地区重要国家，两国经济结构高度互补，务实合作互利共赢。在当前国际和地区形势背景下，中澳携手合作不仅符合两国共同利益，也有利于地区乃至世界的和平、稳定与繁荣。为实现这一目标，我认为以下三点至关重要：
一是树立对彼此的正确认知。今年是中澳建立全面战略伙伴关系10周年。“全面”意味着中澳关系不只是经济贸易领域的合作，而是在任何潜在领域和层级开展合作。“战略”意味着两国关系的重要性超越了双边关系，具有地区性甚至世界性的重要意义。“伙伴”意味着中澳是朋友而非敌人，伙伴而非对手。中方愿同澳方一道，加强沟通，增进理解，强化友好合作，为两国和两国人民带来更多福祉。
二是深化务实合作。据澳方统计，去年两国货物贸易总额达3000多亿澳元的历史新高，同比增长8.2%，其中澳对华贸易顺差已连续20余年，去年顺差为985亿澳元，占澳对外贸易顺差的近80%。中澳务实合作对两国而言都十分重要。双方应继续巩固和深化能矿、农业、教育、旅游等传统领域合作，拓展气候变化、电动汽车、人工智能、健康产业、绿色经济、数字经济、科技创新等新兴领域合作。这些将有助于中澳在不断巩固现有领域合作的基础上，开启更为广泛的互利合作的新篇章。
三是妥善处理分歧。中澳虽在历史、政治体制、意识形态、甚至文化等方面存在差异，但两国共同利益远大于分歧，而这也正是两国50年友好合作的重要根基。双方应着眼大局、聚焦共识，尊重彼此核心利益和重大关切，通过友好沟通、协商方式，以妥善、成熟和富有智慧的方式管控好分歧。双方应坚持通过商榷、对话甚至协商手段妥处分歧，而不应使分歧危害甚至绑架双边关系和务实合作。
一位澳大利亚朋友曾对我说，澳方乐见一个成功的中国，中国经济的兴旺发达对澳而言是利好消息。我十分认同他的观点。同时，我也向其表示，中国也乐见一个成功的澳大利亚，澳大利亚经济持续向好发展对中国而言也是利好消息。
女士们、先生们，
在中国文化中，危和机总是同生并存的，克服了危即是机。今年是中国农历龙年，龙象征力量和活力。我相信新的一年，在双方的共同努力下，中澳关系能够在前年稳定、去年改善的基础上，持续企稳向好，取得新的发展。
预祝峰会取得圆满成功！
谢谢！
Win-win Cooperation is the Right Choice
for China and Australia to Address Global Challenges
Thank you, Mr James Daggar-Nickson,
Good Morning, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It’s my great pleasure to attend the Financial Review Business Summit 2024. Sincere thanks to Michael, for the kind invitation to this grand event. I appreciate the cooperation between my Embassy and AFR over the past two years since I came to Australia as the Chinese ambassador. Financial Review’s exclusive interview with me was impressive. Thanks for publishing my opinion pieces on China-Australia relations and Chinese economy. Also thank you again Michael for being guest at my residence last October. I’m glad you enjoyed the Peking Duck.
The emphasis of Business Summit 2024 to undertake in-depth analysis of the current international situation, focus on Australia’s future development, and explore concerted measures to address challenges, is both significant and timely. Hereby, as the Chinese ambassador to Australia, I’d like to share with you three observations from China’s perspective.
To begin with, it is China’s overview of the current international situation that the world today is confronted with accelerated changes unseen in a century.
Changes in the world, in our times and in history are unfolding in ways like never before. The world has entered a new period of disorder and transformation with increasing instability, uncertainties and unpredictable factors as well as rising challenges such as the Ukraine Crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and their global repercussions. The international system is impaired by unilateralism and bloc politics. The global economy is weighed down by protectionism and the abuse of the security concept. Artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, among others, are posing a whole new set of challenges as well. Just to name a few.
What has happened to the world and how should we respond? Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Under the guideline of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China advocates for an equal and orderly multi-polar world and inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, upholding the equality of all countries regardless of their sizes, supporting countries in following development paths that suit their own national conditions, addressing the uneven and inadequate development among and within so many countries, and practicing true multilateralism.
Second, despite various risks and challenges, we have full confidence in China’s future development. The fundamentals of China’s economic recovery and its long-term improvement remain unchanged.
The second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have almost come to an end. At the opening of the second session of the 14th NPC, Premier Li Qiang delivered his government work report on behalf of the State Council of China, taking stock of its achievements last year, laying out China’s economic outlooks in the coming year, including 5% GDP growth target for the year 2024. The “Two Sessions” are an important political event in China and a window for the rest of the world to observe and understand China, especially Chinese economy.
In 2023, China navigated external pressures and internal difficulties, and made painstaking efforts to accomplish its main targets for economic and social development. China made real progress in high-quality development, maintained overall social stability, and made solid progress in building a modern socialist country in all respects. Chinese economy witnessed recovery, with GDP expanded 5.2 percent, ranking China among the fastest-growing major economies in the world. China’s traditional industries such as manufacturing, saw accelerated transformation and upgrading, strategic emerging industries such as clean energy and biotechnology achieved vigorous growth, and ground work was orderly laid for developing industries of the future such as quantum technology and life sciences. Chinese government’s policies to reform state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and promote the growth of the private economy were implemented. China’s share of exports in the international market remained stable. China’s actual use of foreign investment remained at historic highs, the structure of foreign investment was further optimized, and there has been an increasing number of foreign investment in high-end industries such as advanced technology. Employment remained stable in China, with 12.44 million new urban jobs created, 380 thousand more than the previous year. China’s production and sales of new energy vehicles accounted for more than 60% of the world's total, and the export of electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products increased by nearly 30% last year.
Looking ahead, China will take strides in accelerating the building of new quality productive forces, namely, enhancing innovation-driven and technology-driven production. China will continue to expand high-standard opening-up in alignment with high-standard international trade rules, intensify efforts to attract foreign investment, further shorten the “negative list” for foreign investment, remove all market access restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, relax market access in telecommunications, medical and other services, and make it easier for foreigners to work, study and travel in China.
In the meantime, against the backdrop of sluggish world economic recovery and shrinking demand, such risks as those brought by the real estate market and insufficient effective demand have undeniably exerted negative influences on the Chinese economy, nonetheless these problems are phased and Chinese government is taking effective measures to tackle these problems. We are not only addressing the pressing tasks, but also taking into account the sustainable, long-term and healthy development of Chinese economy. Chinese economy is resilient with great potential from its vast market of 1.4 billion people, from its growing middle class from 400 million last year to 800 million as expected in 2035, and from vitality in innovation. The sound foundation and favorable conditions for the high-quality development of Chinese economy remain intact. The fundamentals of China’s economic recovery and long-term growth remain positive and unchanged.
Third, as a concerted measure to address global challenges, win-win cooperation between China and Australia is the only right choice.
China and Australia are major powers in the Pacific. Our two economies are highly complementary. Our cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. Against the backdrop of the current international and regional situation, cooperation between China and Australia is not only in line with the common interests of our two countries, but also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. In this regard, the following three points are critical.
Point one, the right perception of each other. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. “Comprehensive” means China and Australia could cooperate in all possible fields and at all possible levels. “Strategic” means the relationship has gone beyond the bilateral scope and taken on growing regional and global significance. “Partnership” means China and Australia are friends, not foes, partners, not adversaries. China is ready to work with Australia to enhance communication and mutual understanding, strengthen our friendship and cooperation, and bring more benefits to our two countries and two peoples.
Point two, deepening of practical cooperation. According to Australian statistics, the total trade volume in goods in 2023 between our two countries reached a new historic milestone of more than 300 billion Australian dollars, achieving an increase of 8.2% compared with 2022. Australia’s trade surplus with China continues for over 2 decades in a row and reached 98.5 billion Australian dollars, accounting for nearly 80% of Australia’s total trade surplus with the rest of the world. The practical cooperation between China and Australia is significant to both countries. We should not only continue to consolidate and deepen cooperation between China and Australia in traditional areas such as energy, mining, agriculture, education, tourism, etc., but also explore cooperation in emerging areas such as addressing climate change, electric vehicle, artificial intelligence, health industry, green and digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, and so forth. These will not only help consolidate our existing cooperation, but also facilitate a new chapter of even broader mutually beneficial cooperation.
Point three, handle differences properly. China and Australia are different in our history, political systems, ideology, even culture and so forth. Nonetheless, there is a lot more that we share in common between our two countries. And these commonalities are very much the foundation of China-Australia friendship and cooperation in past fifty years. It’s important that both sides bear firmly the big picture in mind, focus on common grounds, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and manage differences properly, wisely and maturely. It is important that we make efforts to solve differences through discussions, consultations and even negotiations. It is important that we shall not allow these differences to severely affect or even hijack our overall bilateral relations and cooperation.
An Australian friend once said to me, Australia would like to see a successful China because China’s economic success is important for Australia. Likewise, I responded by saying that Australia’s economic success is important for China and China would like to see a successful Australia.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In Chinese culture, crisis and opportunity always coexist, and overcoming crisis creates opportunity. This year is the Chinese Lunar Year of the Dragon, and the dragon symbolizes strength and vitality. Building on the stabilization of China-Australia relations in the 2022 and its improvement in 2023, I am confident that with joint efforts from both sides, China-Australia relationship will be more vigorous, consolidated, and we will be able to achieve more development in the year 2024.
I wish the Business Summit great success. Thank you.