No challenge can stop China from moving forward.

People's Daily (May 13, 2019, 01 Edition)

Sino-US trade friction has escalated again. Ignoring China's sincere attitude and actions, the U.S. side raised the tariff on $200 billion of Chinese exports to the U.S. from 10 percent to 25 percent starting at 0:01 Washington time on May 10, 2019. China issued a statement at the same time, announcing that it had to take necessary countermeasures.

In the face of this regrettable situation, people who have paid close attention to the progress made so far in the high-level Sino-US economic and trade consultations have to ask: is it necessary for the US side to return the Sino-US economic and trade consultation process to the original point by fundamentally violating the negotiation principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit?

China always believes that cooperation is the best choice and the only correct choice to solve the problem. Only by earnestly following the principles and directions already established by the two sides, strengthening communication, focusing on cooperation, and managing differences, can we promote the healthy and stable development of Sino-US economic and trade cooperation and bilateral relations.

The trend of China-US economic and trade relations not only affects the two major economies, but also profoundly affects the world. In the face of major changes unseen in a century, economic globalization has encountered twists and turns and increased uncertainty, where is human society heading? At present, United States policymakers have made a big bet on the "fighting" side, allowing the clouds of "current interests" to obscure the vision of the sun, failing to grasp the laws of history, failing to recognize the general trend of the world, and not wanting to take responsibility for the times, thus casting a shadow over the world's development prospects.

(I)

The US side has launched trade friction offensives again and again, which not only loses its own national credibility, but also seriously interferes with the Sino US economic and trade consultation process.

Looking back at the history of Sino-US trade frictions, in March 2018, the United States unilaterally provoked frictions and escalated in a short period of time, which adversely affected the economies of the two countries and global trade.

In order to avoid further escalation of friction, on December 1 last year, at the G20 summit held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the heads of state of China and the United States reached an important consensus: expand cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, manage differences on the basis of mutual respect, and jointly promote Sino US relations based on coordination, cooperation and stability.

The economic and trade teams of the two sides subsequently conducted a series of consultations, conducted dialogues on issues of common concern such as trade balance, intellectual property protection, and two-way investment, continuously expanded consensus, narrowed differences, and made positive progress on a series of specific issues. China has always insisted on resolving differences through dialogue, always opening the door to negotiations, actively consulting with the utmost patience and sincerity, and doing its utmost to seek the greatest common divisor of the interests of both sides.

However, in disregard of China's sincerity and actions and the principle of equality and mutual benefit, the United States has exerted extreme pressure and demanded exorbitant prices, escalating Sino-US trade frictions and casting a shadow over Sino-US economic and trade relations.

(II)

The unilateralism and hegemonism pursued by the United States has no way out and has a serious negative impact on world economic growth and global trade.

As the main founder and participant of the international economic order and multilateral trading system after the end of World War II, the United States should shoulder its due responsibilities, take the lead in abiding by multilateral trade rules, and properly handle trade frictions with other members through the dispute settlement mechanism under the framework of the WTO, which is also a clear commitment made by the US government to the international community. However, while enjoying the benefits of the current international trading system, the current U.S. government has unilaterally exaggerated its own domestic problems, internationalized domestic issues, politicized economic and trade issues, pursued extreme pragmatism, and even openly violated WTO rules. It is precisely the national image of the country.

The US government's sudden tariff increase will inevitably cause great harm to the United States itself. This is a consensus that has long been formed in American society. "It is my business, not China, that pays the 25% tariff, which is imposing tariffs on American consumers." On American social media, there are many such voices of opposition. Rick Huffenby, president of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, said the additional tariffs would only hurt American families, American workers, American companies and the U.S. economy.

American farmers have also been hit. In 2018, U.S. net agricultural income fell 12%, soybean, pork, dairy and wheat prices fell precipitously, while profits fell while equipment prices rose. Lowe Nezl, the fourth-generation owner of Bismark Farm in Kansas, said that because of the tariffs, the farm has been experiencing a "difficult economic moment" since last year, and he and other farmers are all trade disputes. Victims. Grain farmer Jim Tapon said, "We survived the difficult times of the 1970 s and 1980 s, but we can't survive now." His family had to abandon their farm after nearly 100 years of operation.

Not only that, the trade friction between the world's two largest economies has triggered international concerns about global economic growth. The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other institutions recently lowered their expectations for world economic growth. Lagarde, president of the International Monetary Fund, used "uncertain weather" to describe the current state of the world economy and listed trade issues as "the biggest uncertainty in the world". The WTO has cut its forecast for global trade growth in 2019 from 3.7 per cent to 2.6 per cent, the lowest level in three years.

The trade war will not solve the problem, and the US side's arbitrary trade protectionism will hurt the interests of American consumers, farmers, entrepreneurs and other groups, as well as the global industrial chain. The current economic and political pressure in the United States is increasing, and it is difficult to bear the cost of further escalation of trade frictions. International public opinion believes that in the end, the United States can only return to the negotiating table and truly solve the problem through equal consultations. This is the only correct choice.

(III)

China adheres to principled cooperation and resolutely defends the core interests of the country and the fundamental interests of the people. We have the confidence, determination and ability to meet the challenges of risk.

To resolve Sino-US trade frictions, China's position has always been clear-"cooperation is the best choice for both sides." "With regard to the economic and trade differences and frictions between the two sides, we are willing to adopt a cooperative approach to resolve them and promote the conclusion of an agreement acceptable to both sides."

Cooperation is principled, not compromised. China will never develop itself at the expense of the interests of other countries, nor will it give up its legitimate development rights and interests. Sino-US trade frictions have occurred for more than a year, whether it is macro-economy, enterprise development, or people's livelihood, the impact on China's economy is generally under control.

Long-term positive economic fundamentals are the fundamental support for us to deal with risk challenges.

Since the beginning of this year, in the face of a complex and grim situation, China has unswervingly promoted high-quality development, focused on deepening supply-side structural reform, continued to fight the three major battles, implemented counter-cyclical adjustment of macro policies in a timely and appropriate manner, maintained major macroeconomic indicators within a reasonable range, significantly improved market confidence, and accelerated the implementation of the transformation of new and old kinetic energy. Looking at this year's opening report card, China's GDP grew by 6.4 per cent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, exceeding market expectations and remaining in the 6.4-6.8 per cent range for 14 consecutive quarters. More importantly, at the end of March, the unemployment rate in the national urban survey was 5.2 percent, the employment situation was generally stable, and the "gold content" of development was higher and more sufficient.

"China is not willing to fight a trade war, but it is not afraid to fight a trade war." Sino-US economic and trade issues have limited impact on China's economic growth. In recent years, thanks to the huge market space and consumption upgrading potential, domestic demand has become the main engine driving China's economic growth. Last year, the contribution rate of consumer demand to economic growth reached 76.2. The impact of fluctuations in Sino-US economic and trade relations is also limited.

For more than a year, we have always maintained a high degree of vigilance. We have not only the first hand to prevent risks, but also the high-level measures to deal with and resolve risks and challenges. We have played a strategic initiative to turn dangers into barbarians and turn crises into opportunities. Steady employment, stable finance, stable foreign trade, stable foreign investment, stable investment, stable expectations of the intensive introduction of measures, solid landing, China's economy showed high scores: economic growth rate steadily ranked first among the five major economies, the total economic volume of more than 90 trillion yuan, economic structure optimization and upgrading, China's economic steady progress in the pace of sonorous and powerful.

The unique advantages of China's system are our greatest strength in dealing with risk challenges.

The more complex the situation and the more severe the challenges, the more we must give full play to the role of the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. The closer we get to the goal of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the more we need to unite closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, strengthen the "four consciousnesses", strengthen the "four confidences", and achieve the "two safeguards". Awareness, take precautions, accurately study and judge, and properly respond to major risks that may arise in the economic field; and maintain strategic determination, forge ahead, and innovate, strive unremittingly along the set grand goal.

It should be noted that the achievements in construction, reform, and development in the 70 years since the founding of New China, especially the historic achievements and historical changes that have taken place since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, have laid a solid foundation for us to properly deal with trade frictions. Developing and strengthening oneself through reform and opening up and concentrating on doing one's own affairs is the fundamental way to deal with trade frictions. It should be noted that the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee, the superiority of my country's socialist system, the high degree of unity of national will, and the close unity and strong support of the people of the whole country are our greatest advantage and fundamental guarantee for dealing with trade frictions. As President Xi Jinping has declared, "China's door to opening up will not be closed, it will only open wider and wider. China's push for a higher level of openness will not stop! China's push for an open world economy will not stop! China's push for a community of human destiny will not stop!"

"There are many things in the complicated world, and we should beat the drum to urge the steady control of the boat." Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, we will certainly be able to overcome all difficulties and obstacles on the way forward, and no risk challenge can stop China's progress!

(IV)

The 40-year history of China-U.S. relations has always moved forward. The common interests between China and the United States outweigh differences, and the need for cooperation outweighs friction. Contradictions and differences should not be allowed to interfere with the overall situation of current Sino-US relations, and prejudice should not be allowed to misjudge the general trend of future Sino-US relations.

"Looking at the distance, one can know that the wind and waves are small, and the volley is flat."

From the perspective of historical development, over the past 40 years, every major breakthrough in Sino-US economic and trade relations has pushed bilateral relations to a new level, and every turn in Sino-US relations is inseparable from the role of "ballast" and "propeller" in economic and trade relations. Today, despite the changes in the respective situations of the two countries and the international situation, the two sides should still maintain their determination and not be confused by one thing at a time, and not be disturbed by one game at a time.

From the perspective of actual needs, today, China and the United States have become each other's largest trading partners and important investment destinations. With one flight taking off and landing every 17 minutes, more than 14000 people travel between the two sides of the Pacific every day, and the annual volume of bilateral trade in goods has increased from less than $2.5 billion to $630 billion ...... The interests in bilateral economic and trade cooperation are expanding and mutual reliance is increasing, resulting in a pattern of "you have me and I have you", from which the people of the two countries continue to deepen their understanding and benefit, which also confirms the profound truth that "cooperation is that cooperation is the only correct choice for China and the United States.

In all fairness, Sino-US economic and trade exchanges are large in scale, rich in content, wide in coverage, and involve diverse subjects. It is inevitable that some contradictions and differences will arise. However, the interests of China and the United States are deeply integrated and the market advantages are complementary. The economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is essentially mutually beneficial and win-win. Only from a comprehensive perspective and from the perspective of safeguarding the strategic interests of the two countries and the overall situation of the international order can we properly handle differences and resolve contradictions pragmatically.

From the perspective of people-to-people exchanges, the friendship between the two peoples has always been the source of the development of Sino-US relations. The friendly story of "ping-pong diplomacy" is a good story among the people of the two countries; Disneyland is located in Shanghai; McDonald's, KFC and Starbucks are all over China's urban and rural areas ...... Over the past 40 years, China and the United States have become more and more popular in non-governmental exchanges, involving economy and trade, law, education, sports and many other fields. Today, 40 years later, only by following the trend of the times, responding to the voice of the people, and encouraging and supporting people from all walks of life in the two countries to carry out exchanges and cooperation, can we promote the stability and long-term development of Sino US relations.

Historical experience tells people that a prosperous China is good for the United States, and a prosperous United States is also good for China. China has no intention of changing the United States, nor does it want to replace the United States; the United States cannot influence China, let alone hinder China's development. How China and the United States judge each other's strategic intentions will directly affect what policies and relations the two sides adopt. We cannot make mistakes on this fundamental issue, otherwise we will make all mistakes.

"The vast Pacific Ocean has enough space to accommodate the two major powers of China and the United States." "China and the United States have broad and important common interests, while cooperation between China and the United States will benefit both, and fighting will hurt both." "There is no Thucydides trap in the world." ...... President Xi Jinping's series of important statements on China-US relations demonstrate a profound grasp of the general trend of China-US relations and the responsibility for promoting the construction of a new type of great power relations.

Standing at a new starting point, China and the United States need to enhance mutual trust, promote cooperation, manage differences, and jointly promote Sino-US relations based on coordination, cooperation, and stability. Only in this way can we be worthy of the strategic choice made by the two peoples 40 years ago and leave a better Sino-US relationship to future generations.

(V)

By tracing the source of historical development, we can see the logic of progress. Looking at the general pattern of China's reform and opening up, trade friction is also a "stress test", which has strengthened our confidence and determination to comprehensively deepen reform and opening up.

Forty years ago, the US "Time" questioned: Has there been such a precedent for a quarter of the world's population to quickly get rid of isolation and connect with the world?

Over the past 40 years, China has gone from "crossing the river by feeling the stones" to "breaking a new road". With the golden key of reform and opening up, China has opened the door to embrace the world and achieved a great leap from catching up with the times to leading the times. Today, China is the world's second largest economy, the largest trader in goods, the largest foreign exchange reserve country, and a major trading partner of more than 120 countries and regions.

China's all-round opening up does not depend on one country or one region. The United States is China's largest trading partner, but it is not the only trading partner.

"China's reform and opening up is the most successful economic reform movement in human history after World War II." Nobel Prize winner Coase came to this conclusion in his book "Changing China.

Open the door, fresh air can come in, wind and rain will come in, all kinds of risks and challenges can not be avoided, around. This trade friction is not only a "master trick" between big countries, but also a hard work in the process of growth.

This is a test of the ability to resist pressure. Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China's development has accumulated strong potential energy, which is a solid foundation for coping with the impact. China is the only country with all the industrial categories of the United Nations Industrial Classification. The large market with a population of nearly 1.4 billion is thriving, the abundant human capital is endless, and the consumer demand has become the "first engine". The fundamentals determine the strong resilience of China's economy. "China's economy is a sea, not a small pond." "A storm can overturn a small pond, but not the sea." President Xi Jinping's words are powerful and loud.

This is a test of economic vitality. What changes are taking place in China every minute? In Hubei, 12 Dongfeng cars are off the production line; in Henan, food and agricultural products worth 48000 yuan are exported; in the Liaoning Pilot Free Trade Zone, a new 690000 yuan of registered capital is added ...... The "one-minute" scale makes people feel the vigorous pulse of China's development. All vitality comes from reform and opening up. In the process of striding towards the world, Chinese enterprises have choked on water, encountered whirlpools and encountered wind and waves, but learned to swim in swimming. Today, there are frequent and unprecedented efforts to deepen reform, and a series of measures such as promoting the reform of "management and service" and reducing taxes and fees on a large scale have maximized the innovative and entrepreneurial vitality of more than 0.1 billion market entities.

This is a test of the quality of development. Trade friction is also a cold bath, let us see the structural short board more clearly. Small chips have become China's largest imported commodity; the output of more than 220 major industrial products has been leading all the year round, but many of them are only sweat and resources. This also taught us a good lesson: China cannot buy a modernization, nor can it afford a modernization. At present, the worldwide structural competition has begun to seize the commanding heights of a new round of industrial change, we must deepen supply-side structural reform, speed up the optimization of the economic structure, promote quality change, efficiency change, power change, for high-quality development to provide inexhaustible power.

Coming from challenges again and again, China is more aware of where it comes from and where it is going. Reform and opening up is the "only way" and "key move". Today's China has comprehensively deepened reform and opening up and entered the deep water zone. The answer to "change or not" is firmer, and the path of "what to change" and "how to change" is clearer. To face the problem of imbalance and inadequacy in development and to drive reform and opening up, it is becoming China's unswerving goal today to turn "whether it is good or not.

Reform and opening up can only be carried out, not completed. Since the reform and opening up, we have blazed a new and good road with the courage to dare to do things and the responsibility of self-innovation, and ushered in a bright prospect of national rejuvenation. Striving for a new era and embarking on a new journey, as General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up: "China's reform and opening up will never stop! The next 40 years of China will surely have new achievements that will impress the world!"

(VI)

At a higher level, "open your eyes to see the world", economic globalization is an irreversible historical trend. "It is impossible and not in line with the historical trend to let the sea of the world economy return to isolated small lakes and rivers."

In April 2019, Beijing was full of spring, which witnessed another important historical node.

"As long as we work together and help each other, even if we are separated by thousands of rivers and mountains, we will certainly be able to walk out of a broad road of mutual benefit and win-win results." The initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum represents the common pursuit of mankind and has aroused strong resonance in the international community. 39 foreign leaders, more than 150 countries, 92 international organizations, and nearly 6000 foreign guests attended the meeting. The forum reached a series of cooperation consensus and formed a series of practical results, reflecting the international influence of the "Belt and Road"., Moral appeal, cooperation attraction.

The initiative originated from China, and the opportunity belongs to the world. This is not a private road, but a sunny avenue for everyone to move forward hand in hand: in Serbia, the Smederevo Steel Plant of Hegang Group has become the largest export enterprise, and the local unemployment rate has dropped sharply. "A steel mill is reborn and a happy city"; In Maldives, a bridge across the sea connects islands; in the Republic of Montenegro, highways cross mountains; in Belarus, with the car manufacturing industry ...... This is the "Belt and Road" construction of the fruitful results, but also the economic globalization to the people of all countries to bring benefits.

What is economic globalization? Mobile phone production is a vivid microcosm. A small mobile phone may have a chip from Broadcom of the United States, an image sensor from Sony of Japan, a screen glass from China's Lansi Technology, a flexible screen from China's BOE, etc. Parts from more than 200 suppliers around the world have traveled across the ocean and poured into Shenzhen, China and other places to complete production, and then sent to consumers around the world. It can be said that without the flow of goods, capital, technology, information, etc. across borders, there would be no smart phones that everyone cannot do.

The tide of economic globalization is rolling forward, but protectionism and unilateralism have cast a shadow over world economic growth, and mankind is once again standing at a "crossroads". "A wise man follows the times." At this time, China unswervingly pursues a win-win strategy of opening up, promotes the construction of an open world economy, leads the process of economic globalization, injects more certainty into an uncertain world, and conveys to the world China's confidence and strength-China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order.

"All roads lead to Beijing." There are overseas media comments. This "development pole" rising in the east has approached the center of the world stage, and its weight is getting heavier and heavier. The contribution rate of China's economy to world economic growth has been more than 30% for many years, and it is the main stabilizer and power source of world economic growth. In the future, China's development will also depict the direction of the world. The US "World Post" once asserted that the future development of China's economy has a potential impact on everyone on the planet.

In a "global village" that neighbors each other, China's development today is no longer a peaceful "inland river", but a "world ocean current" that blends with the global economy and is deeply integrated into the world economic chain. Building a community of shared destiny and a community of interests with win-win cooperation is what the people want and the general trend.

The sea is so big that it is open and inclusive. Today's opening up of China is not only the self-development of peers with the world, but also the initiative to lead the trend. China is a staunch defender of the multilateral trading system, a firm practitioner of opening wider to the outside world, and an active advocate of building a community with a shared future for mankind. China is duty-bound to join hands with all countries in the world to build a cooperation platform and achieve win-win sharing.

"The world is good, China can be good; China is good, the world is better." President Xi Jinping's simple words reveal the great logic of the relationship between China and the world in the new era. China's wisdom is like a beacon in the sea, guiding the world's economic ship to move forward.

(VII)

Standing on a longer time axis, the rise of a great power will inevitably go through a ditch. The key is to maintain strategic determination and strategic endurance, and concentrate on doing their own affairs well.

From large to strong, emerging countries have all gone through a special historical stage of increasing risks and challenges. Today, China is in such a "critical stage". Such a large volume and such a heavy weight cannot be hidden by "low-key", just as an elephant cannot hide behind a small tree, it is inevitable to encounter ditches.

"Gully" and "ridge" cannot influence the "time" and "potential" of the development of things ". The world today faces risks and challenges, but peace and development remain the theme of the times. As the world's most populous country and the second largest economy, China plays an irreplaceable role in solving various global problems, and the dependence of various countries on the Chinese market has increased in an all-round way. China's development is still in a period of important strategic opportunities, and time and momentum are on our side.

There was no golden age of sitting back. Just like a Mercedes-Benz train, once the power system stops, it can run for a while with inertia, but it will inevitably stop in the end. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation cannot be easily achieved by beating gongs and drums. We must be prepared to make more arduous and arduous efforts. Today's China is made by all the people; the future of China depends on all the people to roll up their sleeves and work hard!

To do our own thing well, we should live up to the times and forge ahead.

The more critical the moment, the more important it is to maintain strategic concentration and firm confidence in winning. China's economic fundamentals are full of confidence, and China's institutional advantages are unparalleled. With the strong leadership and helm of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, we will never be lost due to temporary storms. Firmly in its own direction and take its own path, the great ship of China will cut through the waves and move steadily!

To do our own thing well, we should take advantage of the situation and overcome difficulties.

The more difficult and dangerous it is, the more necessary it is to enhance the sense of hardship and move towards high-quality development with greater political courage and wisdom. Development is the absolute principle, and only with strength can we have the right to speak. Whether it is to resolve structural contradictions or prevent cyclical risks, comprehensively deepening reform is the golden key. The shackles of ideas are being broken through, the barriers of solidified interests are being broken, the obstacles of systems and mechanisms are being broken through, reform and opening up are being carried out in an all-round way, and the Chinese nation is running out of the acceleration of the new era.

"The thunder in the storm is particularly loud, and the lightning in the depths of the dark clouds is particularly bright. Only through the long night can the fiery sun gush out." The poem "The Hymn of Light" written by the poet Ai Qing symbolizes the spirit of perseverance and courage of the strivers.

Although the wind and rain are not enough to be feared, the middle stream is striving to seize the day. Standing at the historical intersection of the "two centenary" goals and facing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, as long as we closely follow the new connotation of important strategic opportunities, turn pressure into driving force, and accelerate the promotion of high-quality economic development, we will definitely be able to The initiative of development is firmly in our own hands!

"History will only favor the firm, the progressive and the fighter, and will not wait for the hesitant, the slack and the fearful." An ancient nation is rejuvenated, and hundreds of millions of "dream chasers" who yearn for a happy life are moving forward courageously towards the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!

A higher level of open China will form a more benign interaction with the world, sow the seeds of cooperation and reap the fruits of development together!

Source: People's Daily