Full Transcript: Interview With Chinese President Xi Jinping

China’s president offers written answers to questions from The Wall Street Journal

Ahead of his first official state visit to the U.S., Chinese President Xi Jinping provided written answers to questions submitted by The Wall Street Journal. Here is the full transcript:

1. Under your leadership, China has been active in promoting new economic and security arrangements. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, in particular, has been a notable achievement. Is China trying to rearrange the architecture of global governance, away from the U.S. and toward China?

XI: The global governance system is built and shared by the world, not monopolized by a single country. China certainly has no intention to do so. China is involved in building the current international system, and has always done its part to uphold the international order and system with the U.N. as its core and the purposes and principles of the U.N. charter as its foundation.

Many visionary people hold that as the global landscape evolves and major transnational and global challenges facing mankind increase, it is necessary to adjust and reform the global governance system and mechanism. Such reform is not about dismantling the existing system and creating a new one to replace it. Rather, it aims to improve the global governance system in an innovative way. We in China have a saying, “When all means are exhausted, changes are necessary; once changes are made, things will improve.” Whether for a country or the entire world, adaptation to keep pace with the times is necessary in order to maintain its vigor. To build a more equitable, just and effective architecture of global governance meets the common aspiration of all countries. China and the U.S. share broad interests in this respect and should work together to improve the global governance system. This will not only leverage our respective strengths to enhance cooperation, but also enable our two countries to jointly respond to major challenges facing mankind.

China owes much of its progress in development over the past decades to international cooperation; we thus feel duty-bound to make greater contribution to international development endeavors. Many other developing countries have also expressed similar strong wishes to China. The Asian Infrastructure Development Bank (AIIB) is established mainly as a response to the need of Asian countries for infrastructure development and their aspirations for further cooperation. According to the projection of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, from 2010 to 2020, the annual shortfall in funding for Asian infrastructural development is around US$800 billion. The AIIB serves as a new option to meet this shortfall, and it is therefore welcomed by both Asian countries and the wider international community. But as the funding shortage is huge, it is clear that the AIIB alone cannot possibly meet such demand. As an open and inclusive multilateral development agency, the AIIB will complement other multilateral development banks. In addition to Asian countries, countries outside Asia such as Germany, France and the U.K. have also joined the AIIB. China welcomes the U.S. to join the AIIB. This has been our position from the very outset.

I don’t believe any country is capable of rearranging the architecture of global governance toward itself. Obviously, such practice goes against the trend of the times. The improvement of global governance architecture should be decided by all countries. As the U.N. summit commemorating the 70th anniversary draws nearer, China stands ready to work with all the other U.N. member states to build a new type of international relationship featuring win-win cooperation, improve the architecture of global governance, and build a community of shared future for mankind.

2. China is playing an increasingly assertive role in regions around the world, from the Middle East to Africa and the Korean peninsula. Where do China’s interests align or differ from the U.S.? What’s China’s view of the recent nuclear deal on Iran? How worried are you about North Korea’s nuclear ambitions?

XI: China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and is committed to world peace and common development. In today’s world, it is impossible for China to develop on its own; only when the world thrives can China prosper. China has never been absent in efforts to promote world economic recovery, seek political settlement of international and regional hotspots and respond to various global problems and challenges. This is what the international community expects of China, and to do so is China’s responsibility.

Both being permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China and the U.S. shoulder important responsibility of upholding regional and world peace and security, and our interests converge in a broad range of areas. China wishes to join hands with the U.S. to tackle major regional and global issues. As a matter of fact, we have done a great deal together in this area and will continue to do so. For example, China and the U.S. have been engaged in close coordination and cooperation in addressing various regional and international issues as well as global challenges, ranging from the Korean nuclear issue and the Iranian nuclear issue to Palestine-Israel peace talks, South Sudan, climate change and major epidemic diseases. Admittedly, there are differences in our respective thinking on and approach to some issues. However, differences are the reason why we should complement each other and find best solutions to issues.

In addressing regional and international issues, China adheres to the principles of equality, fairness and justice and calls for seeking political settlement of relevant issues through peaceful negotiation. In addressing these issues, China bases its position and policy on the merit of each particular case and endeavors to uphold justice. China opposes arbitrary interference in other countries’ internal affairs and stands for resolving issues through consultation. No matter how difficult and complex the challenges are, the international community should meet them with confidence and strive to resolve them through peaceful means.

The political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue represents a major achievement of the international community, and China and the U.S. worked hard to make this possible. It shows that our approaches have worked well. Going forward, China will work with all parties involved to ensure the deal is fully implemented.

China’s position for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is firm and clear-cut. At the same time, we believe that the denuclearization, peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula should be achieved through peaceful means. The current situation of the Korean Peninsula is intricate and sensitive. China will maintain close communication and coordination with the U.S. and relevant parties to properly address issues relating to the Korean Peninsula and ensure long-term stability of Northeast Asia.

3. One of the first slogans you raised upon taking office was the “China Dream.” It proved popular at home and has the ring of the “American dream.” In speeches you’ve given, you’ve said the “China Dream” is about building a strong nation and strong military. What do you see as the similarities and differences between the “China Dream” and the “American dream”?

XI: The Chinese dream is fundamentally about making life better for the Chinese people, and I think one should approach this concept from two angles: history and reality. Starting from the Opium War in 1840, the Chinese nation went through a century of social turbulence, foreign aggression and the sufferings of war. Yet throughout all this trying time, our people stood on their feet and struggled tenaciously for a better future. They never gave up the longing for their cherished dream. To understand today’s China, one needs to fully appreciate the Chinese nation’s deep suffering since modern times and the profound impact of such suffering on the Chinese minds. That is why we regard the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its greatest dream since modern times. The Chinese dream is as much the dream of every Chinese as it is the dream of the whole nation. It is not an illusion, nor is it an empty slogan. The Chinese dream is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chinese people.

Every country and every nation has its own dream, and dream brings hope. During my last visit to the United States, my old friends in Muscatine, Iowa, talked to me about their dream. I have the impression that the Americans and people in all other countries share the same dream about the future: world peace, social security and stability, and a decent life. Naturally, owing to differences in history, culture and stage of development, China, the United States and other countries may not have the exact same dream, and they pursue their dreams in different ways. But all roads lead to Rome. The dreams of various peoples, however different in meaning, are sources of inspiration for them, and all these dreams create important opportunities for China and the United States, as well as other countries to engage in cooperation.

4. Relations between the two countries are strained by many issues—from China’s island-building in the South China Sea to allegations of cyber-spying and complaints by American businesses of unfair regulations. Some in the U.S. are even calling for a new containment policy against China. How do you answer these critics? What’s the glue that holds U.S.-China relations together and how can it be made stronger?

XI: In approaching China-U.S. relations, one should see the larger picture and not just focus on differences, just as a Chinese saying tells us, “When important things are addressed first, secondary issues will not be difficult to settle.” Together, China and the United States account for one-third of the world economy, one-fourth of the global population, and one-fifth of global trade. If two big countries like ours do not cooperate with each other, just imagine what will happen to the world. Both history and reality show that China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. When President Obama and I met at the Annenberg Estate, California, in the summer of 2013, we made the strategic decision of jointly building a new model of major-country relationship between China and the United States featuring nonconflict or confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. In the past two years and more since then, guided by this agreement, our exchanges and cooperation across the board have kept deepening and been upgraded. We maintain close and effective dialogue and cooperation on almost all major international and regional issues and global challenges. Facts have shown that the interests of China and the U.S. have grown increasingly intertwined. The growth of the China-U.S. relationship has not only benefited our two peoples, it has also enhanced peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Naturally, we have some differences, even family members don’t always see eye to eye with each other. Our two countries should understand and respect each other, expand common ground and properly handle differences, and respect and accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns. On issues that can be resolved, the two sides should make joint efforts to seek a solution; as to those issues that cannot be resolved for the time being, we should manage them in a constructive way, make sure that they are not exacerbated or escalated, and prevent them from derailing the overall relationship of the two countries and cooperation that has served our two peoples so well.

The Nansha Islands have been China’s territory since ancient times. This is fully backed by historical and legal evidence. China’s development and maintenance of facilities on some of our garrisoned islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands does not impact on or target any other country, and it should not be overinterpreted. These facilities have been built to improve the working and living conditions of the Chinese personnel on the maritime features, provide international public goods and services, and better uphold navigation freedom and safety in the South China Sea.

China takes cybersecurity very seriously. China is also a victim of hacking. The Chinese government does not engage in theft of commercial secrets in any form, nor does it encourage or support Chinese companies to engage in such practices in any way. Cybertheft of commercial secrets and hacking attacks against government networks are both illegal; such acts are criminal offenses and should be punished according to law and relevant international conventions. China and the United States share common concerns on cybersecurity. We are ready to strengthen cooperation with the U.S. side on this issue.

I will have in-depth exchanges of views with President Obama on bilateral relations and the international developments and engage the American public in order to jointly chart the course for growing China-U.S. relations. I am sure that this visit will send a positive message to the international community that China and the United States will strengthen cooperation and jointly meet global challenges.

5. The expansion of China’s military power and military operations has caused concern in Washington and unsettled some governments in the region. Please explain China’s intentions. Does the U.S. alliance structure in Asia make Beijing feel less secure? Should Washington do more to accommodate Chinese security interests?

XI: China has always pursued a defense policy that is defensive in nature and a military strategy featuring active defense. In strengthening our defense and military building, we are not going after some kind of military adventure. It never crosses our mind. China has no military base in Asia and stations no troops outside its borders. China is a big country that has vast territorial land, sea and airspace and very long borders. We need to maintain proper investment in our defense and keep the troop size at an appropriate level. To demonstrate China’s determination to uphold peace and development, I announced not long ago a troop cut by 300,000. China has long pledged never to practice expansionism and seek hegemony. History has and will continue to prove this.

China has contributed more U.N. peacekeepers than any other permanent member of the Security Council. The Chinese military has played important roles in antipiracy escort operation in the Gulf of Aden and in the shipping of chemical weapons out of Syria for destruction. In our neighborhood, China’s military has helped many countries to deal with natural disasters. It will do still more within its capacity to provide public security goods to the international community.

Both China and the United States are major Asia-Pacific countries, whose interests intersect more closely and interact more frequently than in any other region of the world. Both sides desire to see peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific, as it serves their common interests as well as those of the countries in the region. The Asia-Pacific should be a cooperative ground for enhanced China-U.S. coordination and collaboration rather than their Coliseum for supremacy. Our attitude is this: we welcome whatever that contributes to regional peace and stability, and oppose whatever that may lead to conflict and turmoil in the region.

In the Asia-Pacific, both China and the United States should vigorously implement the principles of mutual respect and win-win cooperation. China participated in RIMPAC for the first time in 2014. The two militaries are stepping up the two Confidence-Building Mechanisms. We hope to identify still more converging ground in the region for the two countries, continuously build up strategic trust and work with other countries in making the region more peaceful, stable and prosperous.

6. China has had a tumultuous summer, with plummeting stock markets, a devaluation of the renminbi and signs of economic weakness. Many investors around the world wonder if the Chinese economy is weaker than the official figures show and if the government is sufficiently in control. What’s your assessment of the economy and what is being done to shore up confidence among Chinese and global investors?

XI: China’s economic growth is still one of the fastest in the world. In the first half of the year, the Chinese economy grew by 7%, which is hard-won considering the intricacy and changeable nature of the overall global economy. A growth rate of around 7% would be sufficient to reach our goal of doubling the 2010 GDP and per capita income by 2020.

The Chinese economy is still operating within the proper range. What China needs is a higher quality and efficiency of economic development by successfully addressing the problem of unbalanced, uncoordinated and unsustainable development, so that our economy will be put on a more solid basis and go forward more steadily. We are stepping up efforts to shift our growth model, make structural adjustment and place greater emphasis on developing an innovation and consumption-driven economy. It is our hope that by solving these problems, China’s economy will transform itself and retain its robust dynamism for development.

Against the overall global economic backdrop, many countries have encountered difficulties. The Chinese economy is also under a downward pressure. But it is a problem in the course of progress. What I want to emphasize, in particular, is that whatever happens, China will stay strongly committed to deepening its reform on all fronts while opening still wider to the outside world. We will work in a coordinated fashion to ensure growth, promote reform, make structural adjustment, improve people’s well-being and forestall risks, enhancing and innovating macro-regulation and ensuring steady and fairly rapid economic development. With China steadily promoting a new type of industrialization, IT application, urbanization and agricultural modernization, its household savings rate being so high and consumer spending enjoying a huge potential plus its diligent workforce, its rising middle-income population, its robust service sector and its vast and potential-rich market, China has the capacity and is in the position to maintain a medium-high growth in the years to come.

To understand China’s economy, one needs to take a longer view. If you liken it to a large ship on the sea, the question you ask is whether it is sailing in the right direction, does it have sufficient engine power and energy to stay long. Any ship, however large, may occasionally get unstable sailing on the high sea. Investors will come to a right judgment if they have a full understanding of China’s progress in economic development since the start of reform and opening-up, of China’s strategies formulated recently to ensure sustained and steady growth, and of the relevant data and trends in China’s economic performance. The report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai showed that 95% of the surveyed businesses have planned to increase or maintain their investment in China. That is a decision made by over 300 American entrepreneurs, a decision I believe all smart investors will make.

7. Early on your leadership laid out an ambitious program for reform, promising to let markets play a “decisive” role. The stock market rescue this summer, however, has raised questions about your leadership’s commitment to economic reform. Why did you think it necessary to intervene in the stock markets? What significant economic reforms lay ahead over the coming months and year? People’s Daily and other state media have reported on resistance to reform; where does the opposition come from?

XI: An important goal for China’s current economic reform is to enable the market to play the decisive role in resource allocation and make the government better play its role. That means we need to make good use of both the invisible hand and the visible hand.

The ups and downs of stock markets are caused by the very nature of such markets, and the government normally does not intervene. The role of the government is to maintain an open, fair and impartial market order, protect the lawful rights and interests of investors, especially small- and medium-scale investors, promote the stable growth of the stock market in the long run, and defuse massive panic. The recent unusual fluctuations in the Chinese stock market were mainly the result of previous rapid surges and big fluctuations in the international market. The Chinese government has taken some measures to defuse systemic risks. Such steps have proved successful. As a matter of fact, similar steps have also been taken in some mature foreign markets. Thanks to a mix of stabilizing steps taken, the market has entered a stage of self-correction and adjustment. To develop the capital market is a key goal of China’s reform, which will not change just because of current market fluctuations.

In 2014, we advanced reform in various areas in a fast yet steady manner, and 80 major reform tasks were basically completed. On top of that, the relevant government departments completed 108 reform tasks, with 370 reform outcomes delivered in various sectors. Since the beginning of this year, we have introduced over 70 major reform plans. On Sept. 15, we discussed and adopted a number of reform plans, including the implementation of a system of negative list on market access, policies to support the development and opening-up of key border regions, a decision to accelerate the improvement of the pricing mechanism, and a plan to encourage the injection of non-state capital in investment projects launched by state-owned enterprises in accordance with due procedures. This year, we have decided to launch over 100 key reform steps, and more major economic reform steps will be introduced. Those items of reform that facilitate growth, structural adjustment, people’s well-being and risk prevention will be prioritized. And substantive reform plans will be vigorously implemented in such areas as fiscal policy and taxation, finance, opening-up, the judiciary and people’s well-being.

This round of reform in China is comprehensive in nature and it is being pursued with unprecedented intensity. We have made enormous efforts and managed to overcome some long-standing obstacles. These reform steps have upset the vested interests of some people, and caused changes to the career and life of some people. It is only natural that there will be difficulties. Otherwise it will not be a reform. That is why I said that we must be bold enough to crack hard nuts and ford dangerous rapids during reform and that only the daring will prevail at key stages of reform. At the same time, reform calls for down-to-earth efforts. To set unrealistic expectations, play to public opinion by talking big or just scratch the surface will not work. Like an arrow shot that cannot be brought back, we will forge ahead against all odds to meet our goals of reform.

8. Your government is engaged with the International Monetary Fund to have the RMB included in the official basket of reserve currencies. The devaluation in August was seen as a step toward a more flexible exchange rate, but also spooked global markets. Will China fully open its capital account to make the yuan a free convertible currency? How concerned are you about declines in China’s foreign currency reserves and capital flight?

XI: China has been working to improve market-based RMB exchange rate regime. Recent measures to improve the quotation of the RMB central parity is a case in point, as it gives greater say to the market in deciding the exchange rate. Given the complexities in the current international economic scene and financial market and the apparent divergence in market makers’ expectations of the future trend of the RMB exchange rate, there had been a long-standing gap between the central parity and market exchange rate of the RMB. With improvements to the quotation of the RMB central parity, the RMB central parity will better respond to supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets, and systemically avert the sustained large gap between the RMB central parity and market exchange rate. Since the quotation of RMB central parity was improved on Aug. 11, initial progress has been made in correcting the deviation. Given the current economic and financial conditions at home and abroad, there is no basis for sustained depreciation of the RMB. Reform of the RMB exchange rate formation regime will continue in the direction of market operation.

China put forward the goal of convertibility of the RMB under the capital account back in the early 1990s. Over the past 20 years and more, China has been working toward this goal. Currently, there are only very few transactions that are still banned under the RMB capital account. China is advancing the convertibility of the RMB under the capital account in a steady and orderly manner.

There has been a recent drop in China’s foreign reserves. This actually reflects improvement to the mix of local currency as well as foreign exchange assets and liabilities of domestic banks, enterprises and individuals. There are three main reasons: First, some assets in foreign exchanges were transferred from the central bank to domestic banks, enterprises and individuals, including an increase of US$S6.9 billion in the balance of foreign reserve deposits of domestic banks in the first eight months of this year, with a US$27 billion increase in August alone. Second, outbound investment by domestic enterprises has grown rapidly. Third, domestic enterprises and other market entities are reducing foreign financing steadily, which helps reduce risks of high leverage operation and currency mismatch. These changes are normal capital flow, which is moderate and manageable. Foreign investors who aim at long-term gains are still investing in China. China’s foreign exchange reserves remain abundant and is still very large by international standard. With improvement to the RMB exchange rate regime and progress in RMB internationalization, it is quite normal that China’s foreign reserves may increase or decrease, and there is no need to overreact to it.

9. Many U.S. and other foreign companies that are invested heavily in China say that the business climate has changed and that they are subject to unfair regulation that favors Chinese competitors. U.S. business groups say companies that provide information technology like Cisco are being particularly targeted. What’s your response to that? What do you expect from foreign companies? Chinese information technology companies like Huawei also complain of business difficulties in the U.S. Do both countries need to work out special rules for info-tech products?

XI: Attracting foreign investment is our long-term policy. Such policy will not change. Nor will our protection of the lawful rights and interests of foreign companies in China, and our commitment to better services in favor of foreign companies in China. Foreign investment, which has provided China with capital, advanced technologies, managerial expertise and professional talents with international vision, all needed for the country’s modernization drive, has played a significant role in promoting China’s economic development.

China respects international business practice of non-discrimination and has fulfilled its national treatment and other commitments upon WTO accession. We give equal and fair treatment to all market players, including foreign-invested companies in China, and welcome all forms of cooperation between transnational corporations and their Chinese counterparts. In recent years, China has taken a series of investment facilitation steps, significantly cancelling restrictive items and adopting a management model based on pre-establishment national treatment plus negative list approach. By so doing, we aim to timely address the legitimate concerns of foreign investors, protect their lawful rights and interests, and foster a level playing field with open and transparent laws and policies, along with a more efficient administration.

According to surveys by the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) and other authoritative international bodies, China remains the world’s most attractive investment destination. Claims about a changing investment climate in China and foreign investors losing confidence in China are not backed by facts. In 2014, China received US$120 billion in foreign investment, more than any other country, and continued to be the leading destination among the developing countries for 23 years running. In the first eight months of this year, the actual amount of foreign investment used by China totaled US$85.3 billion, up by 9% from the corresponding period of the previous year. China will further ease market access for foreign investment. At the same time, we will improve regulations on foreign investment, amend relevant laws and better protect the lawful rights and interests of foreign investment in China.

It is my hope that other countries will keep their markets open to Chinese investors. We are against protectionism and discriminative policies of all forms, stand ready to properly settle economic and trade disputes with relevant countries through consultation, and promote a balanced multilateral economic and trade system that focuses on development and seeks win-win results.

10. The government has placed new restrictions and passed laws that limit expression on the Internet, particularly social media. Foreign news sites—including those of The Wall Street Journal—have been blocked. Foreign nonprofit groups, meanwhile, are alarmed by a proposed law that would place conditions on their operations in China. Is China opening up, or is the government concerned that foreign influence may cause turmoil in Chinese society?

XI: As one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, the Internet has turned the world into a global village by profoundly changing the way people live and work and vigorously boosting social development. Though highly global, this new frontier is by no means a land beyond law. Rule of law also applies to the Internet, with the need to safeguard a country’s sovereignty, security and development interests as relevant as in the real world.

Freedom and order must be upheld side by side in both cyberspace and the physical world. Freedom is the purpose of order, and order the guarantee of freedom. We need to fully respect netizens’ rights to express themselves, while at the same time, ensure a sound cyberspace order to better protect the lawful rights and interests of all netizens. China’s Internet is booming, providing immense opportunities and market horizon for businesses around the world. We welcome all foreign companies in China and will respect and protect their lawful rights and interests provided that they abide by the laws and regulations of China and do nothing to undermine China’s national interests and interests of Chinese consumers. The international community as a whole should work together to build a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace on the basis of the principles of mutual respect and mutual trust.

China recognizes the positive role of foreign nonprofit organizations (NPOs), welcomes and supports their development in China, and stands ready to provide them with necessary facilitation and assistance. Taking seriously the provision of services to and regulation of foreign NPOs in China, we will regulate, in accordance with law, their activities and protect their lawful rights and interests. All foreign NPOs should obey Chinese law and carry out their activities on a law-abiding and orderly basis.

11. The anticorruption campaign you began has been among your most popular initiatives at home. What is being done to base anticorruption efforts more on rules and institutions? Will officials be required to report their assets publicly? Businesspeople have complained that the campaign is hurting the economy. Are you prepared to relax the crackdown to help the economy?

XI: Cracking down on corruption is what all countries must do and what their peoples wish to see. The ultimate purpose of the Chinese Communist Party is to serve the people wholeheartedly. Our Party owes its governing status to the support of the people, so we must maintain its flesh-and-blood ties with the people. The Party does not operate in a vacuum, so it has unavoidably found itself with problems of one kind or another. Corruption is just such a persistent one. The Party must be courageous enough to face up to the problem and go out to correct it through self-purification and self-rectification. Our people hate corruption more than anything else and we must act to allay their concerns. Therefore, we decided to go after both “tigers and flies,” wrongdoers regardless of their ranks. Since the 18th Party Congress, we have intensified anticorruption efforts, dealt with a large number of corrupt officials in accordance with law, including some who used to hold very high offices, and won extensive support and thumbs-up from the Chinese people.

On institutional building in this respect, let me share with you two remarks I made. The first is that we must keep power in the cage of systemic checks. The other one is, transparency is the best precaution against corruption. As we go further in the anticorruption campaign, we will focus more on institutional building so that officials will not dare and cannot afford to be corrupt and, more importantly, have no desire to take that course. Right now, we are formulating and updating relevant laws and regulations to truly put power inside a more closely-knit cage of effective checks. With respect to asset disclosure by officials, we adopted relevant regulations back in 2010 to require such reporting which was subject to random check and verification every year. The proportion of verified reporting has increased steadily, and no one would take exception. Should anyone be found to be dishonest, they will be punished accordingly.

I once said that the fight against corruption never ends. Our zero tolerance to corruption will never change. Nor will our determination, courage and severity with which we punish it in order to rid the Party of corruption. All acts of corruption must be dealt with. Anticorruption efforts will not hurt the economy. On the contrary, fighting corruption, including such malpractices as rent-seeking, will help build a clean government, remove hurdles that impede market operations, promote fair rules and bring about a better investment and business environment.

12. You’ve traveled widely as China’s leader, and your wife is well-known for her work as a U.N. goodwill ambassador. From your experiences, what do you think the U.S. and the rest of the world don’t understand about China, and similarly what do many Chinese not get about the U.S. and the rest of the world?

XI: Thirty years ago in 1985, I led a delegation to Iowa to study agricultural technology. It was my first visit to the U.S. I was deeply impressed with the advanced U.S. technology and the warmth and friendship of the American people. Since then, I have made several trips to the U.S. and hosted many American friends in China. I could tell from these personal experiences that the Chinese and Americans cherish very friendly sentiments toward each other. My wife is a performing artist and music professor. In recent years, as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS and the Unesco special envoy for the Advancement of Girls’ and Women’s Education, she has met many Americans and people from organizations of other countries. She shares my impressions.

Interactions between countries start with their people. Exchanges and friendship between our two peoples have a long history. Over 230 years ago, U.S. merchant vessel Empress of China sailed across vast oceans to China. Over 70 years ago, American people resolutely defied sea and gravity to help the Chinese people in their heroic fight against the aggression of Japanese militarists. Thirty-six years ago, China and the U.S. established diplomatic ties, turning a new chapter in the annals of friendly exchanges between the two peoples. What has happened proves that China-U.S. friendship transcends time and space.

As an ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius said, “It’s only natural for things to be different.” Lack of understanding between countries is indeed a question, but this is life. With so much difference in ethnicity, history, culture, religion, social system, development level and lifestyle, there are things about others that one may find hard to understand. This is for sure, but that said, it is also true that anything that is seemingly incomprehensible can be understood provided that one is ready to learn and make an effort to understand it instead of dismissing it altogether. Every civilization, distinct and colorful as it is, possesses the value for its existence. A country or a nation should cherish and protect its own culture and values, and at the same time, recognize and respect those of others. While feeling proud of one’s own cultural achievements, a country or a nation must not shut its door to the outside, still less, indulge in self-aggrandizement. As an old Chinese saying goes, “Learning alone without exchanges with others will lead to ignorance.” We should be ready to learn from other civilizations and carry forward their time-honored values that transcend national borders and retain appeal in modern times. China is ready to work with the U.S. and others in the international community with a view to seeking common progress through win-win cooperation, so as to deliver greater happiness to the Chinese people and ensure peace and development for the people around the world.