Remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 8th China-US Civil Peace Forum

By Dr.Tao Tao,CPAPD Deputy Secretary General

Dear Friends,Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning!

I am most pleased to attend the 8th China-US Civil Peace Forum and make opening remarks.First and foremost,on behalf of the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament(CPAPD),I’d like to warmly welcome all experts from China and the US to participate in this forum.The CPAPD is the largest nationwide civil peace organization in China, we have already successfully co-sponsored seven rounds of China-US Civil Peace Forum together with the American Friends Service Committee and the US Institute of Peace.This forum just coincides with the time when profound changes have taken place in world situation and China-US relationship as well,we expect experts from our two countries to share your insightful expertise,exchange views,discuss issues and enlighten each other,making this forum an academic feast and grand gala of thoughts.

As we all know,China-US relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world,which has significant implication to regional and world peace and stability,and even will decide human future in the 21st century.At present,China-US relationship is at a complicated and changing phase.Within the relationship, there are some prominent problems and increasing contradictions,challenges and risks also evidently grow,and the situation seems to be grim,thus making us feel like“the rising wind heralds the coming storm”.So coming to the US for discussing the bilateral relationship at such timing,we may inevitably bear some pessimism and frustrating feeling.We have to ask,what has occurred to the relationship on earth?What are the reasons behind?And what prospect will it be in future?Frankly speaking,I come to the United States this time with questions and confusion which I hope to get some answers from you.

First,what negative impacts will the change of power have on China-US relationship?With a long time development,China’s GDP has come up to two third of that of the US,exceeding the Soviet Union when it contended with the US at its heyday.And it will continue to narrow the gap of strength with the US.We feel that today the US has increasing anxieties and sense of urgency about China,and is not as confident and tolerant as it was before.The US strategic thinkers have started a new round of debate about the US policy toward China,and the latter has been perceived as“a revisionist state”and “strategic rival”.

Second,what negative impacts will the misperceptions cause on China-US relationship？The US side perceives that the rising China is more confident,scorns the US strength,disregards the US democracy and tries to overturn the world order established by the US,and criticizes China exporting “sharp power”.China believes that the Trump Administration has intensified the competition against China so as to sustain its advantages,and the US policy toward China has been adjusted to apply pressure on Chinacomprehensively focusing on power competition different from intending to shape China in the past.

Third,will strategic mistrust make China-US relationship plunge into confrontation?Strategic mutual trust between the two countries is missing.The US deems that China tries to drive it out of Asia-Pacific and take over its leadership.Comparatively,China thinks that the US diverts its strategic focus to the neighborhood of China,and pursues“Indo-Pacific Strategy”to contain China.Both of the two countries surmise each other of its strategic intention with suspicious mentality.If the bilateral relationship continues to be dominated by such suspicion,the aspect of antagonism of the relationship will continue to grow.

Fourth,will impertinent policies escalate the tension within China-US relationship?Nowadays it seems that the US believes China has changed its development strategy for“working hard in all aspects”from “hiding its capacities and biding its time”,and it will go global through the One Belt One Road Initiative,and become a maritime power from a land power.Some argue that President Trump and his team are unpredictable,play Taiwan card a lot,go back on his words to launch the trade war,and the ballast of China-US relations has trembled and swayed.

Certainly,China-US relationship also has a positive aspect,which includes frequent personnel exchange,tight economic ties,and increasing cooperation.For the future of our bilateral relationship,we place hope on political wisdom of leaders of our two countries as well as the friendship between our two peoples.

Ladies and gentlemen,

China-US Civil Peace Forum has been successfully held for seven times,making positive contribution to steady development of the bilateral relationship.I do expect that we will be able to find out a way for our two countries to live in amity through frank discussions and exchanges.If we can realize the purpose,the 8th China-US civil peace forum will be fairly successful.

As a conclusion,I wish the forum a great success!

Thank you all!