Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year marks the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon's visit to China and the 40th anniversary of the August 17 Communiqué. History matters. It made things the way they are today, and helps shape?a better future when its value is appreciated.

A few days earlier, I paid a visit to Dr. Kissinger. We reviewed how, with twists and turns, China and the U.S. came to common understanding 50 years?ago and?the wisdom reflected in that episode of history. Since day one of their?engagement, China and the United States have been aware that each is?dealing with a country very different from oneself. Yet, these differences were?no obstacles to us breaking?the ice?and?establishing?diplomatic ties, no obstacles?to us?deepening?cooperation based on common interests, still less to us making joint contributions to?world peace and prosperity.

Looking ahead to?the next fifty years, the sound and stable growth of China-U.S. relations still depends on whether we could put?these differences?in perspective?and,?on this?basis, get on to?pursue our respective and common interests.

Regarding?the right way for?China?and the U.S. to get on?with each other,?President Xi Jinping has given a clear answer. That is mutual respect, peaceful coexistence?and?win-win cooperation. These three principles are an important conclusion informed by the evolution of?China-U.S. relations over the past 50-odd years. They are also the right way for major countries to live with each other?in this era.

Let me first talk about mutual respect.

Without respect, no trust can be built. Without trust, conflict?would be a real danger and actual?cooperation could?not happen. This is an important lesson drawn from past exchanges between our two countries, and also a?basic prerequisite for the bilateral ties to return to the right track.

In the Shanghai Communiqué?issued 50 years ago,?the two sides agreed that countries, regardless of their social systems, should conduct their relations on the principles of respect for?the sovereignty and territorial integrity?of all states, non-aggression against other states, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. Fifty years on, this guiding principle is all the more relevant. We now can see?clearly that China will not become another United States, and the U.S. cannot mould?China to its?liking. Neither?side?is?able to take?the other down. This?means we?need to respect each other's choices.

Defining?one's own choice as democratic?and the other's as authoritarian,?and seeing?success as changing?the other side in one's own image are neither consistent with the facts,?nor realistic.

China respects the development path chosen by the American people. We welcome?an open and confident United States that enjoys growth?and progress. The U.S.?should also respect Chinese people's choice of development path, i.e. socialism with Chinese characteristics.

This path?is tried and tested by the Chinese?people with a clear logic of history. In modern times, the Chinese people explored relentlessly for a path to save and revitalize the nation. Various models including Western systems were put into practice,?but none of them worked when they failed?to?fit China's realities. By adapting?Marxism to the Chinese conditions?and to the traditional Chinese culture,?the Communist Party of China (CPC) successfully rallied the Chinese people and led them in a united endeavor to gain?national independence and liberation. Eventually, China found a right path toward prosperity and strength.

This path has opened up bright prospects for China's modernization. We have built?a moderately prosperous society in all respects, eradicated absolute poverty for the first time in the country's history, and in a span of a few decades, transformed China?from a?poor and weak nation into the world's second largest economy. China has fed?nearly 20?percent?of the world's population with nine?percent?of its arable land. It now has a middle-income group that exceeds 400 million. The 1.4 billion Chinese people moving?toward modernization and common prosperity will make a miracle?come true in the history of development.

This path has brought true human rights and democracy to the Chinese people. The world's largest social security network and compulsory education system?have been set up.?People's all-round development is put front and center, and?everyone stands a chance to reach?one's?full potential. By integrating electoral democracy with consultative democracy, and procedural democracy with substantive democracy, we have advanced a whole-process people's democracy that has won the people's full?support. Leading?U.S. opinion polls show that the Chinese people's approval rate of their?government has stayed?above 90?percent?for several years running.

That said, we are clear-eyed?that much remains to be done in China's development. China's per capita GDP?has just exceeded?US$12,000, and trails 60-plus?countries. It?ranks below the 70th place?on the?Human Development Index. These require that we stay focused on our primary task – making?development?more balanced and adequate?and?meeting?the people's?higher?expectation for a better life. While relying?on our own efforts in?developing?the country and the nation, we are also ready?to pursue?cooperation of mutual benefit with the U.S.?and other countries,?to foster a favorable external environment for China's development.

The Chinese people, with a time-honored?civilization of 5,000?years, are confident?and?self-reliant, and humble and inclusive. China will unswervingly follow its chosen?path and direction, and will forge ahead steadily along this path toward greater success. China will continue to draw upon?the valuable?experience of other countries and achievements of all civilizations, embrace the world with open arms and open its door even wider.

Some worry that China will export its ideology and threaten the values of other countries. This is completely unnecessary. China has no history of preaching to or lecturing others,?and has no intention to?export its system or path?today. As early as 2,500 years ago, by observing the inclusiveness reflected?in the laws?of the universe and nature, Chinese philosophers?came to the conclusion?that "Just as all living things grow in harmony without hurting one another, different?ways may?run forward without interfering with one another." Living in our times, we should approach differences with a greater largeness of heart than our ancestors,?accept differences with?an attitude of?mutual respect, and actively pursue the state of harmony without uniformity.