2010卡梅伦北大演讲稿

Tuesday 9 November 2010

PM’s speech at Beida University, China

A transcript of speech given by the Prime Minister at the Beida University in China on 9 November 2010.

Read the transcipt:

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Introduction

Twenty five years ago I came to Hong Kong as a student.

The year was 1985.

Deng Xiaoping and Margaret Thatcher had recently signed the historic Joint Declaration.

The remarkable story of the successful handover of Hong Kong

and the great progress Hong Kong has continued to make

is an example to the world of what can be achieved when two countries cooperate in confidence and with mutual respect.

Since then, China has changed almost beyond recognition.

China’s National Anthem famously calls on the people of China to stand up

Qi lai qi lai (stand up, stand up)

Today the Chinese people are not just standing up in their own country

they are standing up in the world.

No longer can people talk about the global economy

without including the country that has grown on average ten per cent a year for three decades.

No longer can we talk about trade…

without the country that is now the world’s largest exporter and third largest importer

And no longer can we debate energy security or climate change

without the country that is one of the world’s bigge st consumer of energy.

China is on course to reclaim, later this century, its position as the world’s biggest economy

the position it has held for 18 of the last 20 centuries.

and an achievement of which the Chinese people are justly proud.

Put simply: China has re-emerged as a great global power.

Threat or Opportunity

Now people can react to this in one of two ways.

They can see China’s rise as a threat

or they can see it as an opportunity.

They can protect their markets from China

or open their markets to China.

They can try and shut China out

or welcome China in, to a new place at the top table of global affairs.

There has been a change of Government in Britain and a change of Prime Minister.

But on this vital point there is absolute continuity between my government and the Governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

We want a strong relationship with China. Strong on trade. Strong on investment. Strong on dialogue.

I made that clear as Leader of the Opposition when I visited Beijing and Chongqing three years ago.

And I repeat it as Prime Minister here in China’s capital today.

In the argument about how to react to the rise of China.

I say it’s an opportunity.

I choose engagement not disengagement.

Dialogue not stand-off.

Mutual benefit, not zero-sum game.