Xie Feng

Chinese Amb Xie Feng Rejects “zero-sum” Mentality of the West at 75th Anniversary

Lawrence , , , , ,
Ambassador Xie Feng giving a toast to China-U.S. relations,

October 13, 2024

On Monday, Sptemebr30, I spent an enjoyable evening celebrating China’s 75th anniversary at their embassy in Washington DC. After listening to the remarks of Ambassador Xie Feng, Remarks by Amb Xie Feng at Chinese embassy, the standing room only crowd of 700-800 attendees listened to forty minutes of classical music, before being served delicious Chinese food. Last year as well, the formal program concluded with performances classical music. A delightful tradition, which I am not sure everyone appreciated, given the constant hum of conversations throughout the performances, but it was beautiful music to my ears.

As is his custom at these celebrations, Amb Xie Feng gave a strategic review of China’s domestic policy and accomplishments, and China-U.S. relations.

He explained to the audience that filled the embassy’s large downstairs auditorium:

Once an impoverished country where people struggled to meet basic living needs, China is now the world’s second largest economy, and has brought moderate prosperity to its people in all respects…we have eliminated absolute poverty for the first time in our history of several thousand years, realized our first centenary goal, and achieved many “missions impossible.

China has continued to stress that it intends to develop its economy to become by 2035, a modern socialist nation with Chinese characteristics. As someone, who has recently visited Beijing and Shanghai, China’s transformation in less than two generations is truly astonishing. And the Chinese people are grateful that the government has brought them prosperity and peace, despite domestic and global challenges.

Amb Xie Feng continued:

 A China committed to open development will continue to be a major engine for global economic growth. China has contributed over 30% to global growth for over a decade. Today, it is the world’s largest exporter, and also the second largest importer. Goods valued at 7 billion US dollars flow into China on a daily basis, and more than 4,600 foreign-invested companies are set up in China every month…

 A China committed to innovation-driven development will continue to be a boost to global technological advances. Back in 1949, China could not even make a single match or iron nail. Today, it is the world’s second largest R&D investor, and the top source of international patent applications. With a vast market, a full-fledged industrial system, and a rich talent pool…

Lawrence Freeman at the Chinese embassy on September 30, celebrating China’s 75th Anniversary

Abolish “Zero-Sum” Mentality

China rejects the diseased ideology of the West’s “rules-based order” with its demented doctrine that views the world as a zero-sum-game. Western nations led by the U.S., continue to dismiss China’s “win-win” policy of cooperation that benefits all participating nations. Despite some public comments by U.S. officials that the U.S. sees China as a competitor, the truth is, the Anglo-American establishment actually views China as a deadly adversary. The U.S. erroneously perceives China as a threatening hegemon to their crumbling “rules-based order.” In our irreversible multi-polar world, the Global South led by China is growing. The newly expanded BRICS represents thirty-seven percent of the world’s GDP compared to the G-7 share of thirty-one percent.

Throughout his remarks, Amb Xie Feng emphatically and repeatedly told his audience, which included representatives of the U.S. State department, that China rejects the “zero-sum mindset.”

  • After 5,000 years of ups and downs, China is still here, and will continue to be. We have no strategy to overtake or displace the United States, no intention to overthrow the existing order or dominate the world, and no interest in geopolitical rivalry or a “game of thrones.” It would be a strategic miscalculation to project onto China the assumption that a strong country is bound to seek hegemony, and fearmongering to accuse China of being “a pacing threat. Claims that emerging and existing powers are destined for confrontation are irresponsible. China’s success does not have to mean failure of the United States.
  •  Win-win cooperation means we need to seek mutual benefit and reject a zero-sum game.
  • It is only natural that we will have competition between us. But it should be a fair race to the top, not a zero-sum race to the bottom.

Honest and competent observers of Washington know that U.S. policy is not one of competition with China. There are credible projections that China will surpass the U.S. as the largest economy in the next decade. The U.S. geopolitical belief structure insists that China is an enemy that has to be kept down; its development suppressed at all costs. If the U.S. Establishment were to free itself from this distorted view, the U.S. could actually gain from healthy competition with China. China has far more advanced infrastructure. Its high speed rail, which accounts for thirty percent of its total track, can travel at 215 mile per hour, making the U.S. Amtrak system look like a relic from the horse and buggy era.

A mere two generations earlier, adults traveled on bicycles in China. Now, car traffic in Beijing resembles New York City. In this same time period, life expectancy has almost doubled, and three quarters of a billion Chinese citizens have been lifted out of poverty. Is it not conceivable that the U.S. could benefit from competition with China?

The evening concluded on a high note with classical music from China and Europe performed by American and Chinese artists. This included two compositions by a Piano Trio, two songs by Tenor and Piano, and three configurations by a String Quartet. I highly recommend that other embassies in Washington DC, as well as U.S. government functions, adopt this uplifting tradition.

Read: Remarks by Amb Xie Feng at Chinese embassy

Read my two earlier post from my participation in the high-level Beijing Xiangshan Forum, September 12-14, 2024.

Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, and consultant on Africa. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog:  lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, and also publishing on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World.”

“Win-Win Cooperation” Is Our Goal for China-U.S. Relations

Lawrence , , , , , , , ,
Ambassador Xie Feng speaking at the Chinese embassy in Washington, DC. September 27, 2023

September 29. 2023

On Wednesday night, September 27th, I had the pleasure of attending China’s 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, at the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC. Officials of the US government, policymakers, and think tank analysts should carefully read the presentation-Remarks by Amb Xie Feng-by the new ambassador of China to the United States, Xie Feng.

The most salient portions of his comments are obvious to me and should be understood by all rational people. China desires Win-Win cooperation with the United States. The ambassador is correct in emphasizing that when China’s economy is expanding, it not only helps 1.4 billion Chinese people, but it actually also advances the world economy and benefits all people on our planet. Therefore, those in Washington and elsewhere, who foolishly gloat over the difficulties or temporary declines in the Chinese economy are really not acting in the interest of the United States. Ambassador Feng also emphasized that it is dangerous for the two largest economies armed with nuclear weapons to be involved in a Cold War much less a Hot War, and this has to be avoided at all costs for the sake of humanity.

In fact, there is no objective inherent contradiction between the development of China and the development of the United States. I know this as an expert on African political economy. The needs of the African nations in terms of basic infrastructure; railroads, electricity, roads, hospitals, and schools is so massive that all nations could collaborate together in addressing this serious infrastructure deficit. China and the United States actually share a common interest in the development of humankind. China and the United States could take up jointly the mission of eliminating poverty in Africa.

What is preventing this type of global economic progress, is the dominant U.S. geopolitical mindset that views hegemony in the world as a zero-sum game of winners and losers. This perverted geopolitical outlook prevents the type of superpower cooperation between the U.S. and China, which Ambassador Feng alluded to in his remarks.

Following the presentation by Ambassador Feng there was a 45 minute delightful musical presentation by young musicians from the Juilliard School in New York City. They performed classical Western music and classical Chinese music. This was not only a joy to listen to, but actually made clear to me something very important about Chinese culture. Classical music is the most rigorous form of music that stimulates the human mind and is actually composed for the purpose of nurturing   human creative thinking.

The mini-concert began with a composition from Johannes Brahms that was performed with precision and passion. It was also very interesting for me to sit there and observe an audience of several hundred people quietly, and thoughtfully listening to classical music in the Chinese Embassy. Most people don’t understand that classical music is not meant just for Western audiences. Classical music is intended for all human beings. Every great form of music, drama, and poetry, if they qualify as classical, share the same quality: developing the human mind. Therefore, having this performance following the presentation by Ambassador Feng confirms to me the desire by China to have a working relationship with the United States and the West. In this instance, classical music was chosen as a universal medium to build a friendship between China and the U.S.

Thus, to my mind, the two events are connected as if from a single piece of cloth: An insightful presentation by Ambassador Feng, followed by an excellent classical music performance by a talented trio (cello, violin, piano). This is an eloquent method to educate the audience on the inseparability of politics and culture, when conducted at the highest level.

As a result, I had an informative and enjoyable evening. I presume others did as well.

Young students from the Juilliard School, NYC, performing at the Chinese Embassy. There is a sister Juilliard School in Tianjin, China 

Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Xie Feng At the Reception Marking the 74th Anniversary of The Founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Reads the entirety of Remarks by Amb Xie Feng

Excerpts follow:

Dear friends,

Welcome to the first in-person National Day reception at our embassy after the pandemic!

It is a great pleasure to get together with you face to face to celebrate the 74th birthday of the People’s Republic of China. Let me extend my heartfelt thanks to friends from various communities for your longstanding support for China and China-U.S. relations, and also warmest festival greetings to our fellow compatriots in China and the United States!

Over the past 74 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, billions of Chinese people have forged ahead with fortitude, and embarked on a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We have created a miracle of rapid economic growth with hard work, a miracle of lasting social stability with unity, a miracle of poverty reduction with perseverance, and a miracle of peaceful rise with a great sense of responsibility. 

Today, 74 years on, we are advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. While Chinese modernization is conceived in China, it will bring opportunities to the whole world.

— It is the modernization of a huge population. Achieving modernization for more than 1.4 billion people is an unprecedented task, and requires arduous efforts. Pursuing high-quality development is our top priority, and reform and opening-up remains our fundamental national policy. Our focus is to be a better self. We have no intention to challenge, outcompete or displace anyone else.

— It is the modernization of common prosperity for all. We will both make the pie bigger and divide it more fairly. China’s middle-income group will exceed 800 million by 2035. Its market for health services is estimated to reach around 2.2 trillion dollars by 2030. And Chinese airlines will need 8,700 new aircraft by 2040…

It is also the modernization of peaceful development. We have put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, offering China’s solution for addressing the deficit in development, overcoming security challenges and enhancing mutual learning between civilizations, and calling on countries to jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

This year, amid the tortuous global economic recovery, every country has its own problems to tackle. While facing some difficulties and challenges, the Chinese economy has been on an upward trajectory generally. Our GDP grew 5.5% in the first half of the year, outpacing most major economies. In the first eight months, investment in high-tech industries grew 11% year over year, and retail sales in accommodation, catering and other services increased 19%. Over 500 million Chinese went to the movies this summer alone. In recent months, China has rolled out new policies to reinvigorate consumption, boost the private sector and attract more foreign investment, which are gradually paying off.

Things are best appreciated when one takes a long-term view. The fundamentals sustaining China’s growth in the long run have not and will not change. Choosing China is to embrace opportunities and secure the future. In a globalized era, everyone is interconnected. All countries are in the same boat. The notion that other countries could economically collapse while one still thrives is utter fantasy. Pulling together is our only choice.  

Over the months, I have engaged extensively with friends old and new from various sectors. Here is my impression: while a lot has changed in China-U.S. relations, the fact that we are interdependent has not changed. We still share extensive common interests and important common responsibilities. The Earth is big enough for China and the United States to develop respectively and prosper together.

Nor has the international community’s expectation for a generally stable China-U.S. relationship changed. China and the United States are the two largest economies and nuclear-weapon states. Any conflict or confrontation between us would produce no winner, and would be the last thing the world wants to see. A “new Cold War” would only be a tragedy for the entire humanity.

To our encouragement, under the guidance of our leaders and with our joint efforts, the China-U.S. relationship has seen some positive signs of stabilizing. Progress has been made in enhancing dialogue and cooperation. In particular, the two sides have agreed to return to the Bali agenda, and implement the important common understanding reached between President Xi Jinping and President Biden…

Of course, we still face serious difficulties and grave challenges in the bilateral relationship, and there is still a long way to go to stabilize and improve our relations. The key is to find the right way for China and the United States to get along in the new era. The three principles outlined by President Xi Jinping, namely, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, have pointed us in the right direction. 

— Mutual respect is the prerequisite for our interactions. China does not interfere in U.S. domestic affairs and does not bet against the United States. In the same vein, we hope the United States will also respect our sovereignty and territorial integrity, properly handle important, sensitive issues such as the Taiwan question in line with the principles of the three joint communiques, and respect the Chinese people’s choice of development path and political system and right to a better life.

— Peaceful coexistence is the red line we must keep to. Any war, cold or hot, trade or technological, should be avoided. Sanctions on Chinese entities and individuals should be stopped.

— Win-win cooperation is the goal we should aim at. Let’s both take positive actions from now, starting with concrete, small steps that will benefit our peoples and help bring our relationship back to the right track… (all emphasis added)

Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for over 30 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, and consultant on Africa. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is also the creator of the blog:  lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com.