今年6月的七國集團（G7）峰會被認為是西方着眼疫後國際秩序“重建”的一次碰頭，也是美國藉機對外展示“回來了”的機會。而這次峰會在中國也受到關注，因為中國話題在G7峰會中如此受到重視，似乎成了“不在場的與會者”。拜登行前，媒體就大肆報道他此行目的是拉西方盟友遏制中國。

如媒體所料，G7公報提到美國和歐洲視中國為“系統性競爭對手”，但在如何應對這個對手上卻着墨不多。公報25頁文字涵蓋全球重大議題，並提出解決辦法。可以大致分為三大類。

第一類是國際共識基礎較強的問題，涉及世界經濟復蘇、全球稅收、綠色轉型和數字轉型、氣候變化、全球糧食系統等，這些方面的全球合作實際上從未停止。拜登政府就職後重新激活和參與應對氣變全球議程，包括中美兩國的氣候團隊保持着密切接觸，聚焦碳達峰、碳中和目標的落實問題。中國也在細化國家規劃並陸續公布具體路線圖。至於G7公報中提到的全球最低稅率，包括中國在內全球130多國已經同意參與其中，這是全球合作的很好例子。

第二類是世界存在共同利益，但各國尚缺乏合作共識，甚至存在爭議抑或不同解釋的問題。例如公報里提到的涉及全球抗疫、世界貿易體制和規則改革、數字技術規則、ICT（信息通信技術）基礎設施供應鏈等問題。不同國家有不同的利益和訴求，但大家越來越意識到，新問題、新技術帶來的新挑戰需要合力面對，單靠一個或者幾個國家是難以應對的。我們需要依靠科學與夥伴精神。

公報提出爭取在2022年結束疫情，為此需要全球至少60%的人接種疫苗。而中國是疫苗和醫藥大國，其貢獻不可或缺。中國國內單劑疫苗接種量已超14億針，對外累計提供了4.8億劑疫苗，未來將能做得更多。

公報提到“重建美好未來”（Build Back Better）倡議，旨在支持發展中國家基礎設施建設。有分析說，其目的是對沖中國“一帶一路”倡議。但是，如果G7 倡議能夠落地，應該可以與“一帶一路”倡議互補。全球基建缺口巨大，據亞洲開發銀行估計，到2030年，僅亞洲發展中國家就需26萬億美元的基建投資。無論是“一帶一路”還是“重建美好未來”，都不足以填滿這個需求，因此，對全球基礎建設的投資可以說是多多益善的。

第三類是直接指責中國的內容，包括人權、經貿問題等。這裡沒有什麼新奇內容。“人權”一直是美西方對中國最常用的攻擊點。我記得40年前就曾參加過涉及中國監獄條件的一個人權問題的討論，這些年來，大多數所謂的人權問題都隨着中國的發展而消失了，但是美西方的指責卻未曾停止。所以，中國人的耐心磨得很薄了，越來越不耐煩去解釋，特別是現在的年輕一代。這個分歧問題可能沒有好的解決辦法。但是我們不應停止解釋和說明，不僅要向那些批評中國的人，更要向希望了解中國的國際社會積極提供信息。

美方需要學會尊重中國。沒有人比中國人更了解中國的困難和挑戰，也沒有人能為我們解決這些問題。同樣，也只有美國人更了解自己的國家，也需要自己去解決面臨的難題。中美競爭的一個方面，就是看誰能更好地滿足本國人民的需求。大家最好還是集中精力辦好自己的事，滿足各自民眾的所需所求。

觀察拜登此次歐洲之行和G7峰會，有三點看法：

一是，G7試圖搶抓後疫全球議程的主導權，但是它們無法主導解決這些問題。中國不僅不應該拒絕，而且可以作為負責任的一方積極加入到全球議程中去，共同推進那些有益於世界的重要事項。

二是，中美兩國是推動世界變化的兩個引擎，同向推動能為世界提供動力，反向推動則將撕裂全球體系。歐洲人顯然希望看到兩國和平解決分歧。中方需要高度警惕那些試圖將中國樹為敵人的極端勢力，保持自身定力，不讓自己的發展目標受到大的干擾。既然我們兜里並沒有揣着一套與美國爭奪世界霸權的國家戰略，何不坐看潮起潮落。

三是，儘管中歐之間也存在分歧，但在一些基本原則上我們立場是一致的，例如堅持多邊主義和自由貿易等。中歐需要冷靜相互傾聽、坦誠解決彼此關切。在中美關係存在如此多不確定性的當下，中歐保持協調與合作，可以為世界體系注入穩定因素，這十分重要。

（本文為作者在7月20日上海國際問題研究院舉辦的“中美關係對話”視頻會議上的講話）

The Group of Seven (G7) Leadership Summit held last June was stated to be an occasion for the Western leaders to “reestablish” the international order after the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also for the U.S. to demonstrate its return “back at the table”.The summit also attracted attention here in China. It was given such importance as if China was an “absent conferee”. Even before President Biden's departure, the media insisted that his purpose was to rally western allies to contain China.

To match the media expectation, the summit Communique stated that the U.S. and Europe view China as a “systemic rival,” but there wasn't much about how to deal with this rival.Going through the 25-page Communique, I noted a fairly comprehensive outline of the major global challenges and proposed solutions. I have put the issues mentioned in the communique into three categories.

The first is about issues with solid international consensus. They include world economic recovery, global tax rate, green and digital transformation, climate change, and world food system. These issues call for global partnership which has all along been the case.After the Biden Administration took office, the Global Climate Action Agenda was reactivated; experts on climate change, including those from China and the U.S. are in close contact focusing on how to implement the targets of peaking carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. China has also set detailed national plans and published periodic road maps of progress.As for the global minimum tax rate proposed in the Communique, over 130 countries, including China, have already agreed, which is another good example of global cooperation.

The second category is about issues of world common interest but not yet with a clear agreement about how to address them or there are even controversies or different interpretations.They include such issues as how to end the pandemic, how to reform the international trade system and rules, how to make the digital technology standards and ICT infrastructure supply chains.Countries may have different concerns and goals but they know that there has to be coordination and cooperation if the mankind wants a good outcome. No single country or even a group of countries can deal with the challenges alone. We have to rely on science and on partnership.

Take for example, the communique calls for the vaccination of at least 60% of the world's population in order to end the pandemic by 2022. China is one of the major producers of vaccine and medicine and its contribution is indispensable for achieving that goal. China has administered over 1.4 billion doses of COVID vaccines at home and have provided 480 million doses to other countries and should be able to do more for the world later in the year.

One interesting proposal in the communique was “Build Back Better” initiative which is about supporting infrastructure in developing countries. Some say it's meant to rival China's Belt and Road Initiative. However, should it be realized, the two initiatives can well complement each other.There is a huge gap for global infrastructure development. According to the Asian Development Bank, a total of USD 26 trillion is needed for infrastructure investment in developing countries in Asia alone by 2030, an amount which neither the “Belt and Road Initiative” nor the “Build Back Better Initiative” can reach. For global infrastructure investment, the more the better and it will certainly benefit the world economy.

The third category is direct accusations against China, like human rights and economic and trade issues.There is not much surprise in it. Human right has long been an easy target when China is concerned. I still remember working on a discussion on China's prison conditions as a “human right” issue 40 years ago. Most of the “human right concerns” are gone along with China's progress but the finger pointing is non-stop. That is why the patience on the Chinese side is running thin and there is not much interest explaining any more especially for the younger generation.I don't see a good solution to this divide, but we on the Chinese side should not stop explaining to not only those who point fingers but more importantly the wider world who are interested to know. We should provide more information to them.

I also hope the Americans learn to respect China. They need to know that no one knows the difficulties and challenges in China better than the Chinese ourselves and no one can address the problems for us. Just like the Americans know their country better and should be left alone to solve the problems they confront.

One aspect of competition between China and the U.S., is to see who can better meet their people's demand. It is better for all countries to focus on their own affairs and achieve what their people hope for.

To sum up, first, the G7 is trying to take leadership over the global agendas in the post-pandemic era. But they cannot handle everything by themselves. China needs not to reject the agendas, instead, we should join in as a responsible party and participate in the multilateral effort to advance those important agendas that benefit the world.

Second, China and the U.S. are the twin-engines driving world changes. Turning in the same direction, they can power the momentum. Turning in opposing directions, they can break the world system. The Europeans obviously hope to see the two countries working out their differences peacefully.China needs to be highly vigilance against some extreme forces trying to make China the enemy of the U.S. and Europe. Since we do not have the national strategy to fight for world power with the U.S., we may just stay calm and not to be swayed by the tide as it may surge and fall, while continue to follow our own path forward.

Third, though the European countries also have differences with China, we agree on some fundamental principles like multilateralism and free trade. We should calmly listen to each other and honestly address the concerns. It's important that China and Europe maintain coordination and cooperation which would provide some stability in the world system that would be valuable when there is so much uncertainty in the China-US relations.

(Above is Fu Ying's remarks at the Dialogue on China-US Relations held by SIIS on July 20, 2021）