????譯文

????編者按：今年是中國改革開放40周年。中國日報推出系列專訪，報道那些經歷或見證這一重要進程的人物。

????中國入世談判中的美方關鍵代表

????——與中國談判并見證中國2001年加入這一國際貿易組織的查琳?巴爾舍夫斯基說，中美兩國應謀求構建“互利穩定的雙邊關系”

????中國日報華盛頓電 （記者 趙煥新 ）經過曠日持久的談判，中國在2001年終于加入世界貿易組織。與中國就入世進行談判的美方貿易談判首席代表查琳?巴爾舍夫斯基在這一馬拉松式的談判過程中也為中國民眾所熟知。

????在她位于華盛頓市中心寬敞的辦公室里，這位前美國貿易代表向記者回憶起中國歷經15年的努力最終成功入世的往事，稱對自己當時發揮的作用“深感驕傲”。

????她表示，中國入世無論是對于中國自身還是對整個世界都具有“非常積極的意義”；她從未后悔過當時支持中國入世。

????1999年11月15日，中美兩國政府在北京就中國加入世界貿易組織達成了具有里程碑意義的雙邊協議，標志著中國入世邁出了關鍵一步。

????在接受中國日報獨家專訪時，巴爾舍夫斯基說她支持全球化，經濟全球化讓美國受益匪淺。她警告稱，加征關稅帶來的“不確定性”正在損害美國企業利益。她同時呼吁美中雙方要堅守打造“互利穩定的雙邊關系”的共同目標。

????引以為傲的一件事

????今年1月，美國政府就中國履行入世承諾情況向國會提交的一份報告稱，“似乎很明顯，美國支持中國加入世貿組織是錯誤的；這些條款已證明未能確保中國接受開放的、面向市場的貿易體制。”

????但是巴爾舍夫斯基說：“中國應該加入世貿組織，這難道還有疑問嗎？當然沒有。常有人問我‘這是不是一個錯誤？’我明確地回答，‘不，沒有錯！’中國加入世貿組織既發展了中國，也造福了世界。”

????中國入世已經將近18年了，但68歲的巴爾舍夫斯基念念不忘那場談判中的趣事和中國入世所遭遇的艱難。還有，更重要的是，忘不了那一歷史性成就給她帶來的自豪感。

????其中有一件事發生在談判桌外卻同樣使她深受觸動。

????有一天，巴爾舍夫斯基走在北京的街道上，聽到有人喊她的名字。她停下腳步，只見一家三口朝她走了過來。

????巴爾舍夫斯基說，“我轉過身，那位男士向我道謝，為的是中國加入了世貿組織。我當然覺得很有趣，因為大多數美國人連世貿組織是什么都不知道。”

????“他說他只想告訴我，他的兒子會過上更好的生活。這深深觸動了我，很顯然，入世與他個人發展，與中國振興在他眼里都是密切關聯的。”

????巴爾舍夫斯基說，入世是中國完成的“跨越式發展”，但她也知道，中國為此也付出了代價。外交部前副部長傅瑩8月29日在紐約的一次圓桌論壇上表示，2001年入世之后，國內企業突然直接面對國際競爭，不少產業陷入很大困難，有的甚至難以為繼，大量工人下崗。

????巴爾舍夫斯基指出，那時有大批國有企業職工失業，尤其是在剛剛進入新世紀的那幾年。盡管出現了這種“破壞性的一面”，中國市場競爭力卻日益得到提升。

????她說，“中國是靠自己爭取到入世的，因為我沒有做什么改變，是中國自己做出改變。中國改革的力度和幅度是空前的，中國修改相關法律的量也是以前少有的。中國經歷了巨大的改變。”

????中國入世后經歷了千辛萬苦。傅瑩提到，中國大規模進行法律法規的清理修訂工作。在短時間內，中央政府清理了2000多件，地方政府清理了19萬多件。

????巴爾舍夫斯基說，“我是與中國談判的代表，從這一點看，我感到相當自豪。”

????美國是全球化的獲益者

????目前美國政府一直在對多邊主義大加抨擊，想要退出多邊貿易體系，稱貿易協定只對它的貿易伙伴有利，因此要推倒重來。

????美國還聲稱是全球化的受害者。美國總統特朗普揚言，“如果不改革”，美國就要退出世貿組織。他還說美國上當了，美國的貿易伙伴占盡了便宜。

????部分是由于這些理念的驅使，美國政府通過施壓來修改貿易協議，或者肆意加征關稅，以獲得更多談判籌碼，或逼迫美國制造企業撤回美國。不過，巴爾舍夫斯基認為美國工廠搬回美國不大可能發生。

????她表示，“美國能如此富裕，美國的經濟能如此強勁，經濟全球化功不可沒。”

????她說，很少國家能幸免于2008年金融危機沖擊。盡管恢復期是漫長的，但如今美國經濟已重現增長，中國在其中發揮了積極作用。

????巴爾舍夫斯基說，“所以，美國并沒有上當受騙，它的貿易伙伴沒騙它，當然中國更沒有。”她繼續說，“受騙”這個詞既不準確也沒有什么效果。“你可以說中國的某些做法讓美國不占優勢，可是，也許中國同樣覺得，美國的一些做法把中國置于不利地位。”

????她還提到，中國在全球經濟困難時期發揮的“關鍵作用”理應受到世界認可。

????1997年，亞洲爆發了金融危機，那時中國還沒加入世貿組織。中國決定人民幣不貶值，一直保持穩定，因而中國在這場危機中發揮了至關重要的作用。

????巴爾舍夫斯基稱，之后是2008-2009年的金融危機，在全球需求萎縮的情況下，中國成了重要的需求來源，是中國經濟的發展促使全球經濟起死回生。

????她說，但現在美中之間出現了“巨大分歧”。“即便是在貿易關系緊張時期，經濟全球化和一體化趨勢加深激化摩擦和競爭壓力，我們也不能對哪個國家做過的重要貢獻視而不見，它們都應該得到贊揚，”她說。

????“錯誤的舉措”

????巴爾舍夫斯基說，“（美國）政府認為美國對華存在貿易逆差就表明貿易中存在不公平行為，事實并非如此。美國經濟增長時，貿易逆差就會增大；經濟衰退時，貿易逆差就會減小。而在美國經濟遭受重創的大蕭條時期，美國是處于貿易順差狀態的。”

????她表示，貿易逆差與美國經濟狀況和失業水平并不相關。

????“所以我認為美國政府不應該以此為判斷標準。美國應像過去一樣，最好是通過談判的方式，找出并解決自認為的‘不公平’行為。”

????她指出，對中國加征關稅實際上等同于對美國消費者征稅，此舉并不能解決問題。

????巴爾舍夫斯基說，她擔心隨著貿易戰愈演愈烈，戰線不斷拉長，由此會產生一些不確定因素。“經濟的不確定性無論對于商界還是政界來說，都是相當棘手的問題。這既關乎美國的利益，也關乎中國的利益，因此美中兩國應該回到談判桌前解決問題。”

????她表示，美國關心的是，中國經濟改革是否將繼續發力，一些在美國看來讓中國企業獲得所謂的“不公平優勢”的政策是否會改變。

????中國承諾將繼續深化改革和擴大對外開放。對外開放是近幾十年來中國經濟飛速發展的關鍵所在，這是中國社會的普遍共識。

????傅瑩在紐約的討論會上指出，中美關系的變化會帶來挑戰，也會推動中國的改革。美方各界提出來的市場準入等問題，許多正是中方需要通過改革著力解決的。

????習近平主席今年四月在博鰲亞洲論壇宣布進一步開放金融業后，央行的11項具體承諾，迄今已落實8項，包括取消銀行和金融資產管理公司的外資持股比例限制，內外資一視同仁，允許外國銀行在我國境內同時設立分行和子行。

????“特殊責任”

????有報道稱，有人試圖讓中美經濟“脫鉤”。當被問及如何看待這一報道時，巴爾舍夫斯基說：“我不明白這么做的意義何在，這只會讓我們兩敗俱傷。”

????她表示，雖然中國和美國存在激烈的競爭，但是雙方都承擔著對對方以及對國際社會的特殊責任，“也就是說，美中雙方要共同攜手尋求共識，當然，分歧也需要解決。”

????“我希望美中兩國領導人都明白這兩個國家有特殊的責任要承擔。”

????中美已經建交多年，可是中國并沒有被美國同化，美國有些人對此感到沮喪。巴爾舍夫斯基則表示：“中國永遠不會走美國的路，因為中國和美國有著不同的歷史背景。”

????巴爾舍夫斯基說，她一直都希望看到美中兩國能有更大的“相容性”，而非“相似性”。

????“但是想要更大的相容性，就需要像我說的那樣，大國必須找到解決分歧的途徑，必須尊重其他國家的利益，以緩解緊張局勢，營造穩定的國際環境。”

????在她的職業生涯中，巴爾舍夫斯基經歷了無數次的談判，積累了豐富的經驗。她說，中國和美國在為“切實可行的目標”努力時，必須保持靈活性，尤其是當雙邊關系處于“起起伏伏”中的“伏”的狀態時。

????“各方都要保持靈活性，要對共同目標懷有信念。這里的‘共同目標’是廣義上的，在當前，這個目標就應該是構建互利穩定的雙邊關系。在我看來，對于中美雙方而言，這是一個相當明確且切實可行的目標。”

????巴爾舍夫斯基說，她還記得小時候在父親的花園里，用母親的湯匙玩“挖到中國去”的游戲，希望能挖穿地球到中國去。

????從“挖到中國去”到與中國打交道幾十年，巴爾舍夫斯基說她揭開這個位于地球另一端的國家的神秘面紗，看到原來中國人和美國人一樣心懷愿景，那就是他們都期待著明天會更好。

????中國人談到入世就會談起巴爾舍夫斯基，并相信入世會繼續讓中國變得更美好。

????原文：

????US NEGOTIATOR WHO WAS KEY TO CHINA JOINING WTO

????Charlene Barshefsky paved the way for entry to the global trading bloc in 2001 and says both countries should pursue a 'mutually beneficial, stable relationship'

????ZHAO HUANXIN

????Editor's note: This year marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of China's reform and opening-up policy. China Daily profiles people who experienced or witnessed the important drive.

????Charlene Barshefsky is known in China for her role as the chief US negotiator in the marathon talks that led to Beijing's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001.

????In her spacious office in downtown Washington, the former United States Trade Representative said she looks back with "great pride" on her role in helping China achieve WTO membership after 15 years of trying.

????She said it has been "extremely positive" for the country and the world, and she has never regretted supporting it－in stark contrast to the Trump administration's attitude.

????Barshefsky's role in the process culminated in the signing of a landmark market access deal between the US and China in Beijing on Nov 15, 1999, that paved the way for the country's entry to the global trading bloc.

????In an exclusive interview, Barshefsky defended globalization, which she said has benefited the US tremendously. She also cautioned on the "uncertainty" caused by escalating tariffs, which is hurting American businesses, while urging Beijing and Washington to stick to the common goal of a "mutually beneficial, stable relationship".

????'A point of great pride'

????In a January report to the US Congress on China's compliance with its WTO commitments, the US administration said, "It seems clear that the United States erred in supporting China's entry into the WTO on terms that have proved to be ineffective in securing China's embrace of an open, market-orientated trade regime."

????But Barshefsky said: "Could there be any doubt that China should be in the WTO? Of course not. I'm often asked, 'Was it a mistake?' And I'm answering you unequivocally: No. It was not a mistake; it was an extremely positive move for China and for the world."

????Nearly 18 years after China joined the WTO, Barshefsky, now 68, said she remembers anecdotes from the talks, the difficulties China experienced in satisfying membership requirements, and, most of all, the pride she derived from the historic achievement.

????She also recalled a moment that had nothing to do with the negotiations, but one she feels strongly about.

????One day, while walking in Beijing, Barshefsky heard a man call her name in the way a Chinese speaker would say it. She stopped, only to find a family of three walking toward her.

????"I turned around, and it was this gentleman, and he thanked me for WTO, which of course made me laugh, because most people in the United States would have no idea what the WTO is," Barshefsky said.

????"He simply wanted me to know that his son would have a better life. This was completely overwhelming to me. Obviously, he equated WTO entry with personal development, with that rise as part of this process for China."

????Barshefsky said joining the WTO was a "leap" for China, and she understood membership came at a price.

????Chinese enterprises were suddenly thrown into direct competition in the global market. Some did not make it, leading to massive layoffs all over the country, Fu Ying, vice-minister of foreign affairs in the late 2000s, told a roundtable discussion in New York on Aug 29.

????Barshefsky said there were substantial job losses in the State-owned sector, particularly in the early 2000s. But despite the "disruptive side", the Chinese market became increasingly competitive, she said.

????"China brought itself to the WTO and the reason is that I didn't change my behavior one bit; China changed," she said. "It did not have experience with the nature and extent of reforms that had to be made, it didn't have experience with rewriting so much of its legal code. It was a leap."

????Following its WTO accession, China went through a painful overhaul. In a short period of time, Fu said, more than 2,000 laws and regulations were revised or abolished at the national level, and about 200,000 more below national level. "To the extent that I was the negotiator with China, it's a point of great pride for me," Barshefsky said.

????Globalization benefits US

????The current US administration has been lashing back against the multilateral system, trying to withdraw from or revamp agreements it claims have worked only to the advantage of its trading partners.

????It has portrayed itself as a victim of globalization, and US President Donald Trump has threatened to retreat from the WTO "if they don't shape up", claiming the US has been cheated and taken advantage of by its trading partners.

????The perception in part animates the US administration's policy of renegotiating those agreements under threat, or arbitrarily imposing tariffs, either as a means of gaining leverage or to force US-owned manufacturers back to the US－which Barshefsky doesn't think will happen.

????"It's globalization that has helped to make the US as wealthy as it is, our economy as robust as it is," she said.

????Few countries could have survived the 2008 financial meltdown that the US had to weather, she said. And even though there was a lengthy and slow period of recovery, the US has adapted and adjusted to grow again, and China played a positive role in that.

????"So, no, the US has not been cheated, not by our trading partners and certainly not by China," Barshefsky said, adding that the word "cheated" is neither accurate nor productive. "You can say we've been disadvantaged by certain Chinese practices, and China may believe it's been disadvantaged by certain American practices."

????She also recalled the "critical impact" China has had in difficult times, saying such areas should be acknowledged.

????Well before its WTO accession, China played an important role during the 1997 Asian financial crisis by keeping its currency stable.

????Then, in the 2008-09 global financial crisis, the country became the source of critical demand in a world that was demand-deficient. It was China's economy that helped bring the global economy back to life, Barshefsky said.

????But now there is "substantial friction" between the US and China, she said. "Even amid trade tensions, we cannot lose sight of the important contributions every nation makes－they are to be complimented wherever they come from, as the world works through this intense globalization, intense degree of integration, and all of the frictions and competitive pressures that arise from it."

????'Wrong measure'

????The world's top two economies have been embroiled in blistering trade tensions since early this year.

????"The (Trump) administration has the view that trade deficits are a measure of unfairness in trade," Barshefsky said. "This is not the case. Our deficit goes up the more the economy grows; our deficit goes down when we're in recession. So the US had a trade surplus in the Great Depression－our economy was decimated."

????The US economy and job losses tend not to correlate with trade deficits, she said.

????"So I think the administration is using the wrong measure. What it should do, and as it has done in past, is to identify the practices it believes are 'unfair' and address them, through negotiation preferably."

????In her view, the imposition of tariffs is in effect the imposition of taxes on US purchasers and not an effective policy.

????Barshefsky said she is worried about the uncertainties created by a ratcheted-up and protracted trade war. "It's the creation of economic uncertainty that is extremely difficult for businesses to deal with, and for governments to deal with. This is not in either country's interest, and both countries should get back to the table and try and sort these differences out."

????Among the concerns on the US side, she said, are whether China's economic reform process is becoming more robust and whether policies that it alleges give an "unfair advantage" to Chinese companies will change.

????China has vowed to stay the course of reform and increase opening-up. It has been a consensus in China that opening-up was key to the phenomenal economic growth in recent decades.

????Speaking at the Boao Forum for Asia in April, President Xi Jinping said, "Our next step in development can only be achieved with deeper reform and wider openness."

????At the New York panel discussion, Fu Ying, the veteran diplomat, said: "The changes in China-US relations, though presenting a challenge, can actually help push China's reform. Some of the requests raised by US businesses, like market access, are also what China is trying to address through reform."

????She cited the series of market opening measures China announced for the financial sector in April as an example, and said eight of 11 items have been implemented, including the removal of restrictions on foreign ownership of banks and asset management companies, equal treatment of domestic and foreign capital, and allowing foreign banks to establish branches and subsidiaries in China.

????'Special responsibility'

????Asked to comment on reported attempts to "delink" to some extent the US economy from the Chinese economy, Barshefsky said: "I don't see the point in that. They would just make both countries poor."

????She said China and the US are in sharp competition, but they also have a special obligation to each other and to the world, "which is to say, to get along－find the areas of common ground, but the differences do need to be addressed".

????"My hope would be that the leaders of both nations would understand they have a special responsibility to work it out," she added.

????Some people in the US appear frustrated that, after years of relations between the two countries, China has not become similar to the US. But Barshefsky said: "China is never going to be the way America is. It has no history being the way America is any more than America has a history of being Chinese."

????As a WTO chief negotiator, she said her goal was always to see greater compatibility between China and the US, not similarity.

????"But greater compatibility goes along with my theory that large powers have to find a way to work out their problems," she said. "They have to act in a manner more compatible with each other's interests, as a means of diffusing tensions and as a means of creating a stable environment."

????Drawing experience from countless negotiations in her career, Barshefsky said both China and the US must maintain flexibility in working toward a "sensible goal", especially in the face of what she said was "a down in the cycle of ups and downs" in bilateral relations.

????"Each side has to maintain flexibility, each side has to believe in the same goal, the same goal in very broad terms," she said. "The same goal in this case would be a mutually beneficial, stable relationship－seems to me that's a completely set, sensible goal, both for China and for the United States."

????Barshefsky said she remembers playing the game "digging to China" in her father's garden when she was a child, using her mother's soup spoons, hoping that she could dig all the way through the Earth to China.

????From "digging to China" to dealing with China for decades, Barshefsky said she had unveiled the mystery of a country half the world away and had found that Chinese people, just like those in the US, have the same aspiration that tomorrow will be better than today.

????The Chinese people, in return, will forever link her with China's WTO accession, an event they believe is continuing to change the country for the better.