■美國正式通知聯合國，要求退出應對全球氣候變化的《巴黎協定》。 資料圖片【原文】國家主席習近平在第二屆中國國際進口博覽會開幕式上，宣佈推進更高水平對外開放的五大舉措，帶給環球市場重大利好。美國卻正式通知聯合國，要求退出應對全球氣候變化的《巴黎協定》。
中國拉手世界、主動拆牆，積極向世界開放市場，與各國分享發展紅利，顯示擴大開放的決心氣魄，展現中國與世界共贏合作的誠意擔當、遠見卓識和高度自信。美國卻一再鬆手退群、以鄰為壑，築牆挖溝打貿易戰，其損人利己的短視卸責，讓美國與世界潮流背道而馳，越來越孤立。
一年前，習主席在首屆進博會上宣佈的中國擴大對外開放的舉措逐步落實，如外商投資法將於明年1月1日起實行，全面實施准入前國民待遇加負面清單管理制度已經出台，擴大進口降低關稅取得重大進展等。
在對外開放上，中國言出必行、說到做到，且超出預期，再次證明中國順應經濟全球化潮流，堅定對外開放的方針不會變，中國對外開放的大門只會越開越大。
如今中國中等收入群體的規模全球最大，市場潛力巨大。昨日，中國再推出五大開放新舉措，包括繼續擴大市場開放、完善開放格局、優化營商環境、深化多邊合作、推進共建「一帶一路」，顯示中國對外開放的廣度和深度不斷提升，既包括服務業、農業等市場開放，也包括科技創新合作，完善市場化、法治化、國際化的營商環境等制度性開放。中國市場的開放升級，帶給世界新機遇，也證明中國成為世界經濟增長最重要的引擎和國際貿易的最大穩定因素。
面對全球化發展不平衡問題，習主席表示，將「堅持拉手而不是鬆手，堅持拆牆而不是築牆。」中國堅持人類優先的理念，以協商合作解決矛盾摩擦，贏得世界各國的肯定和讚賞。
與中國自信開放、與世界共贏發展形成鮮明對比的是，美國為了一己之私，不斷「退群」卸責。《巴黎協定》是聯合國具法律約束力的氣候協議，為2020年後全球應對氣候變化行動作出安排，但美國總統特朗普認為，該協定讓美國經濟處於不利位置，因而退出。
環保組織大自然保護協會的聲明指出，《巴黎協定》是最重要的全球性成果，標誌着全世界認識到氣候危機的緊迫性和廣泛性，美國政府退出協定非常短視。
今年東盟峰會，特朗普再次「放鴿子」，甚至連彭斯（Mike Pence）亦未親臨，只派出新上任的國安顧問奧布萊恩。為表對美國忽視的抗議，周一召開的東盟─美國峰會上，只有泰國、越南和老撾的領袖出席，馬來西亞首相馬哈蒂爾更呼籲各國團結，強硬應對貿易戰威脅。美國奉行保護主義，只強調美國利益優先，不尊重其他國家，將一己之利凌駕於人類利益之上，其後果必然是越來越沒朋友，越來越難以引領世界。（摘錄自香港《文匯報》社評6-11-2019）
An open and responsible China versus a duty-shirking and short-sighted US
【譯文】Global markets received a solid boost as Chinese President Xi Jinping announced five new measures to open up the Chinese market at the opening of the second annual China International Import Expo (CIIE). At the same time, the United States informed the United Nations of its decision to formally withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. When China is tearing down walls and connecting with the world, the US is building walls between neighbours and has deserted the international community time and again. When China is embracing its responsibilities in international cooperation and is opening up its markets to share the fruits of development with the world, the US unleashed a trade war against China. The short-sighted and selfish behaviour of the US is totally against world trends, and is pushing the country closer and closer towards isolation.
Opening-up measures announced by President Xi a year ago at the first annual CIIE are all going to be implemented shortly. For instance, the new Foreign Investment Law will come into effect on 1 January 2020, with the foreign investment administration model of pre-establishment national treatment plus negative list already being adopted. Also, major progress has already been made to proactively expand imports and lower tariffs. In the process of opening up, China not only puts its words into action but also delivers more than expected. This has once again proved that China is going with the world trend of globalisation, and that the opening doors will only be wider.
Today China has the largest middle-income group in the world, and thus has a huge market potential. Yesterday, China announced that it will adopt five new measures to promote higher-level opening-up, pledging that the country will continue to expand market opening-up, optimise the framework of opening-up, improve business environment, deepen multilateral and bilateral cooperation, and jointly build the Belt and Road. The new measures demonstrate how China is widening and deepening its opening up, as they cover the opening up of both the services industries and agricultural industries, technological cooperation, and financial reforms in the forms marketisation, internationalisation and the rule of law. By optimising its market and opening up to the world, China brings to the world new opportunities for development. It is now obvious that China has become the most essential drive for global economic growth and the most critical stabilising force in international trade.
In face of unbalanced development brought by globalisation, President Xi said that China is going to "hold hands" rather than "let go" and "tear down walls" rather than "build walls". Upholding the concept of putting humanity first and solving conflicts through dialogue, China is winning praise from the international community.
In vivid contrast to China's openness to international cooperation are the selfish and irresponsible actions of the United States. The Paris Agreement is a legal-binding agreement in the United Nations that aims to make a concerted effort in addressing the challenges brought by climate change from 2020 onwards. However, US President Donald Trump decided to pull out of the agreement as he thinks that it would undermine the US economy. The environmental organisation The Nature Conservancy said in a statement that the Paris Agreement is the most significant global signal that the world recognises the urgency and scope of the climate crisis, and that the US government's decision to withdraw from the agreement is incredibly short-sighted.
Skipping the ASEAN summit once again, Donald Trump did not even bother to have Vice President Mike Pence to attend on his behalf, and had only dispatched Robert O'Brien, the new National Security Advisor, to attend the meeting. To protest against the perceived snub by the US, only the leaders of Thailand, Vietnam and Laos attended the ASEAN-US summit that was held on Monday. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, even went as far to urge ASEAN to unite against the threat of global trade disputes.
By shifting towards protectionism and adopting the "America first" mentality, the US is showing no respect for other countries, and is placing its own interest above the common interest of humanity. Such actions will only lead to isolation, ultimately costing the US its global leadership.■Jeffrey Tse
Q&A
1. 中國國際進口博覽會
2. 聯合國氣候變化框架公約
3. 東南亞國家聯盟 (東盟)
4. 外商投資法
Answer
1. China International Import Expo
2. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
3. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
4. Foreign Investment Law