然而，西方世界的很多人仍然觉得了解中国是件很难的事。而中国也有民众对西方世界到底用意如何有疑虑。

However, many people in the Western world find it difficult to understand China. On the other hand, there is also wariness on the part of the Chinese people about the Western world’s intention on China. 

那么，中国到底是一个什么样的国家呢？其实很难用一句简单的话来回答，因为中国太大了，太多样化了，变化太快了。在我看来，今天的中国究其实质，是一个具有多重性特征的大国。

So after all, how can one define China? I’m afraid it defies a simple answer. China is too big, too diverse and too fast changing to be characterized easily. I would say that China is a multi-faceted power.

下面请允许我具体介绍一下：

Let me explain what I mean.

第一， 中国是一个在过去30年中实现高速发展的国家。

First, China is a country that is rapidly transformed over the past 30 years. China’s leapfrogging progress can be seen in the following figures:

1996年，中国GDP是1万亿元，到2008年则增长到20万亿元，13年的时间里增长了20倍，成为世界第三大经济体。2008年，中国一天创造的经济价值超过1952年一年的总量。中国利用快速增加的财富使2.5亿人在过去的30年里摆脱了贫困。因此，当我看到联合国关于消除饥饿的报告时，不禁为中国取得的成就而感到自豪，中国用占世界仅7%的可耕地，养活了占世界20%的人口。

In 1996, China’s GDP was 1 trillion Yuan, that was about 100 billion Pounds. In 2008, it grew to20 trillion Yuan (2 trillion Pounds). This means that in 13 years’ time, the Chinese economy has grown 20 times, turning into the 3rd largest economy in the world. The national wealth created in one day in 2008 was larger than the total annual output of 1952. With the newly gained wealth, China has lifted 250 million people out of poverty in the past 30 years. So when I read the UN hunger report, I do feel proud for what China has achieved, with only 7% of the world’s arable land feeding 20% of the world’s population.

在中国悠久的历史中，吃饭问题一直是头等大事。记得一直到８０年代，人们见面打招呼的方式都是问：“吃了吗？”。现在，如果你问我女儿这代人“吃了吗？”，他们会觉得你这人大概有毛病。

Throughout China’s long history, food was always a big concern for the Chinese people and I remember that until the 1980s, the Chinese people greeted each other by asking “Have you had your meal?” But for my daughter’s generation, if you greet them in this way, they might think you have a problem.

当然，中国缺乏在世界舞台上操作的历史经验，我们仍然在学习和适应自己新的全球角色。而且我们仍然需要将大部分精力投入到处理国内问题上。

Naturally, China is still learning and adjusting to its new global role, as it lacks historical experience of operating on the global stage and also it is still very much preoccupied by domestic concerns and challenges.

这引出了我要说的第二点：中国仍然是一个发展中国家。中国存在的弱点和挑战我们中国人自己看得最清楚。

That lead to my second point, China is still a developing country. We in China are more conscious of our weaknesses and the challenges facing our country.

中国人均GDP刚达到3000美元多一点，居世界104位，排在牙买加和纳米比亚之后。而英国的人均GDP是中国 的13倍。各位是否还记得英国历史上哪一年处于同样的收入水平？根据英国经济学家安格斯·麦迪森的测算，那要追溯到1913年。

People tend to forget that China’s GDP in per capita term is only a little more than 3,000 dollars, ranking us as 104th in the world. We are behind countries like Jamaica and Namibia. UK’s per capita GDP is 13 times higher than China. I wonder if you remember when in history the United Kingdom was at this income level? According to British Economist Angus Maddison: It was as far back as 1913.

中国仍处在世界产业链的低端，中国产品的很多设计和关键部件都依赖进口。中国也许要出口一个集装箱的鞋袜，才能买来一个小小的电脑芯片。

China’s manufacturing is at a fairly low value added level and most of the made in China products are made with the world as the design and key parts are often imported. We may have to export a container full of shoes and socks to pay for a tiny computer chip.

中国发展不平衡的问题也相当突出。许多外国人看到北京和上海，以为那就是中国，但若去中国广大的西部地区看看，肯定会得出截然不同的结论。中国还处在工业化、城镇化的早期，65%的人口是农民。有1.35亿人每天生活费不足1美元。我们不能因为所取得的成就而骄傲自满，这也正是为什么中国领导人常说，要有忧患意识，居安思危。

China also faces the serious challenge of uneven development. Many foreigners come to vibrant Beijing or Shanghai and think they have seen China. But for those who have visited China’s far west, will have a different experience and understanding. China is still in the early stage of industrialization and urbanization, with sixty five percent of its people live in the rural areas. You may be surprised to know that one hundred and thirty five million Chinese people live under less than one dollar a day.  We can’t be conceited with what we have achieved. This is why Chinese leaders often say that we need to be aware of the difficulties and risks, even when we are enjoying stability and prosperity.

当然，这并不意味着我们会无视世界对中国承担全球责任日益上升的期待。因此，我想说的第三点是，中国正在学习承担更大的国际责任。

That is not to say that China should ignore the growing expectations in the world for China to take on global responsibilities. So my third point is about China learning to undertake new international responsibilities.