一年一度的中国“两会”已经结束。随着中国经济总量提升、综合国力增强以及国际影响力扩大，“两会”越来越受到国际社会关注。笔者就国际社会较为关注的三个议题分享个人观点。

首先是中国军费增长问题。

自2016年以来，中国国防预算增长率已连续六年降至个位数，增长幅度维持在6.6%-8.1%之间。2016年至2020年，国防预算增幅分别为7.6%、7%、8.1%，7.5%和6.6%。今年军费增长额度是6.8%，略高于2020年。这种增长态势反映了中国军费开支的原则，即温和、适度、可持续。“温和”指的是在国家安全环境没有发生特别重大变化情况下，军费支出将保持与常年相似的水平，不会出现急剧增长的现象。近年来，中国军费支出占经济总量的比例尚不到2%，不仅远低于美国的军费支出比例，而且也低于印度的军费支出比例。“适度”指的是军费支出应满足有效推进军事现代化水平的需求，并与维护国家安全、保障海外利益、促进世界和平、履行国际义务的能力与要求相匹配。“可持续”就是要坚持国防建设和经济建设协调发展。温和、适度、可持续的军费支出与中国防御性国防战略相适应，既有效捍卫了国家主权、安全，又促进经济社会的有序稳定发展，符合中国国情与国家根本利益。

其次是中国新发展格局问题。

去年党的十九届五中全会提出要加快构建以国内大循环为主体、国内国际双循环相互促进的新发展格局。国际社会有分析认为，之所以做出如此决策是因为西方国家对华联合施压的结果，也是中国战略收缩的一种表现。这种认知可以理解，但并不准确。认识新发展格局要全面准确，其中一点就是新发展格局既是要做大国内市场，也是要扩大开放，是国际国内双向互动的进程。首要的是，新发展格局是中国经济社会发展到一定阶段的必然要求。从中国经济发展的历程来看，以投资、贸易为主要经济增长动力的发展方式将逐渐转化为消费、投资、贸易三轮均衡驱动，且消费驱动将发挥更重要的作用。这种发展方式也符合世界发达经济体的基本发展规律。国内大循环主要是充分利用中国国内超大规模市场、超大消费群体的优势，以实现中国经济增长方式的转型升级。实际上，自2012年以来，无论是“一带一路”倡议，还是供给侧结构性改革，中国所做出的多项重大政策举措的一个重要出发点就是要促进中国经济结构、产业布局、增长动能的持续优化。当然，外部环境的变化也是一个促进因素，但并非主要因素。中国国家主席习近平多次指出，当今世界正处于百年未有之大变局，因此要准确识变、科学应变、主动求变。这意味着中国将科学判断与评估国际国内形势，以便更好地统筹国际国内两个大局，充分利用好国际国内两个市场、两种资源，积极主动地采取措施抓住机遇并应对挑战。因而，“双循环”战略布局根本而言是中国的主动作为，而并非单纯因应之策。

再次是中美关系发展走向问题。

中美关系是“两会”外长记者会与总理记者会的必备问题，今年亦是如此。不过，今年更具特殊之处，即美国政府更替，拜登政府对华政策尚不明朗，未来中美关系走向何处更加引人关注。过去四年，中美关系经历了巨大挑战。对于这种挑战的缘由，中美各执一词。中方认为特朗普政府对华强硬政策是主要原因，而美方则认为是因中国进取型外交政策所致。从逻辑上来说，美国在中美关系中占据主动地位。无论是安全领域、经济领域，还是技术层面，抑或是人文交流，率先采取行动的是美方而中方则是被迫做出反应。从主观层面来说，中方始终坚持不冲突不对抗、相互尊重、合作共赢的理念发展对美关系。然而，美方利用种种手段干涉中国内政，并大肆宣扬对华价值观与意识形态外交，意图发动对华“新冷战”，这些行为已经严重违反了《联合国宪章》与国际关系基本准则。由此而言，造成当前中美关系困境的主要原因来自于美方是有充分根据的。

不过，美国政府更替为中美关系的改善与发展带来了一丝希望。应当看到，发展双边关系的基础与动力是坚实的。这不仅表现为利益层面（2020年两国贸易规模达到4.1万亿元，增长8.8%就充分体现出两国存在着广泛、牢固的利益关系），而且还体现在认知层面。事实上，双方在诸多问题上存在共识，如两国都认识到其所面临的最大挑战是国内问题。中国是最大的发展中国家，发展是第一要务。美国尽管是世界上最大的发达国家，但也面临着经济、政治、社会等诸多国内问题。两国也都意识到只有处理好国内问题才能更好地发挥国际作用，都认为全球性问题的严峻性与复杂性非某个国家所能单独解决，国际合作是必由之路。这些都是促进中美关系发展的重要共识。现在需要的是在这些重要共识基础上做出实际行动。为了推进中美关系的稳定有序发展，中国曾多次释放善意与诚意，并提出了建设性意见。例如，中国国务委员兼外长王毅提出中美间应建立三份清单，即合作清单、对话清单、管控清单，这确实是当前中美关系所急需的，也是国际社会所期待的。美国应对此做出积极回应，而不是以所谓的“战略耐心”为由，处心积虑地构筑对华阵营。这样做既不是负责任大国应有的担当，也将会于事无补，劳而无功。近日，拜登总统在《临时国家安全指南》中呼吁“让我们开始工作吧”。对于中美关系来说，这句话也恰逢其时。

As China's economic output has increased and its composite national strength has grown and its international influence has expanded, its “two sessions” legislative event — recently concluded for this year — has received increasing attention from the international community.I would like to share my views on three issues in the event that are of concern to other countries.

First: Military spending

Since 2016, the country's defense budget growth rate had been dropping. It remained in single digits for six consecutive years, with a growth rate between 6.6 percent and 8.1 percent. From 2016 to 2020, defense budget increases were 7.6 percent, 7 percent, 8.1 percent, 7.5 percent and 6.6 percent. Military spending growth this year is projected to be 6.8 percent, slightly higher than last year.This growth trend reflects China's principle of modest, moderate and sustainable military spending.“Modest” means that in the absence of particularly significant changes in the national security environment, military spending will remain at a level similar to that of an average year and will not experience a sharp increase. In recent years, China's military spending has accounted for less than 2 percent of its total economic output, not only far below that of the United States but also lower than India's.“Moderate” means that military spending should meet the needs of effective military modernization and sustain China's ability to meet the requirement to maintain national security, safeguard overseas interests, promote world peace and fulfill international obligations.“Sustainable” means to coordinate national defense development with economic development.Modest, moderate and sustainable military expenditures are compatible with China's emphasis on a defensive posture. This not only effectively defends national sovereignty and security but also promotes the orderly and steady development of the economy and society, so it's in line with China's national conditions and fundamental national interests.

Second: New development pattern

Last year, at its Fifth Plenary Session, the 19th Party Central Committee accelerated the establishment of a new pattern of development that focuses on domestic circulation and features positive interplay between domestic and international circulations. Some analyses in the international community have suggested that the decision was made as a result of joint Western pressure on China and as a manifestation of China's strategic contraction. This is understandable but not correct.One of the things we need to know about the new development pattern is that it is about both expanding the domestic market and opening up wider to the world. It is a process of two-way interaction between domestic and international circulations. First and foremost, the new development pattern is an inevitable requirement for China's economic and social development at a certain stage.From the history of China's economic development, the development mode — with investment and trade as the main drivers of economic growth — will gradually transform into a balanced three-wheel driver of consumption, investment and trade. Consumption will play a more important role as a growth engine. This development approach is also in line with the basic development rules of the world's advanced economies.Domestic circulation is designed mainly to realize the transformation and upgrading of China's economic growth model based on the advantages of its big domestic market and large consumer population. In fact, since 2012, an important purpose of many major policy initiatives made by China, be it the Belt and Road Initiative or supply-side structural reform, has been to steadily improve its economic structure, industrial layout and growth drivers. Of course, external changes are also a contributing factor, though not the main ones.President Xi Jinping has repeatedly noted that the world today is undergoing profound changes of a kind not seen in a century. This requires China to accurately understand, effectively respond and take the initiative. It means that China will scientifically judge and assess the international and domestic situation to better integrate its international and domestic interests, make full use of international and domestic markets and resources and proactively take measures to seize opportunities and address challenges.Thus, the new pattern of development for China is fundamentally a proactive move by the country, rather than a mere response to foreign pressure.

Third: Sino-U.S. relations

The topic of China-U.S. relations is a must at the two sessions each year for the news conferences of the foreign minister and the Chinese premier. This year was no exception. However, this year the topic carried extra urgency because the United States has a new government. The Biden administration's policy toward China is still unclear, and the future direction of China-U.S. relations is attracting more attention.Over the past four years, the China-U.S. relationship has experienced tremendous challenges. The two countries each have their own views about the causes of friction. China sees the Trump administration's assertive policy toward China as the main culprit, while the U.S. side believes it is the result of China's aggressive foreign policy.Logically, the U.S. holds the initiative in China-U.S. relations. Whether in the security, economic, technical or cultural spheres, it is the U.S. that has acted, while China has been forced to react.Subjectively, China has always adhered to the concept of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation in its relations with the United States. However, the U.S. has used various means to interfere in China's internal affairs and has been promoting values and ideological diplomacy against China with the apparent intention of launching a new cold war. All this seriously violates the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations. Therefore, it is a well-founded conclusion that the main sources of the current dilemma in Sino-U.S. relations was the United States.

The new U.S. administration has brought hope for the improvement and development of Sino-U.S. relations. To be honest, the foundation and momentum for the development of bilateral relations is solid. This is true not only in terms of interests — note that the existence of a broad and solid relationship of interests between the two countries is well reflected by the trade volume of 4.1 trillion yuan, an increase of 8.8 percent, in 2020 — but also in terms of perceptions.Indeed, the two sides agree on many issues. Both recognize, for example, that the biggest challenge they face is domestic. China is the largest developing country, and development is its top priority. The United States, despite being the world's largest developed country, is also facing many domestic economic, political and social problems. Both countries also realize that only by dealing with domestic issues can they play a significant international role. Both believe that global issues are too serious and complex to be solved by a single country alone without international cooperation.These are all important points of consensus for the development of the China-U.S. relationship. What needs to be done now is to take practical steps on the basis of consensus.To promote the stable and orderly development of China-U.S. relations, China has repeatedly signaled goodwill and sincerity and offered constructive suggestions. For example, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed that three lists should be established for China and the U.S. — a list for cooperation, a list for dialogue and a list for control — which is indeed what is urgently needed in the current relationship and what the international community expects. The U.S. should respond positively to this, instead of using so-called “strategic patience” as an excuse to deliberately build a camp of allies against China. This is not the proper role of a responsible power, and will not help.Recently, President Biden said, “Let's get to work,” on interim national security strategic guidance. These words are also timely for China-U.S. relations.Now there are expectations that the high-level China-U.S. meetings in Alaska will bring new hope to China-U.S. relations. We shall see.