Gary Locke’s Farewell Speech-北京大学国际合作部

Gary Locke’s Farewell Speech

2014-07-08 00:22:53

His Excellency Mr. Gary Locke (Luo Jiahui), the first Chinese American served as the US Ambassador to China, resigned his post on March 31^st. On February 26^th, he delivered his farewell speech at the American Center in Beijing, where several students from PKU listened to his speech.He summarized his work in the tenure of office, reiterated that the United States welcomes the peaceful rise of China and the Asia-Pacific rebalancing policy is not intended to restrict China. Gary Locke also thought that mutual trust of both sides in his term had been strengthened.

“Strengthened, but not by a lot strengthened,” Mr. Gary Locke said earnestly, when he compared Sino-US relations between when his first took office in August 2011 and today. However, at the same time, China and America have enhanced mutual trust. Especially within the context of the long run, he said, the relation of both sides was more intense than it was 35 years ago, when China and America first built diplomatic relations.

When Gary Locke first took up his post, Sino-U.S. relation was recovering from a cold winter period.

Soon after assuming office, Gary Locke indicated that the Sino-U.S. relations have progressed into the best stage since the two countries established diplomatic ties. In the farewell speech, he thought that China-U.S. mutual trust has been further reinforced after President Xi and President Obama’s two-day meeting held in California.

From taking the office in Beijing in 2011 to leaving in November, 2013
In order to rejoin his family in Seattle, Mr. Locke declared his resignation in early 2014. The analysts agreed, apart from a few contingencies , that Sino-U.S relations were relatively stable during his tenure. Mr. Locke also has a well-deserved reputation for emergency handling.

“I will leave Beijing with a sense of accomplishment,” Mr. Locke said at the beginning of his farewell speech. Mr. Locke emphasized that the US-China relations is the most important bilateral relations of the United States. With the introduction of the concept of the “New Model of Relations”, China and the U.S. can better avoid strategic rivalry. Mr. Locke believes that the mission by diplomats of both countries had been to find new way to expand quality and quantity of the ties between the two powers.

At the same time, however, Mr. Locke noted that Sino-US Relations “is not a zero sum game, as the success of United States is linked to success of China, and vice versa. A strong China is in the interest of the U.S.”

While some may claim that U.S.’s pivot to Asia-Pacific was in response to China’s rise, Mr. Locke stressed that “it is simply not the case”. He explained that “The Asia-Pacific is home to more than a billion of people. The region is important politically, economically and socially, and is especially critical to address every international challenge.”

Mr. Locke elaborated that the issues that are of significant concern to both countries include the situation at the Korean Peninsula and Iran, as well as the issue of climate change. “The world looks towards the leadership from both China and the United States. These are problem which we simply cannot solve alone, and it depends on both countries acting together.”

And indeed, Mr. Locke emphasized on the multiple visits by the President and Cabinet members to China for discussion of these issues. The strengthening of the relations between both countries can also be seen from the military aspect where there are more interaction and cooperation between the United States Army and the People’s Liberation Army.

As for specific achievements, the former U.S. commerce minister first talked about his work at simplifying the visa application process for Chinese to visit America so as to encourage more Chinese to come to America for business, vacation or study purposes. The figures are obvious testaments of Mr. Locke achievements, where visa application is shortened from close to 100 days to 2 days, and a 75% increase in number of applicants.

Mr. Locke especially focused on the educational aspect. He believed that it is important for more students from each country to spend some time studying in the other country, and then they can better understand their respective culture which contributes healthy exchanges and dialogue between the two powers. During his tenure, he have overseen more American students coming to China to study, and he sees it as a positive trend that should be supported.

In addition, having been a lawyer, Gary Locke also indicated that China has a promising future, but needs to build neutral, transparent and respectful judiciary, which was also addressed in his final speech in Renmin University of China in January, 2014. He mentioned that “China has a great future, but the way forward is reverence towards the rule of law, respect for the constitution, and well-informed citizenry to build a stable and progressive future.”

During the Questions and Answers session, Mr. Locke took on some sensitive question, including one from a former Chinese ambassador to the WTO, who reminded him that as a senior government official delivering a public speech includes some things that should not be talked about in public. However, Mr. Locke responded to the accusation with grace and affirmed that “Close partners may not agree on everything, this is a sign of mature relations when both countries can be frank in their disagreement.”

Proud of his Chinese American identity, Gary Locke said, Americans have a tradition of public discussion of differences. When he was urging China to solve some problems, he was standing in the angle of hoping China to become better.

Over the two years and a half of his tenure, Mr. Locke have visited all of the provinces in China except for four, and interacted with Chinese people from all walks of life. He said “I intend to be back often. Chinese people are remarkable, full of dynamism and energy. They desire to do well for themselves, their family and for China.”

After the farewell speech, Locke also held a press conference at the American Embassy in China before his departure.

Written by: Yang Linhan

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Gary Locke’s Farewell Speech