1in the summer of 959, Li Zhaoxing graduated from high school after studying hard for ten years and began to attack the annual college entrance examination. Regrettably, his literary dream was ruthlessly shattered at this time.
The school that Li Zhaoxing applied for is Peking University, which has experienced the vicissitudes of the century. Chinese Department is Li Zhaoxing's first choice, and English major in Western Department is his second choice. What he didn't expect was that Peking University accepted him as its second choice. After graduation, he was honored to become a diplomat.
During his three years as ambassador to the United States, Li Zhaoxing himself thought that he was most satisfied with the frequent contacts between the two heads of state, and that China and the United States reached an agreement on permanent normal trade partnership. The most difficult time was NATO bombing our embassy in Yugoslavia. It was in that crisis that Li Zhaoxing was regarded as a "hardliner" by the American media. American newspapers described Ambassador Li Zhaoxing at that time as "very sad and angry on his face and left a deep impression on the United States".
After the embassy was bombed, American officials blamed it on the misinformation of the Central Intelligence Agency. From President Clinton to the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, from NATO generals to Pentagon spokesmen, they all said with one voice that this was a mistake, but they had no guilt about the gratuitous death of China people. Instead, they asked China to guarantee the safety of American institutions in China, which made people doubt whether the "regrets" and "apologies" expressed by Clinton and others in public were sincere.
This performance of the United States naturally aroused the indignation of the people of China. The American media are most concerned about whether Americans in China will be in danger. CBS telephoned Li Zhaoxing and asked him to tell us about the demonstration of Beijing students in the American Embassy. Donaldson, the famous host of ABC TV network and the chief reporter of the White House, interviewed China's ambassador to the United States and asked: "Can you guarantee the safety of American diplomats in Beijing and other cities in China?"
Li Zhaoxing replied with a serious expression: "You have been talking about the safety of your embassy staff. I want to know why you didn't ask me about the staff of the China Embassy who was injured in Yugoslavia, and why you didn't ask me about the killing of China people in Belgrade? "
Li Zhaoxing said: "In the past two days, every minute has been painful for me, my colleagues and all the people of China. The whole of China was immersed in grief because the US-led NATO bombed the embassy in China, and the people of the whole country were very angry. "
Before Li Zhaoxing finished speaking, Donaldson was anxious to ask about the safety of Chinese people in Huamei. Li Zhaoxing said, you have seen on TV how China Armed Police tried to protect the security of your embassy. The fact is that so many innocent people were killed and injured in their embassy in China, and we demand an investigation.
Donaldson then asked: Did you hear General Clark (the highest commander of NATO) just say that this was a tragic mistake?
Li Zhaoxing replied categorically: "I have heard him talk about this issue. If he or anyone tries to cover up this atrocity, he is wrong. I also want to mention that it is wrong for foreign countries to think that this explanation can evade responsibility. "
After several rounds of confrontation, the angry words finally ended. Obviously, Li Zhaoxing was not intimidated by the aggressive offensive of the two famous generals. He refuted the unreasonable remarks made by a few anti-China people in the United States, expounded the principled position of the China administration, voiced grievances for innocent victims, and awakened the conscience of American society.
During what Li Zhaoxing himself called a difficult period, from Secretary of State Albright to ordinary American citizens, Ambassador China's voice of grief and indignation was constantly heard. Li Zhaoxing only sleeps for an hour or two every day. He frequently shuttled between Washington, the media and all walks of life, making solemn representations and shouting loudly.
In Black May of 1999, he was one of the most photographed public figures in American TV news and special programs. He is morally and tragically successful. After the bombing of the Embassy in China, Li Zhaoxing's heckling, his well-founded eloquence, and his grief, anger and excitement on behalf of all China people shocked American society. Some reports and media opinions began to show some objective voices. This has played a positive role in the final agreement between China and the United States.
In addition to negotiating with the US, Li Zhaoxing has always maintained close contact with the highest level in Beijing. He put forward a series of specific strategies to deal with the relations between the two countries in this extraordinary period. As an expert familiar with American issues and ambassador to the United States, he used his experience and diplomatic wisdom to adjust and reconstruct the framework of future relations with the United States, and played an indispensable role in solving other problems related to that period, such as WTO negotiations. It is reported that Li Zhaoxing's fruitful efforts in the Sino-US crisis caused by the bombing of the embassy, as well as his suggestions and strategies for sizing up the situation, have been recognized by the central high-level.
During his three years in the United States, Li Zhaoxing spared no effort to promote Sino-US trade exchanges and expand Sino-US economic cooperation. As long as there are forums and conferences on trade, commerce and economy, Ambassador Li will try his best to participate, publicize the China market and promote more and wider cooperation between China and the United States in the economic field. When some members of the US Congress tried to use the so-called artificial problem to delay the passage of the bill granting China long-term normal trade relations, Li Zhaoxing immediately made a speech, arguing that the delay of this bill, which was beneficial to the interests of China and the United States, was entirely the product of the political struggle between the two parties during the US election and would have a serious impact on Sino-US trade. Later, when the bill was finally passed, Li Zhaoxing delivered a speech at the Reagan International Exchange Center, thanking the American government and business circles for their unremitting efforts in passing the bill granting China permanent normal trade relations status.
Li Zhaoxing said that people of insight in the United States he met, whether politicians, entrepreneurs or farmers, expressed unconditional support for granting China permanent normal trade relations, believing that this would also benefit the United States. They said that a few politicians tried to find fault and make trouble, which only hurt American commercial interests by creating troubles through permanent normal trade relations. When talking about what China's entry into the World Trade Organization means to the American economy, Li Zhaoxing said that more American products and services will enter the China market, and American enterprises will have better opportunities to develop economic and trade cooperation with China.
As the deputy head of the China delegation attending the Seattle WTO Ministerial Meeting, Li Zhaoxing introduced the dialogue between Shi Guangsheng, head of the delegation and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and ministers, US congressmen, governors, workers, farmers and businessmen attending the meeting. Shi Guangsheng pointed out that the agreement reached between China and the United States on China's accession to the WTO is "win-win" and is beneficial to China's economy, the US economy, the WTO and the global economy.
Before leaving office, Li Zhaoxing also made a special trip to Silicon Valley to inspect the development of China's high-tech industry, and had extensive contacts with local business people, showing his high interest in the present situation and development trend of high-tech industry in Silicon Valley. In addition, he was deeply impressed by the high proportion of Chinese employees in the high-tech industry in Silicon Valley and the many successful examples of starting a business.
Ambassador Li is very familiar with former President Bush and new President George W. Bush, and they have a good relationship. During his visit to Silicon Valley, he revealed to the China media that he had a party with the former president and met him happily when he visited Houston, Texas a few days ago. It can be seen from Ambassador Li's speech that he is full of confidence in the future Sino-US relations and more positive and optimistic about the bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and the United States.
Even for small and medium-sized business owners in the United States, Li Zhaoxing did not forget to lobby them to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with China. He told the delegates attending the annual meeting of new york SME Development Center that American SMEs can also make great achievements in China. In Chinese mainland, in fact, many American small and medium-sized enterprises do big business, and cooperative investment has a good return. He cited California as an example. The state's exports to China 1999 increased by 9.4%, while the trade between California and Asian countries only increased in China, and both large enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises tasted the sweetness of cooperation.
Among overseas Chinese, he is very popular and is called "bosom friend" by his compatriots. When Li Zhaoxing left office, new york Federation of Chinese Associations saw Li Zhaoxing off at Jinfeng Hotel. Liang, chairman of the Chinese Association of new york, said in his speech that Mr. Li Zhaoxing served as China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1993 to 1995, and China's Ambassador to the United States from 1998. During his tenure, he made great efforts for the healthy development of Sino-US relations and the friendship between China and people of other countries, and did many practical things for overseas Chinese living in the United States, leaving a very deep impression on the vast number of overseas Chinese. He wished Li Zhaoxing "a step-by-step promotion and all the best".
On behalf of the International Relations Committee of the US Congress, Liu Zhongsheng presented Li Zhaoxing with the Best Leadership Award and the Best Service Award. A number of overseas Chinese delegations presented him with commemorative plaques.
A woman writer saw Ambassador Li off with a prose poem. She wrote affectionately: "Please give our regards to the green willows on Chang 'an Avenue and the Spring Festival on Unknown Lake, and to the motherland!" Li Zhaoxing and his wife couldn't help being moved by their affection.