今年是中日邦交正?；?0周年，9月26日，日本前首相鳩山由紀(jì)夫?yàn)椤吨袊?guó)日?qǐng)?bào)》獨(dú)家撰稿時(shí)，這樣形容中日關(guān)系的重要性：

“A stable Japan-China relationship is like oxygen. You do not notice it until you begin to lose it.”

“穩(wěn)定的日中關(guān)系就像氧氣。在你失去它之前，你不會(huì)注意到它?！?/p>

他表示應(yīng)該把日中邦交正?；?0周年作為一個(gè)契機(jī)。為了未來(lái)50年兩國(guó)關(guān)系的和平與發(fā)展，日本和中國(guó)應(yīng)該回歸邦交正?；某跣?，在相互尊重、相互理解、相互支持的基礎(chǔ)上，努力穩(wěn)定來(lái)之不易的雙邊關(guān)系。

He said that the two countries should take the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic normalization of ties as a wake-up call. To maintain peace and develop bilateral relations for the next 50 years, Japan and China should return to the original intention of establishing bilateral ties based on mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual assistance, and strive to stabilize their precious relationship.

　　中日邦交正?；?0周年民間紀(jì)念活動(dòng)在北京舉行。圖源：新華社

以下是文章節(jié)選：

On Sept 29, 1972, then Japanese prime minister Kakuei Tanaka and Chinese premier Zhou Enlai issued a joint statement announcing the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese ties, and I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to both countries on the occasion.

1972年9月29日，時(shí)任日本首相田中角榮和中國(guó)的周恩來(lái)總理簽署聯(lián)合聲明，宣布中日邦交正常化。今年是中日邦交正常化50周年，在此，我謹(jǐn)向兩國(guó)表示衷心的祝賀。

Fifty years ago, our predecessors understood that peace between, and prosperity of, the two countries and East Asia would not be possible unless Japan and China, as nearest neighbors separated by only a narrow strip of water, established a stable relationship.

50年前，我們的前輩們認(rèn)識(shí)到，日中兩國(guó)是一衣帶水的鄰邦，唯有兩國(guó)建立起穩(wěn)定的關(guān)系，日中兩國(guó)乃至東亞的和平和繁榮才有可能實(shí)現(xiàn)。

Today, too many people seem to have forgotten the importance of a stable Japan-China relationship.

今天，有太多的人似乎已經(jīng)忘記了穩(wěn)定的日中關(guān)系的重要性。

Throughout history, there have been many instances of friction or even war between a rapidly rising power and an existing great power. For example, the United States and China face the same challenge in these times. My biggest concern is how to mitigate the confrontation between the US and China and avoid this trap.

縱觀歷史，一個(gè)迅速崛起的大國(guó)和一個(gè)現(xiàn)存大國(guó)之間發(fā)生摩擦甚至戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)的例子不勝枚舉。比如，中國(guó)和美國(guó)之間在當(dāng)下這個(gè)時(shí)代就面臨著同樣的挑戰(zhàn)。我最關(guān)心的，是如何緩和中美之間的對(duì)抗，避免雙方踏入陷阱。

Sadly, however, an increasing number of Japanese people think that we should work with the US to contain China. This could be partly attributed to Japan's economic stagnation over the past 30 years.

然而，可悲的是，越來(lái)越多的日本人認(rèn)為我們應(yīng)該與美國(guó)合作來(lái)遏制中國(guó)。有一部分原因可能是因?yàn)槿毡驹谶^(guò)去30年中的經(jīng)濟(jì)停滯。

The idea of a balance of power can only fuel the Sino-US confrontation. As a result, should the situation across the Taiwan Straits become unstable, it will be extremely difficult to stop the use of force. And if the US and China were to go to war, all parties involved, including Japan, would be losers.

維持均勢(shì)的想法只會(huì)助長(zhǎng)中美對(duì)抗的勢(shì)頭。一旦臺(tái)灣海峽兩岸的局勢(shì)變得不穩(wěn)定，要停止使用武力將變得極為困難。如果美國(guó)和中國(guó)開戰(zhàn)，包括日本在內(nèi)的所有相關(guān)方都將是輸家。

Japan is one of the most important US allies in Asia as well as China's friend for 50 years. So Japan should serve as a bridge between the US and China, in order to prevent a US-China conflict.

日本是美國(guó)在亞洲最重要的盟友之一，也是中國(guó)50年來(lái)的朋友。日本應(yīng)該作為美國(guó)和中國(guó)之間的橋梁，以防止美中發(fā)生沖突。

But for Japan to act as a bridge between the US and China, it is essential that Japan and China maintain close exchanges. In recent years, however, the Japanese government, like the US government, has been emphasizing the importance of the conflict between "democracy and authoritarianism". This will only reduce the chances of compromise and increase the chances of conflict.

對(duì)于日本來(lái)說(shuō)，要想在美中之間發(fā)揮橋梁的作用，就必須與中國(guó)保持密切交流。然而，近年來(lái)，日本政府和美國(guó)政府一樣，一直在強(qiáng)調(diào)所謂“民主與專制”之間沖突的重要性。這只會(huì)讓和解的機(jī)會(huì)減少，而讓沖突的幾率增多。

Fifty years ago, the values of Japan and China were even more different than they are today. But despite that, our predecessors exhibited exemplary wisdom to shelve their differences and work together for the betterment of people in both countries.

50年前，日本和中國(guó)的價(jià)值觀與今天相比更加不同。但是盡管如此，我們的前輩還是展現(xiàn)出了堪稱典范的智慧，擱置分歧，共同為兩國(guó)人民福祉而努力。

Different countries have different opinions on different issues. It is all the more important for the political leaders of Japan and therefore China to communicate more frequently so that the differences between the two countries do not undermine this important bilateral relationship.

不同的國(guó)家對(duì)不同的問(wèn)題有不同的看法。日本和中國(guó)的政界領(lǐng)袖們有必要進(jìn)行更頻繁的溝通，管控好兩國(guó)之間的分歧，使其不至于對(duì)雙邊關(guān)系造成破壞。

I am concerned by the recent moves of Japan and the US over the Taiwan question. However, it is also true that the Japanese government still maintains a more cautious stance than the US government on the Taiwan question.

我對(duì)日本和美國(guó)最近在臺(tái)灣問(wèn)題上的舉動(dòng)表示關(guān)注。然而，在臺(tái)灣問(wèn)題上，日本政府仍然保持著比美國(guó)政府更加嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)?shù)牧?chǎng)，這也是事實(shí)。

On this occasion, the Japanese government should make it clear, both in words and action, that it will adhere to the "one-China principle." It should also send a message to the United States and Taiwan, voicing its strongest opposition to the road toward possible war. If the "one-China principle" becomes hollow, it could accelerate arms race and trigger a conflict in East Asia. That is what no one wants to see.

值此之際，日本政府應(yīng)當(dāng)澄清立場(chǎng)，在語(yǔ)言和行動(dòng)上明確表示堅(jiān)持一個(gè)中國(guó)原則。日本也應(yīng)該向美國(guó)和中國(guó)臺(tái)灣發(fā)出信息，對(duì)有可能發(fā)生的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)表示最強(qiáng)烈的反對(duì)。如果一個(gè)中國(guó)原則被掏空，就可能會(huì)加速軍備競(jìng)賽并引發(fā)東亞地區(qū)的沖突。這是誰(shuí)都不愿意看到的。

Last year, Sino-Japanese trade hit a record high. And now, in addition to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, which took effect on Jan 1, China's likely accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership would also be of great significance to bilateral ties.

去年，中日貿(mào)易創(chuàng)下歷史新高。目前，除了1月1日生效的《區(qū)域全面經(jīng)濟(jì)伙伴關(guān)系協(xié)定》（RCEP）之外，中國(guó)申請(qǐng)加入《全面與進(jìn)步跨太平洋伙伴關(guān)系協(xié)定》（CPTPP）也將對(duì)雙邊關(guān)系具有重大意義。

Due to the pandemic, the number of Chinese people visiting Japan last year was only about 43,000, a sharp decline from 11,885,000 in 2019. The drastic decline means more than just economic loss; it also weakens people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

由于疫情，去年訪問(wèn)日本的中國(guó)人只有大約4.3萬(wàn)人，比2019年的1188.5萬(wàn)人有了大幅下降。急劇的下降不僅僅意味著經(jīng)濟(jì)遭受損失，還削弱了兩國(guó)之間的人文交流。

In this sense, it is necessary to strengthen private-sector cultural exchanges based on the cultural commonalities of the two countries. Promoting youth and student exchanges is also extremely important.

在這個(gè)意義上來(lái)說(shuō)，有必要基于兩國(guó)文化共性加強(qiáng)民間文化交流。促進(jìn)青年和學(xué)生交流也極為重要。

A stable Japan-China relationship is like oxygen. You do not notice it until you begin to lose it.

穩(wěn)定的日中關(guān)系就像氧氣。在你失去它之前，你不會(huì)注意到它。

We should take the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic normalization of ties as a wake-up call. To maintain peace and develop bilateral relations for the next 50 years, Japan and China should return to the original intention of establishing bilateral ties based on mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual assistance, and strive to stabilize their precious relationship.

我們應(yīng)該把中日邦交正常化50周年作為一個(gè)契機(jī)。為了未來(lái)50年兩國(guó)關(guān)系的和平與發(fā)展，日本和中國(guó)應(yīng)該回歸邦交正常化的初心，在相互尊重、相互理解、相互支持的基礎(chǔ)上，努力穩(wěn)定來(lái)之不易的雙邊關(guān)系。

If Japan-China relations, which are the most important bilateral relationship in East Asia, stabilize, the concept of an East Asian community that I advocate and the community with a shared future for mankind advocated by President Xi Jinping will also make great progress.

日中關(guān)系是東亞地區(qū)最為重要的雙邊關(guān)系，有了穩(wěn)定的日中關(guān)系，我所倡導(dǎo)的“東亞共同體”理論和習(xí)近平主席倡導(dǎo)的人類命運(yùn)共同體理念也必將取得巨大進(jìn)展。

The author is former prime minister of Japan.

作者系日本前首相鳩山由紀(jì)夫。

來(lái)源：中國(guó)日?qǐng)?bào)雙語(yǔ)微信