In September 2014, Carter visited Renmin University of China as a special guest at the 2nd G20 Think Tank Forum, hosted by the university’s Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, where he delivered a keynote speech. In Hurun Research Institute's "2023 Volvo Cars·Hurun Alumni List," Renmin University ranked 6th, with 16 alumni listed on the 2023 Hurun Rich List. Notably, JD.com's Liu Qiangdong, New Hope's Wang Yusuo, and Yongjin Investment's Chen Jinxia are among the most successful entrepreneurs. JD.com, founded by Liu Qiangdong, is valued at over 100 billion yuan and is listed among the Hurun Global 500.

The White House has announced that January 9, 2025, will be a national day of mourning in honor of Carter. In memory of his legacy, we’ve distilled key points from Carter’s speech at Renmin University a decade ago to share with readers.

Carter emphasized the critical role that the U.S. and China play in global governance, highlighting the significance of normalizing relations between the two nations for world peace and stability. He spoke of the shared vision of both countries’ leaders to pursue peace and resolve conflicts.

Carter reflected, saying: “I was very fortunate to serve as President of the United States. At that time, China’s leader was Deng Xiaoping. We didn’t know each other, but I understood his vision. We created an environment and atmosphere where the world was at peace. But, like me, he had experienced the Korean War and the Vietnam War. We both understood the horrors of war. We shared a dream that the United States and China, after being estranged for around 30 years, should normalize relations. In December 1978, we secretly negotiated, and shortly thereafter, we announced that we would establish normal diplomatic relations. Three days later, Deng Xiaoping announced that China would undergo profound changes, launching the ‘Reform and Opening’ policy.

These transformative changes have been unfolding for 35 years, and our relations have continued to normalize over that time. We’ve seen China’s influence in the world grow significantly, benefiting the world by establishing new relationships with countries around the globe. Meanwhile, we’ve seen the rise of other countries—Russia, Brazil, India, South Africa, known as the BRICS countries—playing important roles in global politics and economics. I believe this trend will continue. Although my country remains the most powerful in modern history, we must acknowledge the changing dynamics of the world.”

Carter also discussed China's rise and its impact on global politics and economics, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the U.S. and China in regions such as Africa, as well as their interaction in trade and investment. He advocated for both nations to seek collaboration while competing, and to jointly promote global development.

Carter stated: “Deng Xiaoping’s dream was the dream we both shared—that we must eliminate unavoidable differences and take responsibility to resolve conflicts peacefully. Honestly, the United States is a superpower, but many of the challenges we face are tough. It’s not reliable to expect one country, the U.S., to solve all the problems. What should we do? We can’t abandon the dream we had, the peaceful vision Deng Xiaoping and I established.

We met with some observers who are close to both the U.S. and Africa. Recently, I was invited to an event at the White House, where the U.S. invited leaders from 45 African countries to discuss strengthening U.S.-Africa relations. I have no doubt that China had previously met with African leaders to strengthen relations between the People’s Republic of China and African nations.”

Carter also highlighted the threat of global warming and called for leadership from both the U.S. and China in addressing climate change. He believed the two nations could make joint suggestions to tackle the challenge of global warming and advocate for peace, human rights, and environmental governance.

He said: “The greatest threat to humanity right now is global warming. The U.S. is already feeling the effects: rising sea levels, extinction of species, and the threat to coastal villages in Africa, with some villages disappearing due to rising waters. We see other countries impacted by economic disasters, like the floods in the Philippines and Bangladesh. In these areas, China and the U.S., as two great nations, can set an example for the world.

We need to figure out how to respond to these threats. The U.S. is not the leader in this regard, but China can play that role. I believe that American and Chinese scientists and diplomats can cooperate to tackle global warming. If the U.S. is the most industrialized country, then China is the most advanced developing country. The two countries can propose solutions to address the threat of global warming.

Without a doubt, the dream Deng Xiaoping and I shared was to make the world a more peaceful place, a place people still hope for. I hope that the U.S. and China will continue to cooperate as partners, not just for a few years but for decades, for centuries.”

Carter’s vision for U.S.-China cooperation and his call for global leadership in addressing pressing challenges continue to resonate as the world grapples with evolving geopolitical, economic, and environmental issues. His commitment to peace, human rights, and global stability leaves an enduring legacy for future generations.