论曾纪泽的近代开放观

On Zeng Jize's modern open perspective

在民族危机深重的近代中国,曾纪泽敢于直面现实,顺应历史潮流,能够从世界大势出发,来观察本民族的生存问题,具有了近代开放观。在对外政策上,他反对闭关,提倡开放;在外交礼仪上,主张行“西礼”;在经济上,呼吁通商富国;在对外交涉上,力主用国际法争取和维护民族利益。不过,由于时代环境的限制,曾纪泽的近代开放观中仍存在诸多不足,这也符合历史发展的实际。

When modern China was confronted with national crisis, Zeng dared to face the reality. He could observe the problem of national existence from the perspective of the whole world in accordance with the trend of history and thus possess the modern open sense. As to the foreign affairs policy, he objected to closed-door policy and advocated open-door policy ; as to foreign etiquette, he accepted western manners; as to the economy, he called on international commerce to prosper the country; as to negotiation with other countries, he insist on international law to protect national interests. However, owing to limitation of his times, there are many defects about his opinions, which corresponds with the historical development.