本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛布什清华演讲(中英文)
2002-02-22 12.30PM
（北京讯）以下是美国总统布什在北京清华大学发表的演讲摘要：
胡副主席，非常感谢您的欢迎致辞。非常感谢您在这里接待我和我的夫人劳拉。
非常感谢各位对我的热情接待，很荣幸来到中国，清华大学是世界最伟大的学府之一。我也知道清华大学对于胡副主席有着十分重要的意义，他不仅在这里获得了学位，而且是在这里与他优雅的夫人相识的。我想同时也感谢在座的各位学生给我这个机会，跟大家见面，谈一谈我自己的国家，并且回答大家的一些问题。
清华大学的治学标准和声望闻名于世，我也知道能考入这所大学也是一个成就，祝贺你们。我不知道大家是不是知道这一点，我和我的太太有两个女儿，她们像你们一样正在上大学，有一个女儿上的是德州大学，有一个女儿是上耶鲁大学，她们是双胞胎。我对我们的两个女儿倍感骄傲，我想你们的父母对你们的成就同样也是引以为荣的。
我这次访华恰逢重要的周年纪念日，副主席刚才也谈到了，30年前的这一周，一个美国总统来到了中国，他的访华之旅目的是为了结束两国间长达数十年的隔阂和数百年的相互猜疑。尼克松总统向世界显示了两个迥然不同的政府能够本着相互的利益、相互的尊重来到一起。那天他们离开机场的时候，周恩来总理对尼克松总统说了这样一番话，他说你与我的握手越过了世界上最为辽阔的海洋，这个海洋就是互不交往的25年。自从那时以来，美国和中国已经握过多次的友谊之手和商业之手。
随着我们两国间接触的日益频繁，我们两国的国民也逐渐地加深了对彼此的了解，这是非常非常重要的。曾经一度，美国人只知道中国是历史悠久的、伟大的国家，以及她的文明。今天我们仍然看到中国奉行着重视家庭、学业和荣誉的良好传统。同时，我们看到中国正日益成为世界上最富有活力和创造力的国家之一。这一点最佳的验证便是在座诸位所具备的知识和潜力。
中国正走在一个兴起的道路上，而美国欢迎一个强大、和平与繁荣的中国的出现。
我同美国人在更进一步了解中国的同时，也担心中国人不一定总是能够很清楚地看到我的国家的真实面貌，这里面有多种原因，其中有一些是我们自己造成的。我们的电影，还有电视节目，往往并没有全面反映出美国。
我们成功的企业显示了美国商业的力量。但是我们的精神、我们的社区精神，还有我们相互对彼此的贡献往往并不像我们金钱方面的成功那样的显而易见。
我的国家毫无疑问确实有自己的一些问题和缺陷，像大部分的国家一样，我们正走在一个漫长的道路上。
自由赋予我们自己国民许多的权利，同样也要求他们有重大的责任。美国是一个法制的国家，我们的法院是独立的。我是总统，哪怕是我也无法告诉法院要如何来判案，行政部门、立法部门，任何一个成员都不可以。根据我们的法律，每个人都是自由平等的，没有任何人可以凌驾于法律之上。
美国的妈妈们、爸爸们疼爱他们的孩子，为他们辛勤的劳动作出牺牲，因为我们相信，下一代的生活总会更好。在我们的家庭中我们可以找到关爱，可以学习如何负起责任，如何陶冶人格。很多美国人都主动的抽出时间为其他人提供服务，有很多人每周都拿出时间为社区服务，他们辅导儿童，探访病人，照顾老人，并且帮助做许许多多的事情。这就是我的国家的一大优点。人们主动的承担起责任，帮助他人。
如果你去美国旅行的话，你会见到来自不同种族背景，有着不同信仰的人。我们是一个多元化、多姿多彩的国家，在那里有230万华人，他们在那里繁衍生息。在我们大公司的办公室里有华人工作，在美国政府中有华人工作，在奥林匹克比赛中代表美国参加滑冰比赛的也有华人。
我在1975年有幸访问过中国，在座有一些人当时可能还没有出生，这表明我有多么老了。从那以来，贵国发生了巨大的变化，中国取得了举世闻名的成就，在开放方面、在企业方面、在经济自由方面都是如此，人们从所有进步中可以看到中国有着巨大的潜力，中国已经加入了世界贸易组织。一个现代化的中国将有一个完善的法制，规范其商业活动，也保护其公民的权利。诸位，你们这一代建设新中国，需要贵国传统中博大精深的智慧。
在中国如今经济成功的背后，有着有活力的人才。清华大学不仅在培养专家，它也是在培育公民。公民在他们国家的事务中不是袖手旁观者，他们是建设未来的参与者。
中国在包容各种宗教方面有着古老的传统。中国将使世界瞩目，也使世界更加丰富。再过6年，来自美国和世界的运动员将到贵国来参加奥林匹克比赛。我坚信，他们能见到的中国将变成更加强大国家，一个走在世界前沿的国家，一个与世界和平相处的国家。
谢谢诸位让我到此来发言。
以下是布什演讲的英文全文：
Vice President Hu, thank you very much for your kind and generous remarks. Thank you for welcoming me and my wife, Laura, here.
I see she's keeping pretty good company with the secretary of state, Colin Powell.
It's good to see you, Mr. Secretary.
And I see my national security adviser, Ms. Condoleezza Rice, who at one time was the provost of Stanford University, so she's comfortable on university campuses such as this. Thank you for being here, Condi.
I'm so grateful for the hospitality and honored for the reception at one of China's and the world's great universities. This university was founded, interestingly enough, with the support of my country, to further ties between our two nations. I know how important this place is to your vice president. He not only received his degree here but, more importantly, he met his gracious wife here.
I want to thank the students for giving me the chance to meet with you, the chance to talk a little bit about my country, and answer some of your questions.
The standards and reputation of this university are known around the world, and I know what an achievement it is to be here. So congratulations.
I don't know if you know this or not, but my wife and I have two daughters who are in college, just like you. One goes to the University of Texas, one goes to Yale. They're twins. And we are proud of our daughters just like I'm sure your parents are proud of you.
My visit to China comes on an important anniversary, as the vice president mentioned. Thirty years ago this week an American president arrived in China on a trip designed to end decades of estrangement and confront centuries of suspicion. President Richard Nixon showed the world that two vastly different governments could meet on the grounds of common interest in the spirit of mutual respect.
As they left the airport that day, Premier Zhou En-Lai said this to President Nixon: ``Your handshake came over the vastest ocean in the world - 25 years of no communication.''
During the 30 years since, America and China have exchanged many handshakes of friendship and commerce. And as we have had more contact with each other, the citizens of both countries have gradually learned more about each other. And that's important.
Once America knew China only by its history as a great and enduring civilization. Today we see a China that is still defined by noble traditions of family, scholarship and honor. And we see a China that is becoming one of the most dynamic and creative societies in the world, as demonstrated by the knowledge and potential right here in this room.
China is on a rising path, and America welcomes the emergence of a strong and peaceful and prosperous China.
As America learns more about China, I am concerned that the Chinese people do not always see a clear picture of my country. This happens for many reasons and some of them are our own making. Our movies and television shows often do not portray the values of the real America I know. Our successful businesses show a strength of American commerce but our spirit, community spirit and contributions to each other are not always visible as monetary success.
Some of the erroneous pictures of America are painted by others.My friend the ambassador to China tells me some Chinese textbooks talk of Americans of bullying the weak and repressing the poor.
Another Chinese textbook published just last year teaches that special agents of the FBI are used to repress the working people.
Now, neither of these is true. And while the words may be leftovers from a previous era, they are misleading and they are harmful.
In fact, Americans feel a special responsibility for the weak and the poor. Our government spends billions of dollars to provide health care and food and housing for those who cannot help themselves. And even more important, many of our citizens contribute their own money and time to help those in need.
American compassion also stretches way beyond our borders. We're the number one provider of humanitarian aid to people in need throughout the world.
And as for the men and women of the FBI and law enforcement, they're working people. They, themselves, are working people who devote their lives to fighting crime and corruption.
My country certainly has its share of problems, no question about that. And we have our faults. Like most nations, we're on a long journey toward achieving our own ideals of equality and justice.
Yet there's a reason our nation shines as a beacon of hope and opportunity, a reason many throughout the world dream of coming to America. It's because we're a free nation, where men and women have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
No matter your background or your circumstance of birth, in America you can get a good education, you can start your own business, you can raise a family, you can worship freely and help elect the leaders of your community and your country. You can support the policies of our government or you're free to openly disagree with them.
Those who fear freedom sometimes argue it could lead to chaos. But it does not. Because freedom means more than every man for himself. Liberty gives our citizens many rights, yet expects them to exercise important responsibilities. Our liberty is given direction and purpose by moral character, shaped in strong families, strong communities, strong religious institutions, and overseen by a strong and fair legal system.
My country's greatest symbol to the world is the Statue of Liberty. And it was designed by special care. I don't know if you've ever seen the Statue of Liberty, but if you look closely, she's holding not one object, but two. In the one hand is the familiar torch, what we call the light of liberty. And in the other hand is a book of law.
We're a nation of laws. Our courts are honest and they are independent.
The president, me, I can't tell the courts how to rule. And neither can any other member of the executive or legislative branch of government.
Under our law, every one stands equal. No one is above the law and no one is beneath it. All political power in America is limited, and it is temporary and only given by the free vote of the people.
We have a constitution, now two centuries old, which limits and balances the power of the three branches of our government: the judicial branch, the legislative branch and the executive branch, of which I'm a part.
Many of the values that guide our life in America are first shaped in our families, just as they are in your country. American moms and dads love their children and work hard and sacrifice for them because we believe life can always be better for the next generation. In our families, we find love and learn responsibility and character.
And many Americans voluntarily devote part of their lives to serving other people. An amazing number, nearly half of all adults in America, volunteer time every week to make their communities better by mentoring children or by visiting the sick or caring for the elderly or helping with thousands of other needs and causes.
This is one of the great strengths of my country. People take responsibility for helping others without being told, motivated by their good hearts and often by their faith.
America is a nation guided by faith. Someone once called us a nation with the soul of a church. This may interest you: 95 percent of Americans say they believe in God. And I'm one of them.
When I met President Jiang Zemin in Shanghai a few months ago, I had the honor of sharing with him how faith changed my life and how faith contributes to the life of my country. Faith points to a moral law beyond man's law and calls us to duties higher than material gain.
Freedom of religion is not something to be feared, it's to be welcomed. Because faith gives us a moral core and teaches us to hold ourselves to high standards, to love and to serve others and to live responsible lives.
If you travel across America and I hope you do someday, if you haven't been there _ you will find people of many different ethnic backgrounds and many different faiths. We're a varied nation. We're a home to 2.3 million Americans of Chinese ancestry, who can be found working in the offices of our corporations or in the Cabinet of the president of the United States or skating for the America Olympic team.
Every immigrant, by taking an oath of allegiance to our country, becomes just as American as the president. America shows that a society can be vast and it can be varied, yet still one country, commanding the allegiance and love of its people.
And all these qualities of America were widely on display on a single day: Sept. 11 - the day when terrorists, murderers, attacked my nation. American policemen and firefighters by the hundreds ran into burning towers in desperation to save their fellow citizens.
Volunteers came from everywhere to help with rescue efforts. Americans donated blood and gave money to help the families of victims. America had prayer services all over our country, and people raised flags to show their pride and unity.
And you need to know none of this was ordered by the government; it happened spontaneously by the initiative of free people.
Life in America shows that liberty paired with law is not to be feared. In a free society, diversity is not disorder, debate is not strife and dissent is not revolution. A free society trusts its citizens to seek greatness in themselves and their country.
It was my honor to visit China in 1975. Some of you weren't even born then. It shows how old I am. And a lot has changed in your country since then. China has made amazing progress in openness and enterprise and economic freedom.
And this progress previews China's great potential.
China has joined the World Trade Organization, and as you live up to its obligations, they inevitably will bring changes to the Chinese legal system. A modern China will have a consistent rule of law to govern commerce and secure the rights of its people.
The new China your generation is building will need the profound wisdom of your traditions. The lure of materialism challenges our society challenges society in our country and in many successful countries.
Your ancient ethic of personal and family responsibility will serve you well.
Behind China's economic success today are talented, brilliant and energetic people. In the near future, those same men and women will play a full and active role in your government.
This university is not simply turning out specialists, it is preparing citizens. And citizens are not spectators in the affairs of their country. They are participants in its future.
Change is coming. China is already having secret ballot and competitive elections at the local level. Nearly 20 years ago a great Chinese leader, Deng Xiaoping, said this, and I want you to hear his words. He said that "China would eventually expand democratic elections all the way to the national level." I look forward to that day.
Tens of millions of Chinese today are relearning Buddhist, Taoist and local religious traditions or practicing Christianity, Islam and other faiths. Regardless of where or how these believers worship, they are no threat to public order. In fact, they make good citizens.
For centuries this country has had a tradition of religious tolerance. My prayer is that all persecution will end so that all in China are free to gather and worship as they wish.
All these changes will lead to a stronger, more confident China, a China that can astonish and enrich the world, a China that your generation will help create.
This is one of the most exciting times in the history of your country, a time when even the grandest hopes seem within your reach.
My nation offers you our respect and our friendship.
Six years from now, athletes from America and around the world will come to your country for the Olympic Games, and I'm confident they will find a China that is becoming a taogua (ph), a leading nation, at peace with its people and at peace with the world.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
2002-02-22 12.30PM
（北京讯）以下是美国总统布什在北京清华大学发表的演讲摘要：
胡副主席，非常感谢您的欢迎致辞。非常感谢您在这里接待我和我的夫人劳拉。
非常感谢各位对我的热情接待，很荣幸来到中国，清华大学是世界最伟大的学府之一。我也知道清华大学对于胡副主席有着十分重要的意义，他不仅在这里获得了学位，而且是在这里与他优雅的夫人相识的。我想同时也感谢在座的各位学生给我这个机会，跟大家见面，谈一谈我自己的国家，并且回答大家的一些问题。
清华大学的治学标准和声望闻名于世，我也知道能考入这所大学也是一个成就，祝贺你们。我不知道大家是不是知道这一点，我和我的太太有两个女儿，她们像你们一样正在上大学，有一个女儿上的是德州大学，有一个女儿是上耶鲁大学，她们是双胞胎。我对我们的两个女儿倍感骄傲，我想你们的父母对你们的成就同样也是引以为荣的。
我这次访华恰逢重要的周年纪念日，副主席刚才也谈到了，30年前的这一周，一个美国总统来到了中国，他的访华之旅目的是为了结束两国间长达数十年的隔阂和数百年的相互猜疑。尼克松总统向世界显示了两个迥然不同的政府能够本着相互的利益、相互的尊重来到一起。那天他们离开机场的时候，周恩来总理对尼克松总统说了这样一番话，他说你与我的握手越过了世界上最为辽阔的海洋，这个海洋就是互不交往的25年。自从那时以来，美国和中国已经握过多次的友谊之手和商业之手。
随着我们两国间接触的日益频繁，我们两国的国民也逐渐地加深了对彼此的了解，这是非常非常重要的。曾经一度，美国人只知道中国是历史悠久的、伟大的国家，以及她的文明。今天我们仍然看到中国奉行着重视家庭、学业和荣誉的良好传统。同时，我们看到中国正日益成为世界上最富有活力和创造力的国家之一。这一点最佳的验证便是在座诸位所具备的知识和潜力。
中国正走在一个兴起的道路上，而美国欢迎一个强大、和平与繁荣的中国的出现。
我同美国人在更进一步了解中国的同时，也担心中国人不一定总是能够很清楚地看到我的国家的真实面貌，这里面有多种原因，其中有一些是我们自己造成的。我们的电影，还有电视节目，往往并没有全面反映出美国。
我们成功的企业显示了美国商业的力量。但是我们的精神、我们的社区精神，还有我们相互对彼此的贡献往往并不像我们金钱方面的成功那样的显而易见。
我的国家毫无疑问确实有自己的一些问题和缺陷，像大部分的国家一样，我们正走在一个漫长的道路上。
自由赋予我们自己国民许多的权利，同样也要求他们有重大的责任。美国是一个法制的国家，我们的法院是独立的。我是总统，哪怕是我也无法告诉法院要如何来判案，行政部门、立法部门，任何一个成员都不可以。根据我们的法律，每个人都是自由平等的，没有任何人可以凌驾于法律之上。
美国的妈妈们、爸爸们疼爱他们的孩子，为他们辛勤的劳动作出牺牲，因为我们相信，下一代的生活总会更好。在我们的家庭中我们可以找到关爱，可以学习如何负起责任，如何陶冶人格。很多美国人都主动的抽出时间为其他人提供服务，有很多人每周都拿出时间为社区服务，他们辅导儿童，探访病人，照顾老人，并且帮助做许许多多的事情。这就是我的国家的一大优点。人们主动的承担起责任，帮助他人。
如果你去美国旅行的话，你会见到来自不同种族背景，有着不同信仰的人。我们是一个多元化、多姿多彩的国家，在那里有230万华人，他们在那里繁衍生息。在我们大公司的办公室里有华人工作，在美国政府中有华人工作，在奥林匹克比赛中代表美国参加滑冰比赛的也有华人。
我在1975年有幸访问过中国，在座有一些人当时可能还没有出生，这表明我有多么老了。从那以来，贵国发生了巨大的变化，中国取得了举世闻名的成就，在开放方面、在企业方面、在经济自由方面都是如此，人们从所有进步中可以看到中国有着巨大的潜力，中国已经加入了世界贸易组织。一个现代化的中国将有一个完善的法制，规范其商业活动，也保护其公民的权利。诸位，你们这一代建设新中国，需要贵国传统中博大精深的智慧。
在中国如今经济成功的背后，有着有活力的人才。清华大学不仅在培养专家，它也是在培育公民。公民在他们国家的事务中不是袖手旁观者，他们是建设未来的参与者。
中国在包容各种宗教方面有着古老的传统。中国将使世界瞩目，也使世界更加丰富。再过6年，来自美国和世界的运动员将到贵国来参加奥林匹克比赛。我坚信，他们能见到的中国将变成更加强大国家，一个走在世界前沿的国家，一个与世界和平相处的国家。
谢谢诸位让我到此来发言。
以下是布什演讲的英文全文：
Vice President Hu, thank you very much for your kind and generous remarks. Thank you for welcoming me and my wife, Laura, here.
I see she's keeping pretty good company with the secretary of state, Colin Powell.
It's good to see you, Mr. Secretary.
And I see my national security adviser, Ms. Condoleezza Rice, who at one time was the provost of Stanford University, so she's comfortable on university campuses such as this. Thank you for being here, Condi.
I'm so grateful for the hospitality and honored for the reception at one of China's and the world's great universities. This university was founded, interestingly enough, with the support of my country, to further ties between our two nations. I know how important this place is to your vice president. He not only received his degree here but, more importantly, he met his gracious wife here.
I want to thank the students for giving me the chance to meet with you, the chance to talk a little bit about my country, and answer some of your questions.
The standards and reputation of this university are known around the world, and I know what an achievement it is to be here. So congratulations.
I don't know if you know this or not, but my wife and I have two daughters who are in college, just like you. One goes to the University of Texas, one goes to Yale. They're twins. And we are proud of our daughters just like I'm sure your parents are proud of you.
My visit to China comes on an important anniversary, as the vice president mentioned. Thirty years ago this week an American president arrived in China on a trip designed to end decades of estrangement and confront centuries of suspicion. President Richard Nixon showed the world that two vastly different governments could meet on the grounds of common interest in the spirit of mutual respect.
As they left the airport that day, Premier Zhou En-Lai said this to President Nixon: ``Your handshake came over the vastest ocean in the world - 25 years of no communication.''
During the 30 years since, America and China have exchanged many handshakes of friendship and commerce. And as we have had more contact with each other, the citizens of both countries have gradually learned more about each other. And that's important.
Once America knew China only by its history as a great and enduring civilization. Today we see a China that is still defined by noble traditions of family, scholarship and honor. And we see a China that is becoming one of the most dynamic and creative societies in the world, as demonstrated by the knowledge and potential right here in this room.
China is on a rising path, and America welcomes the emergence of a strong and peaceful and prosperous China.
As America learns more about China, I am concerned that the Chinese people do not always see a clear picture of my country. This happens for many reasons and some of them are our own making. Our movies and television shows often do not portray the values of the real America I know. Our successful businesses show a strength of American commerce but our spirit, community spirit and contributions to each other are not always visible as monetary success.
Some of the erroneous pictures of America are painted by others.My friend the ambassador to China tells me some Chinese textbooks talk of Americans of bullying the weak and repressing the poor.
Another Chinese textbook published just last year teaches that special agents of the FBI are used to repress the working people.
Now, neither of these is true. And while the words may be leftovers from a previous era, they are misleading and they are harmful.
In fact, Americans feel a special responsibility for the weak and the poor. Our government spends billions of dollars to provide health care and food and housing for those who cannot help themselves. And even more important, many of our citizens contribute their own money and time to help those in need.
American compassion also stretches way beyond our borders. We're the number one provider of humanitarian aid to people in need throughout the world.
And as for the men and women of the FBI and law enforcement, they're working people. They, themselves, are working people who devote their lives to fighting crime and corruption.
My country certainly has its share of problems, no question about that. And we have our faults. Like most nations, we're on a long journey toward achieving our own ideals of equality and justice.
Yet there's a reason our nation shines as a beacon of hope and opportunity, a reason many throughout the world dream of coming to America. It's because we're a free nation, where men and women have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
No matter your background or your circumstance of birth, in America you can get a good education, you can start your own business, you can raise a family, you can worship freely and help elect the leaders of your community and your country. You can support the policies of our government or you're free to openly disagree with them.
Those who fear freedom sometimes argue it could lead to chaos. But it does not. Because freedom means more than every man for himself. Liberty gives our citizens many rights, yet expects them to exercise important responsibilities. Our liberty is given direction and purpose by moral character, shaped in strong families, strong communities, strong religious institutions, and overseen by a strong and fair legal system.
My country's greatest symbol to the world is the Statue of Liberty. And it was designed by special care. I don't know if you've ever seen the Statue of Liberty, but if you look closely, she's holding not one object, but two. In the one hand is the familiar torch, what we call the light of liberty. And in the other hand is a book of law.
We're a nation of laws. Our courts are honest and they are independent.
The president, me, I can't tell the courts how to rule. And neither can any other member of the executive or legislative branch of government.
Under our law, every one stands equal. No one is above the law and no one is beneath it. All political power in America is limited, and it is temporary and only given by the free vote of the people.
We have a constitution, now two centuries old, which limits and balances the power of the three branches of our government: the judicial branch, the legislative branch and the executive branch, of which I'm a part.
Many of the values that guide our life in America are first shaped in our families, just as they are in your country. American moms and dads love their children and work hard and sacrifice for them because we believe life can always be better for the next generation. In our families, we find love and learn responsibility and character.
And many Americans voluntarily devote part of their lives to serving other people. An amazing number, nearly half of all adults in America, volunteer time every week to make their communities better by mentoring children or by visiting the sick or caring for the elderly or helping with thousands of other needs and causes.
This is one of the great strengths of my country. People take responsibility for helping others without being told, motivated by their good hearts and often by their faith.
America is a nation guided by faith. Someone once called us a nation with the soul of a church. This may interest you: 95 percent of Americans say they believe in God. And I'm one of them.
When I met President Jiang Zemin in Shanghai a few months ago, I had the honor of sharing with him how faith changed my life and how faith contributes to the life of my country. Faith points to a moral law beyond man's law and calls us to duties higher than material gain.
Freedom of religion is not something to be feared, it's to be welcomed. Because faith gives us a moral core and teaches us to hold ourselves to high standards, to love and to serve others and to live responsible lives.
If you travel across America and I hope you do someday, if you haven't been there _ you will find people of many different ethnic backgrounds and many different faiths. We're a varied nation. We're a home to 2.3 million Americans of Chinese ancestry, who can be found working in the offices of our corporations or in the Cabinet of the president of the United States or skating for the America Olympic team.
Every immigrant, by taking an oath of allegiance to our country, becomes just as American as the president. America shows that a society can be vast and it can be varied, yet still one country, commanding the allegiance and love of its people.
And all these qualities of America were widely on display on a single day: Sept. 11 - the day when terrorists, murderers, attacked my nation. American policemen and firefighters by the hundreds ran into burning towers in desperation to save their fellow citizens.
Volunteers came from everywhere to help with rescue efforts. Americans donated blood and gave money to help the families of victims. America had prayer services all over our country, and people raised flags to show their pride and unity.
And you need to know none of this was ordered by the government; it happened spontaneously by the initiative of free people.
Life in America shows that liberty paired with law is not to be feared. In a free society, diversity is not disorder, debate is not strife and dissent is not revolution. A free society trusts its citizens to seek greatness in themselves and their country.
It was my honor to visit China in 1975. Some of you weren't even born then. It shows how old I am. And a lot has changed in your country since then. China has made amazing progress in openness and enterprise and economic freedom.
And this progress previews China's great potential.
China has joined the World Trade Organization, and as you live up to its obligations, they inevitably will bring changes to the Chinese legal system. A modern China will have a consistent rule of law to govern commerce and secure the rights of its people.
The new China your generation is building will need the profound wisdom of your traditions. The lure of materialism challenges our society challenges society in our country and in many successful countries.
Your ancient ethic of personal and family responsibility will serve you well.
Behind China's economic success today are talented, brilliant and energetic people. In the near future, those same men and women will play a full and active role in your government.
This university is not simply turning out specialists, it is preparing citizens. And citizens are not spectators in the affairs of their country. They are participants in its future.
Change is coming. China is already having secret ballot and competitive elections at the local level. Nearly 20 years ago a great Chinese leader, Deng Xiaoping, said this, and I want you to hear his words. He said that "China would eventually expand democratic elections all the way to the national level." I look forward to that day.
Tens of millions of Chinese today are relearning Buddhist, Taoist and local religious traditions or practicing Christianity, Islam and other faiths. Regardless of where or how these believers worship, they are no threat to public order. In fact, they make good citizens.
For centuries this country has had a tradition of religious tolerance. My prayer is that all persecution will end so that all in China are free to gather and worship as they wish.
All these changes will lead to a stronger, more confident China, a China that can astonish and enrich the world, a China that your generation will help create.
This is one of the most exciting times in the history of your country, a time when even the grandest hopes seem within your reach.
My nation offers you our respect and our friendship.
Six years from now, athletes from America and around the world will come to your country for the Olympic Games, and I'm confident they will find a China that is becoming a taogua (ph), a leading nation, at peace with its people and at peace with the world.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net