President Bush's remarks at Tsinghua University
(02/22/2002)
President Bush:
Vice President Hu, thank you for your words of welcome. I am grateful for your hospitality, and honored by this reception at one of China's great universities. Tsinghua University was founded, with the support of America, to further the ties between our two nations. I know how important this place is to the Vice President, who earned his degree here and even more important, met his gracious wife Liu Yongqing here.
I also thank the students here for this opportunity to meet with you, 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. My wife Laura and I have two daughters in college, one at Yale and the other at the University of Texas. We are proud of our daughters just like I am sure your parents are proud of you.
My visit to China comes on an important anniversary. 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, and in a spirit of mutual respect. As they left the airport that day, Premier Zhou Enlai said to President Nixon, ``Your handshake came over the vastest ocean in the world twenty-five 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 our two countries have gradually learned more about each other.
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 all the knowledge and potential right here in this room.
China is on a rising path, and America welcomes the emergence of a strong, 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, some of them of our own making. Our movies and television shows often do not portray the values of the real America I know. Our successful businesses show the strength of American commerce, but the community spirit and contributions of those businesses are not always as visible as their monetary success. Some of the erroneous pictures of America are painted by others. My friend, the Ambassador to China, tells me that some Chinese textbooks talk of Americans ``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.''
Neither of these is true and while the books may be leftovers from a previous era, they are misleading and harmful. In fact, Americans feel a special responsibility for the poor and the weak. 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 stretches way beyond our borders. We are the number one provider of humanitarian aid to people in need throughout the world. As for the men and women of our FBI and law enforcement, they are themselves working people who devote their lives to fighting crime and corruption.
My country certainly has its share of problems and faults; like most nations we're on a long journey toward achieving our own ideals of equality and justice. Yet there is a reason our nation shines as a beacon of hope and opportunity, a reason many throughout the world dream of coming to America.
We are a free nation, where men and women have the opportunity to achieve their dreams. No matter your background or circumstance of birth, in America you can get a good education, start a business, raise a family, worship freely and help elect the leaders of your community and country. You can support the policies of our government, or you are 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, and strong religious institutions and overseen by a strong and fair legal system.
My country's greatest symbol to the world, the Statue of Liberty, was designed with great care. As you look closely, you will see that she is holding not one object, but two. In one hand is the familiar torch, the light of liberty. In the other is a book of law.
We are a Nation of laws. Our courts are honest and independent. The President can't tell the courts how to rule and neither can any other member of the executive or legislative branch. Under our law, everyone stands equal. No one is above the law, and no one is beneath it.
All political power in America is limited and temporary, and only given by a free vote of the people. We have a Constitution, now two centuries old, which limits and balances the powers of the three branches of our government: judicial, legislative and executive.
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 others. An amazing number nearly half of all adults in America volunteer time every week to make their communities better by mentoring children visiting the sick caring for the elderly and helping with a thousand 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.'' Ninety-five percent of Americans say they believe in God, and I'm one of them.
When I met with President Jiang Zemin in Shanghai a few months ago, I told him how faith has shaped my own 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 but to be welcomed, because faith gives us a moral core and teaches us to hold ourselves to high standards, to love and serve others, and to live responsible lives.
If you travel across America, you will find people of many different ethic backgrounds and many different faiths. We are a varied country. We are home to 2.3 million Americans of Chinese ancestry, who can be found working in the offices of our biggest companies, serving in my own Cabinet, and skating for America at the Olympics. Every immigrant, by taking an oath of allegiance to our country, becomes just as much an American as the President of the United States. America shows that a society can be vast and varied, and yet still one country, commanding the allegiance and love of its people.
All of these qualities of America were vividly displayed on a single day, September 11th, when terrorists attacked America. American policemen and firefighters, by the hundreds, ran into burning towers in the desperate hope of saving other lives. Volunteers came from everywhere to help with the rescue efforts. Americans donated blood, and gave money to help the families of victims. People went to prayer services all over America, and raised flags to show their pride and unity. None of this was ordered by the government; it happened spontaneously, by the initiative of a 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, 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 will bring changes in China's 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 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, energetic people. In the near future, these 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 twenty years ago, Deng Xiaoping said that China would eventually expand democratic elections all the way to the national level and 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 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 of 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 am confident they will find a China that is becoming a da guo, a leading nation, at peace with its people and at peace with the world.
Thank you and now I look forward to answering some questions.
胡副主席，非常感謝您的歡迎致辭，非常感謝您在這里接待我和我的夫人勞拉。我也看到我的助理賴斯女士，她曾經(jīng)是斯德莫大學(xué)的校長，因此她回到校園是適合不過的了。非常感謝各位對我的熱情的接待，很榮幸能夠來到中國，甚至是世界偉大的一座學(xué)府之一，這所大學(xué)恰好是在美國的支持下成立的，成立的目標(biāo)是為了推動我們兩國間的關(guān)系。我也知道清華這所大學(xué)對于副主席先生有著十分重要的意義，他不僅在這里獲得了學(xué)位，而且是在這里與他優(yōu)雅的夫人相識的。我想同時(shí)，也感謝在座的各位學(xué)生給我這個(gè)機(jī)會跟大家見面，談一談我自己的國家，并且回答大家的一些問題。
清華大學(xué)的治學(xué)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)和名聲聞名于世，我也知道能考入這所大學(xué)本身是一個(gè)很大的成就，祝賀你們。
我和我的太太有兩個(gè)女兒，像你們一樣正在上大學(xué)，有一個(gè)女兒上的是德州大學(xué)，一個(gè)女兒上的是耶魯大學(xué)，他們是雙胞胎。我們對我們的兩個(gè)女兒倍感驕傲，我想你們的父母對你們的成就也是同樣的引以為榮的。我這次訪華恰逢一個(gè)重要的周年紀(jì)念日，副主席剛才也談到了，三十年前這一周，一個(gè)美國的總統(tǒng)來到了中國，他的訪華之旅目的是為了結(jié)束長達(dá)數(shù)十年的隔閡，和長達(dá)數(shù)百年的相互猜疑，本著相互利益，本著相互尊重的精神站在一起。那天他們離開機(jī)場的時(shí)候，周恩來總理對尼克松總統(tǒng)說了這樣一番話，他說，你與我的握手越過了世界上為遼闊的海洋，這個(gè)海洋就是互不交往的25年。自從那時(shí)以來，美國和中國已經(jīng)握過多次的友誼之手和商業(yè)之手。
隨著我們兩國間接觸的日益頻繁，我們兩國的國民也逐漸地加深了對彼此的了解，這是非常非常重要的。曾經(jīng)一度，美國人只知道中國是一個(gè)歷史悠久的一個(gè)偉大的國家，有偉大的文明。今天，我們?nèi)匀豢吹街袊钚兄匾暭彝?、學(xué)業(yè)和榮譽(yù)的優(yōu)良的傳統(tǒng)，同時(shí)，我們所看到的中國正日益成為世界上一個(gè)富活力和富創(chuàng)造力的社會之一，這一點(diǎn)佳的驗(yàn)證便是在座諸位所具備的知識和潛力。中國正走在一個(gè)發(fā)展的道路上，而美國歡迎一個(gè)強(qiáng)大、和平與繁榮的中國的出現(xiàn)。我同美國人在更進(jìn)一步了解中國的同時(shí)，也擔(dān)心中國人不一定總是能夠很清楚地看到我的國家的真實(shí)面貌，這里面有多種原因，其中有一些是我們自己造成的。我們的電影，還有電視節(jié)目，往往并沒有全面反映出美國。我們成功的企業(yè)顯示了美國商業(yè)的力量。但是我們的精神、我們的社區(qū)精神，還有我們相互對彼此的貢獻(xiàn)往往并不像我們金錢方面的成功那樣的顯而易見。
更為重要的是，我們許多的公民主動捐出自己的金錢，自己的時(shí)間來幫助有需求的人士。美國的同情心，同時(shí)也遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超越了我們自己的國界，在人道主義援助方面，我們居于世界首位，援助世界各地的人們。至于聯(lián)邦調(diào)查局和執(zhí)法界的工作人員，他們自己就是勞動人民的一員，他們獻(xiàn)身于打擊犯罪，打擊腐敗。
我們有一部憲法，已經(jīng)有二百年的歷史，它限制并且平衡三個(gè)部門之間的權(quán)利，這三個(gè)部門就是司法、立法和行政機(jī)構(gòu)，我是行政機(jī)構(gòu)的一員，指導(dǎo)我們的很多的價(jià)值觀是在家庭中陶冶形成的，就像在中國一樣，美國的媽媽們，爸爸們疼愛他們的孩子，為他們辛勤地勞動，作出犧牲，因?yàn)槲覀兿嘈?，下一代的生活總會更好，在我們的家庭中，我們可以找到關(guān)愛，可以學(xué)習(xí)如何負(fù)起責(zé)任，如何陶冶人格。很多美國人都抽出時(shí)間為其他人服務(wù)，成年中的一半人每周都拿出時(shí)間，使得他們的社區(qū)辦得更好，他們輔導(dǎo)兒童，探訪病人，照顧老人，并且?guī)椭鲈S許多多數(shù)不勝數(shù)的事情。這就是我的國家的一大優(yōu)點(diǎn)。我們主動承擔(dān)起責(zé)任，幫助他們，他們的原動力就是善良的心，還有他們的信仰。
如果你去美國旅行的話，你會見到來自不同種族背景，有著不同信仰的人。我們是一個(gè)多元化、多姿多彩的國家，在那里有230萬華人，他們在那里繁衍生息。在我們大公司的辦公室里有華人工作，在美國政府中有華人工作，在奧林匹克比賽中代表美國參加滑冰比賽的也有華人。
諸位，重視個(gè)人和家庭責(zé)任的古老道德傳統(tǒng)將使諸位受益匪淺。在中國如今經(jīng)濟(jì)成功的背后，有著有活力的人才。在不久的將來，這些人無論是男是女，將在這個(gè)政府中發(fā)揮積極和全面的作用。清華大學(xué)它不僅在培養(yǎng)專家，它也是在培育公民。公民在他們國家的事務(wù)中不是袖手旁觀者，他們是建設(shè)未來的參與者。
所有的這些變化，將導(dǎo)致中國更加強(qiáng)大，更加有自信，這個(gè)中國將使世界矚目，也使世界更加豐富。這個(gè)中國就是諸位這一代人所幫助創(chuàng)立的中國，現(xiàn)在在中國的歷是一個(gè)非常令人振奮的時(shí)刻。此時(shí)此刻，就連宏偉的夢想也似乎唾手可得。 我的國度，對中國提出尊敬和友誼，再過六年，來自美國和世界的運(yùn)動員將到貴國來參加奧林匹克比賽，我堅(jiān)信，他們能夠見到的中國將是正在變成一個(gè)大國的中國，一個(gè)走在世界前沿的國家，一個(gè)與其人民無爭，與世界和平相處的中國。
謝謝諸位讓我到此來演講。下面歡迎大家提問。
(02/22/2002)
President Bush:
Vice President Hu, thank you for your words of welcome. I am grateful for your hospitality, and honored by this reception at one of China's great universities. Tsinghua University was founded, with the support of America, to further the ties between our two nations. I know how important this place is to the Vice President, who earned his degree here and even more important, met his gracious wife Liu Yongqing here.
I also thank the students here for this opportunity to meet with you, 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. My wife Laura and I have two daughters in college, one at Yale and the other at the University of Texas. We are proud of our daughters just like I am sure your parents are proud of you.
My visit to China comes on an important anniversary. 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, and in a spirit of mutual respect. As they left the airport that day, Premier Zhou Enlai said to President Nixon, ``Your handshake came over the vastest ocean in the world twenty-five 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 our two countries have gradually learned more about each other.
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 all the knowledge and potential right here in this room.
China is on a rising path, and America welcomes the emergence of a strong, 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, some of them of our own making. Our movies and television shows often do not portray the values of the real America I know. Our successful businesses show the strength of American commerce, but the community spirit and contributions of those businesses are not always as visible as their monetary success. Some of the erroneous pictures of America are painted by others. My friend, the Ambassador to China, tells me that some Chinese textbooks talk of Americans ``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.''
Neither of these is true and while the books may be leftovers from a previous era, they are misleading and harmful. In fact, Americans feel a special responsibility for the poor and the weak. 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 stretches way beyond our borders. We are the number one provider of humanitarian aid to people in need throughout the world. As for the men and women of our FBI and law enforcement, they are themselves working people who devote their lives to fighting crime and corruption.
My country certainly has its share of problems and faults; like most nations we're on a long journey toward achieving our own ideals of equality and justice. Yet there is a reason our nation shines as a beacon of hope and opportunity, a reason many throughout the world dream of coming to America.
We are a free nation, where men and women have the opportunity to achieve their dreams. No matter your background or circumstance of birth, in America you can get a good education, start a business, raise a family, worship freely and help elect the leaders of your community and country. You can support the policies of our government, or you are 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, and strong religious institutions and overseen by a strong and fair legal system.
My country's greatest symbol to the world, the Statue of Liberty, was designed with great care. As you look closely, you will see that she is holding not one object, but two. In one hand is the familiar torch, the light of liberty. In the other is a book of law.
We are a Nation of laws. Our courts are honest and independent. The President can't tell the courts how to rule and neither can any other member of the executive or legislative branch. Under our law, everyone stands equal. No one is above the law, and no one is beneath it.
All political power in America is limited and temporary, and only given by a free vote of the people. We have a Constitution, now two centuries old, which limits and balances the powers of the three branches of our government: judicial, legislative and executive.
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 others. An amazing number nearly half of all adults in America volunteer time every week to make their communities better by mentoring children visiting the sick caring for the elderly and helping with a thousand 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.'' Ninety-five percent of Americans say they believe in God, and I'm one of them.
When I met with President Jiang Zemin in Shanghai a few months ago, I told him how faith has shaped my own 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 but to be welcomed, because faith gives us a moral core and teaches us to hold ourselves to high standards, to love and serve others, and to live responsible lives.
If you travel across America, you will find people of many different ethic backgrounds and many different faiths. We are a varied country. We are home to 2.3 million Americans of Chinese ancestry, who can be found working in the offices of our biggest companies, serving in my own Cabinet, and skating for America at the Olympics. Every immigrant, by taking an oath of allegiance to our country, becomes just as much an American as the President of the United States. America shows that a society can be vast and varied, and yet still one country, commanding the allegiance and love of its people.
All of these qualities of America were vividly displayed on a single day, September 11th, when terrorists attacked America. American policemen and firefighters, by the hundreds, ran into burning towers in the desperate hope of saving other lives. Volunteers came from everywhere to help with the rescue efforts. Americans donated blood, and gave money to help the families of victims. People went to prayer services all over America, and raised flags to show their pride and unity. None of this was ordered by the government; it happened spontaneously, by the initiative of a 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, 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 will bring changes in China's 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 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, energetic people. In the near future, these 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 twenty years ago, Deng Xiaoping said that China would eventually expand democratic elections all the way to the national level and 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 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 of 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 am confident they will find a China that is becoming a da guo, a leading nation, at peace with its people and at peace with the world.
Thank you and now I look forward to answering some questions.
胡副主席，非常感謝您的歡迎致辭，非常感謝您在這里接待我和我的夫人勞拉。我也看到我的助理賴斯女士，她曾經(jīng)是斯德莫大學(xué)的校長，因此她回到校園是適合不過的了。非常感謝各位對我的熱情的接待，很榮幸能夠來到中國，甚至是世界偉大的一座學(xué)府之一，這所大學(xué)恰好是在美國的支持下成立的，成立的目標(biāo)是為了推動我們兩國間的關(guān)系。我也知道清華這所大學(xué)對于副主席先生有著十分重要的意義，他不僅在這里獲得了學(xué)位，而且是在這里與他優(yōu)雅的夫人相識的。我想同時(shí)，也感謝在座的各位學(xué)生給我這個(gè)機(jī)會跟大家見面，談一談我自己的國家，并且回答大家的一些問題。
清華大學(xué)的治學(xué)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)和名聲聞名于世，我也知道能考入這所大學(xué)本身是一個(gè)很大的成就，祝賀你們。
我和我的太太有兩個(gè)女兒，像你們一樣正在上大學(xué)，有一個(gè)女兒上的是德州大學(xué)，一個(gè)女兒上的是耶魯大學(xué)，他們是雙胞胎。我們對我們的兩個(gè)女兒倍感驕傲，我想你們的父母對你們的成就也是同樣的引以為榮的。我這次訪華恰逢一個(gè)重要的周年紀(jì)念日，副主席剛才也談到了，三十年前這一周，一個(gè)美國的總統(tǒng)來到了中國，他的訪華之旅目的是為了結(jié)束長達(dá)數(shù)十年的隔閡，和長達(dá)數(shù)百年的相互猜疑，本著相互利益，本著相互尊重的精神站在一起。那天他們離開機(jī)場的時(shí)候，周恩來總理對尼克松總統(tǒng)說了這樣一番話，他說，你與我的握手越過了世界上為遼闊的海洋，這個(gè)海洋就是互不交往的25年。自從那時(shí)以來，美國和中國已經(jīng)握過多次的友誼之手和商業(yè)之手。
隨著我們兩國間接觸的日益頻繁，我們兩國的國民也逐漸地加深了對彼此的了解，這是非常非常重要的。曾經(jīng)一度，美國人只知道中國是一個(gè)歷史悠久的一個(gè)偉大的國家，有偉大的文明。今天，我們?nèi)匀豢吹街袊钚兄匾暭彝?、學(xué)業(yè)和榮譽(yù)的優(yōu)良的傳統(tǒng)，同時(shí)，我們所看到的中國正日益成為世界上一個(gè)富活力和富創(chuàng)造力的社會之一，這一點(diǎn)佳的驗(yàn)證便是在座諸位所具備的知識和潛力。中國正走在一個(gè)發(fā)展的道路上，而美國歡迎一個(gè)強(qiáng)大、和平與繁榮的中國的出現(xiàn)。我同美國人在更進(jìn)一步了解中國的同時(shí)，也擔(dān)心中國人不一定總是能夠很清楚地看到我的國家的真實(shí)面貌，這里面有多種原因，其中有一些是我們自己造成的。我們的電影，還有電視節(jié)目，往往并沒有全面反映出美國。我們成功的企業(yè)顯示了美國商業(yè)的力量。但是我們的精神、我們的社區(qū)精神，還有我們相互對彼此的貢獻(xiàn)往往并不像我們金錢方面的成功那樣的顯而易見。
更為重要的是，我們許多的公民主動捐出自己的金錢，自己的時(shí)間來幫助有需求的人士。美國的同情心，同時(shí)也遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超越了我們自己的國界，在人道主義援助方面，我們居于世界首位，援助世界各地的人們。至于聯(lián)邦調(diào)查局和執(zhí)法界的工作人員，他們自己就是勞動人民的一員，他們獻(xiàn)身于打擊犯罪，打擊腐敗。
我們有一部憲法，已經(jīng)有二百年的歷史，它限制并且平衡三個(gè)部門之間的權(quán)利，這三個(gè)部門就是司法、立法和行政機(jī)構(gòu)，我是行政機(jī)構(gòu)的一員，指導(dǎo)我們的很多的價(jià)值觀是在家庭中陶冶形成的，就像在中國一樣，美國的媽媽們，爸爸們疼愛他們的孩子，為他們辛勤地勞動，作出犧牲，因?yàn)槲覀兿嘈?，下一代的生活總會更好，在我們的家庭中，我們可以找到關(guān)愛，可以學(xué)習(xí)如何負(fù)起責(zé)任，如何陶冶人格。很多美國人都抽出時(shí)間為其他人服務(wù)，成年中的一半人每周都拿出時(shí)間，使得他們的社區(qū)辦得更好，他們輔導(dǎo)兒童，探訪病人，照顧老人，并且?guī)椭鲈S許多多數(shù)不勝數(shù)的事情。這就是我的國家的一大優(yōu)點(diǎn)。我們主動承擔(dān)起責(zé)任，幫助他們，他們的原動力就是善良的心，還有他們的信仰。
如果你去美國旅行的話，你會見到來自不同種族背景，有著不同信仰的人。我們是一個(gè)多元化、多姿多彩的國家，在那里有230萬華人，他們在那里繁衍生息。在我們大公司的辦公室里有華人工作，在美國政府中有華人工作，在奧林匹克比賽中代表美國參加滑冰比賽的也有華人。
諸位，重視個(gè)人和家庭責(zé)任的古老道德傳統(tǒng)將使諸位受益匪淺。在中國如今經(jīng)濟(jì)成功的背后，有著有活力的人才。在不久的將來，這些人無論是男是女，將在這個(gè)政府中發(fā)揮積極和全面的作用。清華大學(xué)它不僅在培養(yǎng)專家，它也是在培育公民。公民在他們國家的事務(wù)中不是袖手旁觀者，他們是建設(shè)未來的參與者。
所有的這些變化，將導(dǎo)致中國更加強(qiáng)大，更加有自信，這個(gè)中國將使世界矚目，也使世界更加豐富。這個(gè)中國就是諸位這一代人所幫助創(chuàng)立的中國，現(xiàn)在在中國的歷是一個(gè)非常令人振奮的時(shí)刻。此時(shí)此刻，就連宏偉的夢想也似乎唾手可得。 我的國度，對中國提出尊敬和友誼，再過六年，來自美國和世界的運(yùn)動員將到貴國來參加奧林匹克比賽，我堅(jiān)信，他們能夠見到的中國將是正在變成一個(gè)大國的中國，一個(gè)走在世界前沿的國家，一個(gè)與其人民無爭，與世界和平相處的中國。
謝謝諸位讓我到此來演講。下面歡迎大家提問。