 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. 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. Liberty gives our citizens many rights, yet expects them to exercise important responsibilities. We are a Nation of laws. Our courts are honest and 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. Under our law, everyone stands equal. No one is above the law, and no one is beneath it. 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, of which I am 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 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. 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. 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. Your ancient ethic of personal and family responsibility will serve you well. Behind China's economic success today are talented, energetic people. 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 the world. Thank you and now I look forward to answering some questions. (Agencies) | 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。非常感謝各位對我的熱情接待，很榮幸來到中國，清華大學是世界最偉大的學府之一。 我也知道清華大學對于胡副主席有著十分重要的意義，他不僅在這里獲得了學位，而且是在這里與他優雅的夫人相識的。 我想同時也感謝在座的各位學生給我這個機會，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。清華大學的治學標準和聲望聞名于世，我也知道能考入這所大學也是一個成就，祝賀你們。我不知道大家是不是知道這一點，我和我的太太有兩個女兒，她們像你們一樣正在上大學，有一個女兒上的是德州大學，有一個女兒是上耶魯大學，她們是雙胞胎。我對我們的兩個女兒倍感驕傲，我想你們的父母對你們的成就同樣也是引以為榮的。 
我這次訪華恰逢重要的周年紀念日，副主席剛才也談到了，30年前的這一周，一個美國總統來到了中國，他的訪華之旅目的是為了結束兩國間長達數十年的隔閡和數百年的相互猜疑。尼克松總統向世界顯示了兩個迥然不同的政府能夠本著相互的利益、相互的尊重來到一起。那天他們離開機場的時候，周恩來總理對尼克松總統說了這樣一番話，他說你與我的握手越過了世界上最為遼闊的海洋，這個海洋就是互不交往的25年。 自從那時以來，美國和中國已經握過多次的友誼之手和商業之手。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。 曾經一度，美國人只知道中國是歷史悠久的、偉大的國家，以及她的文明。今天我們仍然看到中國奉行著重視家庭、學業和榮譽的良好傳統。同時，我們看到中國正日益成為世界上最富有活力和創造力的國家之一。這一點最佳的驗證便是在座諸位所具備的知識和潛力。 中國正走在一個興起的道路上，而美國歡迎一個強大、和平與繁榮的中國的出現。 我同美國人在更進一步了解中國的同時，也擔心中國人不一定總是能夠很清楚地看到我的國家的真實面貌，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，還有電視節目，往往并沒有全面反映出美國。我們成功的企業顯示了美國商業的力量。但是我們的精神、我們的社區精神，還有我們相互對彼此的貢獻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，自己的時間來幫助有需求的人士。美國的同情心，同時也遠遠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。至于聯邦調查局和執法界的工作人員，他們自己就是勞動人民的一員，他們獻身于打擊犯罪，打擊腐敗。 我的國家毫無疑問確實有自己的一些問題和缺陷，像大部分的國家一樣，我們正走在一個漫長的道路上。 自由賦予我們自己國民許多的權利，同樣也要求他們有重大的責任。美國是一個法制的國家，我們的法院是獨立的。我是總統，哪怕是我也不能告訴法院要如何來判案，行政部門、立法部門，任何一個成員都不可以。根據我們的法律，每個人都是自由平等的，沒有任何人可以凌駕于法律之上。 我們有一部憲法，已經有二百年的歷史，它限制并且平衡三個部門之間的權利，這三個部門就是司法、立法和行政機構，而我也是其中的一員。 指導我們的很多的價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，因為我們相信，下一代的生活總會更好，在我們的家庭中，我們可以找到關愛，可以學習如何負起責任，如何陶冶人格。 很多美國人都主動的抽出時間為其他人提供服務，有很多人每周都拿出時間為社區服務，他們輔導兒童，探訪病人，照顧老人，并且幫助做許許多多的事情。這就是我的國家的一大優點。人們主動的承擔起責任，幫助他人，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。 我在1975年有幸訪問過中國，從那以來，貴國發生了巨大的變化，中國取得了舉世聞名的成就，在開放方面、在企業方面、在經濟自由方面都是如此，人們從所有進步中可以看到中國有著巨大的潛力，中國已經加入了世界貿易組織。一個現代化的中國將有一個完善的法制，規范其商業活動，也保護其公民的權利。  | | 一清華大學學生向布什總統提問題 |
諸位，你們這一代建設新中國，需要貴國傳統中博大精深的智慧。重視個人和家庭責任的古老道德傳統將使諸位受益匪淺。 在中國如今經濟成功的背后，有著有活力的人才。清華大學不僅在培養專家，它也是在培育公民。公民在他們國家的事務中不是袖手旁觀者，他們是建設未來的參與者。 所有的這些變化，將導致中國更加強大，更加有自信，這個中國將使世界矚目，也使世界更加豐富。這個中國就是諸位這一代人所幫助創立的中國，現在在中國的歷史上是一個非常令人振奮的時刻。此時此刻，就連最宏偉的夢想也似乎唾手可得。 我的國度，對中國表示我們的尊敬，表達我們的友誼，再過六年，來自美國和世界的運動員將到貴國來參加奧林匹克比賽，我堅信， 他們能見到的中國將變成更加強大國家，一個走在世界前沿的國家，一個與世界和平相處的國家。 謝謝諸位讓我到此來發言。 (中國日報網站) |
Updated: 2002-02-22 01:00
