奥巴马上海演讲稿(完整版)

奥巴马上海演讲稿

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完整版

)

奥巴马上海演讲稿

(

完整版

)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good afternoon. It is a

great honor for me to be here in Shanghai,

and to have this opportunity to speak with all

of you. I'd like to thank Fudan University's

President Yang for his hospitality and his

gracious welcome. I'd also like to thank our

outstanding Ambassador, Jon Huntsman, who

exemplifies the deep ties and respect

between our nations. I don't know what he

said, but I hope it was good. (Laughter.)

What I'd like to do is to make some opening

comments, and then what I'm really looking

forward to doing is taking questions, not only

from students who are in the audience, but

also we've received questions online, which

will be asked by some of the students who are

here in the audience, as well as by

Ambassador Huntsman. And I am very sorry

that my Chinese is not as good as your English,

but I am looking forward to this chance to

have a dialogue.

This is my first time traveling to China, and

I'm excited to see this majestic country. Here,

in Shanghai, we see the growth that has

caught the attention of the world -- the

soaring skyscrapers, the bustling streets and

entrepreneurial activity. And just as I'm

impressed by these signs of China's journey

to the 21st century, I'm eager to see those

ancient places that speak to us from China's

distant past. Tomorrow and the next day I

hope to have a chance when I'm in Beijing to

see the majesty of the Forbidden City and the

wonder of the Great Wall. Truly, this is a

nation that encompasses both a rich history

and a belief in the promise of the future.

The same can be said of the relationship

between our two countries. Shanghai, of

course, is a city that has great meaning in the

history of the relationship between the United

States and China. It was here, 37 years ago,

that the Shanghai Communique opened the

door to a new chapter of engagement

between our governments and among our

people. However, America's ties to this city --

and to this country -- stretch back further, to

the earliest days of America's independence.

In 1784, our founding father, George

Washington, commissioned the Empress of

China, a ship that set sail for these shores so

that it could pursue trade with the Qing

Dynasty. Washington wanted to see the ship

carry the flag around the globe, and to forge

new ties with nations like China. This is a

common American impulse -- the desire to

reach for new horizons, and to forge new

partnerships that are mutually beneficial.

Over the two centuries that have followed,

the currents of history have steered the

relationship between our countries in many

directions. And even in the midst of

tumultuous winds, our people had

opportunities to forge deep and even

dramatic ties. For instance, Americans will

never forget the hospitality shown to our

pilots who were shot down over your soil

during World War II, and cared for by Chinese

civilians who risked all that they had by doing

so. And Chinese veterans of that war still

warmly greet those American veterans who

return to the sites where they fought to help

liberate China from occupation.

A different kind of connection was made

nearly 40 years ago when the frost between

our countries began to thaw through the

simple game of table tennis. The very

unlikely nature of this engagement

contributed to its success -- because for all

our differences, both our common humanity

and our shared curiosity were revealed. As

one American player described his visit to

China --

country is very similar to America, but still

very different.

Of course this small opening was followed

by the achievement of the Shanghai

Communique, and the eventual establishment

of formal relations between the United States

and China in 1979. And in three decades, just

look at how far we have come.

In 1979, trade between the United States and

China stood at roughly $$5 billion -- today it

tops over $$400 billion each year. The

commerce affects our people's lives in so

many ways. America imports from China

many of the computer parts we use, the

clothes we wear; and we export to China

machinery that helps power your

industry. This trade could create even more

jobs on both sides of the Pacific, while

allowing our people to enjoy a better quality

of life. And as demand becomes more

balanced, it can lead to even broader

prosperity.

In 1979, the political cooperation between

the United States and China was rooted

largely in our shared rivalry with the Soviet

Union. Today, we have a positive,

constructive and comprehensive relationship

that opens the door to partnership on the key

global issues of our time -- economic recovery

and the development of clean energy;

stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and

the scourge of climate change; the promotion

of peace and security in Asia and around the

globe. All of these issues will be on the

agenda tomorrow when I meet with President

Hu.

And in 1979, the connections among our

people were limited. Today, we see the

curiosity of those ping-pong players

manifested in the ties that are being forged

across many sectors. The second highest

number of foreign students in the United

States come from China, and we've seen a 50

percent increase in the study of Chinese

among our own students. There are nearly

200

communities together. American and

Chinese scientists cooperate on new research

and discovery. And of course, Yao Ming is

just one signal of our shared love of

basketball -- I'm only sorry that I won't be

able to see a Shanghai Sharks game while I'm

visiting.

It is no coincidence that the relationship

between our countries has accompanied a

period of positive change. China has lifted

hundreds of millions of people out of poverty

-- an accomplishment unparalleled in human

history -- while playing a larger role in global

events. And the United States has seen our

economy grow along with the standard of

living enjoyed by our people, while bringing

the Cold War to a successful conclusion.

There is a Chinese proverb:

past, and you shall know the future.

we have known setbacks and challenges over

the last 30 years. Our relationship has not

been without disagreement and

difficulty. But the notion that we must be

adversaries is not predestined -- not when we

consider the past. Indeed, because of our

cooperation, both the United States and China

are more prosperous and more secure. We

have seen what is possible when we build

upon our mutual interests, and engage on the

basis of mutual respect.

And yet the success of that engagement

depends upon understanding -- on sustaining

an open dialogue, and learning about one

another and from one another. For just as

that American table tennis player pointed out

-- we share much in common as human beings,

but our countries are different in certain

ways.

I believe that each country must chart its

own course. China is an ancient nation, with

a deeply rooted culture. The United States,

by comparison, is a young nation, whose

culture is determined by the many different

immigrants who have come to our shores, and

by the founding documents that guide our

democracy.

Those documents put forward a simple

vision of human affairs, and they enshrine

several core principles -- that all men and

women are created equal, and possess

certain fundamental rights; that government

should reflect the will of the people and

respond to their wishes; that commerce

should be open, information freely accessible;

and that laws, and not simply men, should

guarantee the administration of justice.

Of course, the story of our nation is not

without its difficult chapters. In many ways

-- over many years -- we have struggled to

advance the promise of these principles to all

of our people, and to forge a more perfect

union. We fought a very painful civil war, and

freed a portion of our population from

slavery. It took time for women to be

extended the right to vote, workers to win the

right to organize, and for immigrants from

different corners of the globe to be fully

embraced. Even after they were freed,

African Americans persevered through

conditions that were separate and not equal,

before winning full and equal rights.

None of this was easy. But we made

progress because of our belief in those core

principles, which have served as our compass

through the darkest of storms. That is why

Lincoln could stand up in the midst of civil war

and declare it a struggle to see whether any

nation, conceived in liberty, and

the proposition that all men are created

equal

Martin Luther King could stand on the steps of

the Lincoln Memorial and ask that our nation

live out the true meaning of its creed. That's

why immigrants from China to Kenya could

find a home on our shores; why opportunity is

available to all who would work for it; and

why someone like me, who less than 50 years

ago would have had trouble voting in some

parts of America, is now able to serve as its

President.

And that is why America will always speak

out for these core principles around the

world. We do not seek to impose any system

of government on any other nation, but we

also don't believe that the principles that we

stand for are unique to our nation. These

freedoms of expression_r_r_r_r and worship

-- of access to information and political

participation -- we believe are universal

rights. They should be available to all people,

including ethnic and religious minorities --

whether they are in the United States, China,

or any nation. Indeed, it is that respect for

universal rights that guides America's

openness to other countries; our respect for

different cultures; our commitment to

international law; and our faith in the future.

These are all things that you should know

about America. I also know that we have

much to learn about China. Looking around

at this magnificent city -- and looking around

this room -- I do believe that our nations hold

something important in common, and that is a

belief in the future. Neither the United States

nor China is content to rest on our

achievements. For while China is an ancient

nation, you are also clearly looking ahead

with confidence, ambition, and a commitment

to see that tomorrow's generation can do

better than today's.

In addition to your growing economy, we

admire China's extraordinary commitment to

science and research -- a commitment borne

out in everything from the infrastructure you

build to the technology you use. China is now

the world's largest Internet user -- which is

why we were so pleased to include the

Internet as a part of today's event. This

country now has the world's largest mobile

phone network, and it is investing in the new

forms of energy that can both sustain growth

and combat climate change -- and I'm looking

forward to deepening the partnership

between the United States and China in this