| 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. |
如今我們有著積極合作和全面的關系，為我們在當前重大的全球問題上建立伙伴關系打開了大門，這些問題包括經濟復蘇、潔凈能源的開發(fā)、制止核武器擴散以及應對氣候變化，還有在亞洲及全球各地促進和平和穩(wěn)定，所有這些問題我明天與胡主席會談時都會談到。 |
| 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 "friendship cities" drawing our 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. |
1979年的時候，我們兩國人民的聯系十分有限，如今當年乒乓球運動員的好奇可以在許多領域建立的聯系中都可以看到，在美國數量最多的留學生都來自中國。而在美國的學生中，學中文的人數增加了50%。我們兩國有近200個友好城市，美中科學家在許多新的研究領域和發(fā)現領域進行合作，而我們兩國人民都熱愛籃球，姚明就是個例子。不過，此行中我不能觀看上海鯊魚隊的比賽，有點遺憾。 |
| 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. |
那么我們兩國之間的這種關系給我們帶來了積極的變化，這并不是偶然的。中國使得億萬人民脫貧，而這種成就是人類歷史上史無前例的。而中國在全球問題中也發(fā)揮更大的作用，美國也目睹了我們經濟的成長。 |
| There is a Chinese proverb: "Consider the past, and you shall know the future." Surely, 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. |
中國有句古言，溫故而知新。當然，我們過去30年中也遇到了挫折和挑戰(zhàn)，我們的關系并不是沒有困難的，沒有分歧的。但是我們必須一定是對手這種想法不應該是一成不變的。由于我們兩國的合作，美中兩國都變得更加繁榮、更加安全。我們基于相互的利益、相互的尊重就能有成就。 |
| 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. |
不過，這種接觸的成功要取決于我們要彼此了解，要能夠進行開誠布公的對話，彼此進行了解。就像當年美國乒乓球運動員所說的，我們作為人有著共同的向往，但是我們兩國又不同。 |
| 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. |
我認為我們兩國每個國家都應該勾畫出自己要走的路，中國是一個文明古國，它有著博大精深的文化。相對而言，美國是一個年輕的國家，它的文化受到來自許多不同國家移民的影響，而指導我們民主制度文件的影響。 |
| 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. |
我有一個非常簡單的向往，代表了一些核心的原則，就是所有的人生來平等，都有著基本的權利，而政府應當反映人們的意志，貿易應該是開放的，信息流通應當是自由的，而法律要保證這個公平。 |
| 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. |
當然，我們的國家歷史也不是沒有過困難的地方。從很多方面來講，很多年以來，我們是通過斗爭來促進這些原則或者是所有的人民能夠享受到，為了締造一個更完美的聯合，我們也打過一個很痛苦的內戰(zhàn)，把一部分我們被奴役的人口釋放出來，經過一段時間才能使婦女有投票權，勞工有組織權，包括來自各地的移民能夠全部被接受。即使他們被解放以后，非洲裔美國人也和美國人經過一些分開的、不平等的條件，經過一段時間才爭取到全面的平等權利。 |
| 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 "dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal" could long endure. That is why Dr. 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. |
所有這些是不容易的。但是，因為我們對這些核心原則的信念，我們取得了進步，這些原則就是在最黑暗風暴中引領我們的指南針。這是為什么林肯在內戰(zhàn)期間站起來說過，任何一個國家以自由、以所有人類平等的原則能夠長久的存在，也就是為什么金博士在林肯紀念館的前臺站起來，說我們國家要必須真正的實現我們的信念。也就是為什么來自中國或者肯尼亞的移民能夠在這里成立自己的家，也是為什么一個不到50年前以前在某些地方連投票都遇到困難的人，現在就能夠做到那個國家的總統(tǒng)。 |
