President Bush's remarks at Tsinghua University
February 22,2002
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
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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.
( to be continued )
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。我也看到我的助理赖斯女士，她曾经是斯德莫大学的校长，因此她回到校园是最适合不过的了。非常感谢各位对我的热情的接待，很荣幸能够来到中国，甚至是世界最伟大的一座学府之一，这所大学恰好是在美国的支持下成立的，成立的目标是为了推动我们两国间的关系。我也知道清华这所大学对于副主席先生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名声闻名于世，我也知道能考入这所大学本身是一个很大的成就，祝贺你们。
我和我的太太有两个女儿，像你们一样正在上大学，有一个女儿上的是德州大学，一个女儿上的是耶鲁大学，他们是双胞胎。我们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也是同样的引以为荣的。我这次访华恰逢一个重要的周年纪念日，副主席刚才也谈到了，三十年前这一周，一个美国的总统来到了中国，他的访华之旅目的是为了结束长达数十年的隔阂，和长达数百年的相互猜疑，本着相互利益，本着相互尊重的精神站在一起。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一个历史悠久的一个伟大的国家，有伟大的文明。今天，我们仍然看到中国奉行着重视家庭、学业和荣誉的优良的传统，同时，我们所看到的中国正日益成为世界上一个最富活力和最富创造力的社会之一，这一点最佳的验证便是在座诸位所具备的知识和潜力。中国正走在一个发展的道路上，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。
更为重要的是，我们许多的公民主动捐出自己的金钱，自己的时间来帮助有需求的人士。美国的同情心，同时也远远超越了我们自己的国界，在人道主义援助方面，我们居于世界首位，援助世界各地的人们。至于联邦调查局和执法界的工作人员，他们自己就是劳动人民的一员，他们献身于打击犯罪，打击腐败。 （待续）
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