President Obama Holds Town Hall with Chinese Youth.docx

1、President Obama Holds Town Hall with Chinese YouthPresident Obama Holds Town Hall with Chinese Youth The White HousePresident Barack Obama listens to a question at the town hall meeting with future Chinese leaders at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum in Shanghai, China, Nov. 16, 2009. (Offi

2、cial White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)Posters commemorating President Barack Obamas appearance at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum are handed out following his town hall meeting there in Shanghai, China, Nov. 16, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)奥巴马你好。诸位下午好。我感到很荣幸

3、能够有机会到上海跟你们交谈，我要感谢复旦大学的杨校长，感谢他的款待和热情的欢迎。我还想感谢我们出色的大使洪博培，他是我们两国间深厚的纽带。我不知道他刚才说什么，但是希望他说得很好。13:17:39PRESIDENT 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. Id like to thank Fudan Universitys President Yang for his hospi

4、tality and his gracious welcome. Id also like to thank our outstanding Ambassador, Jon Huntsman, who exemplifies the deep ties and respect between our nations. I dont know what he said, but I hope it was good. (Laughter.)奥巴马我今天准备这样，先做一个开场白，我真正希望做的是回答在座的问题，不但回答在座的学生问题，同时还可以从网上得到一些问题，由在座的一些学生和洪博培大使代为提

5、问。很抱歉，我的中文远不如你们的英文，所以我期待和你们的对话。这是我首次访问中国，我看到你们博大的国家，感到很兴奋。在上海这里，我们看到了瞩目的增长，高耸的塔楼，繁忙的街道，还有企业家的精神。这些都是中国步入21世纪的迹象，让我感到赞叹。同时我也急切的要看到向我们展现中国古老的古迹，明天和后天我要到北京去看雄伟壮丽的故宫和令人叹为观止的长城，这个国度既有丰富的历史，又有对未来憧憬的信念。13:17:47What Id like to do is to make some opening comments, and then what Im really looking forward to d

6、oing is taking questions, not only from students who are in the audience, but also weve 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

7、 looking forward to this chance to have a dialogue. This is my first time traveling to China, and Im 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

8、 just as Im impressed by these signs of Chinas journey to the 21st century, Im eager to see those ancient places that speak to us from Chinas distant past. Tomorrow and the next day I hope to have a chance when Im in Beijing to see the majesty of the Forbidden City and the wonder of the Great Wall.

9、Truly, this is a nation that encompasses both a rich history and a belief in the promise of the future.奥巴马而我们两国的关系也是如此，上海在美中关系的历史中是个具有意义的重大城市，在30年前，上海公报打开了我们两国政府和两国人民接触交往的新的篇章。13:17:54The same can be said of the relationship between our two countries. Shanghai, of course, is a city that has great me

10、aning 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. 奥巴马不过美国与这个国家的纽带可以追溯更久远的过去，追溯到美国独立的初期，乔治华盛顿组织了皇后号的下水仪式，这个船成功前往大清王朝，华盛顿希望看到

11、这艘船前往各地，与中国结成新的纽带。希望中国开辟新的地平线，建立新的伙伴关系。在其后的两个世纪中，历史洪流使我们两国关系向许多不同的方向发展，而即使在最动荡的方向中，我们的两国人民打造深的，甚至有戏剧性的纽带，比如美国人永远不会忘记，在二战期间，美国飞行员在中国上空被击落后，当地人民对他们的款待，中国公民冒着失去一切的危险罩着他们。13:18:01However, Americas ties to this city - and to this country - stretch back further, to the earliest days of Americas independen

12、ce. 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

13、 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 tumultuou

14、s 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 ve

15、terans of that war still warmly greet those American veterans who return to the sites where they fought to help liberate China from occupation.奥巴马而参加二战的老兵仍然欢迎故地重游的美国老兵，他们在那里参战。40年前，我们两国间开启了又一种联系，两国关系开始解冻，通过乒乓球的比赛解冻关系。我们两国之间有着分歧，但是我们也有着共同的人性及有着共同的好奇，就像一位乒乓球人员一样，那的国家就是一样，但是这个小小的开头带来了上海公报的问世，最终还带来了美中在1

16、979年建交。在其后的30年我们又取得了长足的进展，1979年美中贸易只有50亿美元，现在已经超过了4000亿美元。13:18:10A 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 f

17、or all our differences, both our common humanity and our shared curiosity were revealed. As one American player described his visit to China - Thepeople are just like usThe country is very similar to America, but still very different. Of course this small opening was followed by the achievement of t

18、he 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.

19、奥巴马贸易在许多方面影响人民的生活，比如美国电脑中许多部件，还有穿的衣服都是从中国进口的，我们向中国出口中国工业要使用的机器，这种贸易可以在太平洋两岸创造更多的就业机会，让我们的人民过上质量更高的生活。13:22:50The commerce affects our peoples 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 yo

20、ur 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.奥巴马在需求趋于平衡的过程中，这种贸易可以是更广阔的贸易。如今我们有着积极合作和全面的关系，为我们在当前重大的全球问题上建立伙伴关系打开了大门，这些问题包括经济复苏、洁净能源的开发、制止核武器扩散以及应对气候变化。还有在亚洲及全球各地促进和平和稳定，所有这些问题我明天与胡主席会谈时都会谈到。1979年的时候，我们两

21、国人民的联系十分有限，如今当年乒乓球运动员的好奇可以在许多领域建立的联系中都可以看到，在美国数量最多的留学生都来自中国。而在美国的学生中，学中文的人数增加了50%。我们两国有近200个友好城市，美中科学家在许多新的研究领域和发现领域进行合作，而我们两国人民都热爱篮球，姚明就是个例子。不过，此行中我不能观看上海鲨鱼队的比赛，有点遗憾。13:23:12And as demand becomes more balanced, it can lead to even broader prosperity.In 1979, the political cooperation between the Un

22、ited 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 s

23、pread 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 th

24、ose 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 weve seen a 50 percent increase in the study of Chinese among our own students. There are nearly 200 friendship cities drawi

25、ng 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 - Im only sorry that I wont be able to see a Shanghai Sharks game while Im visiting.奥巴马那么我们两国之间的这种关系给我们带来了积极的变化，这并不是偶然的，中国

26、使得亿万人民脱贫，而这种成就是人类历史上史无前例的。而中国在全球问题中也发挥更大的作用，美国也目睹了我们经济的成长。中国有句古言，温故而知新。当然，我们过去30年中也遇到了挫折和挑战，我们的关系并不是没有困难的，没有分歧的。但是我们必须一定是对手这种想法不应该是一成不变的。由于我们两国的合作，美中两国都变得更加繁荣、更加安全。我们基于相互的利益、相互的尊重就能有成就。13:23:27It is no coincidence that the relationship between our countries has accompanied a period of positive chang

27、e. 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

28、a successful conclusion. 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 predestine

29、d - 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.奥巴马不过，这种接触的成功要取决于我们要彼此了解，要能够进行开诚布公的对话，彼此进行了解。就

30、像当年美国乒乓球运动员所说的，我们作为人有着共同的向往，但是我们两国又不同。我认为我们两国每个国家都应该勾画出自己要走的路，中国是一个文明古国，它有着博大精深的文化。相对而言，美国是一个年轻的国家，它的文化受到来自许多不同国家移民的影响，而指导我们民主制度文件的影响，我有一个非常简单的向往，代表了一些核心的原则，就是所有的人生来平等，都有着基本的权利，而政府应当反映人们的意志，贸易应该是开放的，信息流通应当是自由的，而法律要保证这个公平。13:23:38And yet the success of that engagement depends upon understanding - on

31、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 a

32、ncient 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 thei