问答题 It is no coincidence that the development of the relationship between our countries has accompanied a period of positive change. (1) 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. The United States has seen our economy improve along with the standard of living enjoyed by our people, while the Cold War was brought to a successful conclusion.
(2) 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.
However, the success of that engagement depends upon understanding, on sustaining an open dialogue, and learning about one another and from one another. (3) Just as the American table tennis player, Forrest Gump, 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. (4) 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.
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. I'm looking forward to deepening the partnership between the United States and China in this critical area tomorrow. (5) However, above all, I see China's future in you-young people whose talent, dedication and dreams will do so much to help shape the 21st century.