老布什访华演讲

老布什访华演讲ToastatWelcomingBanquetGeorgeBushMay7,1982Iwanttofirstthankyouforasuperlativedinnerandmagnificenthospitality.TheseareamongthehallmarksofChina.BarbaraandIhaveaspecialregardandpersonalfriendshipforthepeopleofChina.Beijingisforusanoldandnostalgichome.Duringourstayherewespentagreatdealoftimewiththepeople—working,shopping,sightseeing,andtheendlesshourswespenttouringthecityonourbicycles.Duringthattimeweneverexperiencedanythingotherthantheutmostcourtesyandgenuinefriendshipofthepeople.Thosewerehappydays.Theyweregooddays,importantdays.WewerepartofthedramaticprocesswhichbroughtourtwocountriesbacktogetherandsetusontheroadtofullnormalizationofrelationsbetweentheUnitedStatesandChina.ItstartedwithwhatAmericansaffectionatelyrefertoaspingpongdiplomacy.Itmovedthroughthedecadeofrapprochement.Whenrelationsbetweenourgovernmentsandpeoplesexpandedinsuchadramaticfashionthattheycapturedthefullattentionoftheentireworld.PresidentReaganinhisrecentlettertoPremierZhao,ontheoccasionofthe10thanniversaryoftheShanghaiCommunique,rightlyobservedthatourrelationshipnowextendsintoalmosteveryfieldofhumanendeavor.Thisshouldcomeasnosurprise.YourlatePremierandesteemedstatesman,ZhouEnlai,inwelcomingPresidentNixontoChinamorethan10yearsagocommentedthat,“theChinesepeopleareagreatpeopleandtheAmericanpeopleareagreatpeople.”ZhouEnlai’swordsareascorrecttodayastheywerethen.Ifhewerestillwithus,hewouldbepleasedwiththeprogresswehavemadeasournationsandourpeoplesbecomecloser.FollowingtheShanghaiCommuniqueof1972,relationsbetweenourtwocountriesprospered,maturedandevolvedinsuchawaythattheestablishmentoffulldiplomaticrelationswasthelogicalconclusion.NormalizationbroughtwithitrecognitionbytheUnitedStatesthatthePeople’sRepublicofChinaisthesolelegalgovernmentofChinaandacknowledgedtheChinesepositionthatthereisbutone-ChinaandthatTaiwanisapartofChina.ThisunderstandingisstronglysupportedbyPresidentReaganalongwiththeoneChinapolicyestablishedinboththeShanghaiandJointNormalizationCommuniques.Asrepresentativesoftwogreatpeopleswenotonlyhavetheopportunitybuttheobligationtomakemajorcontributionstothecauseofglobalpeace.Itmustberememberedthatwesharenotonlycommoninterestinthefaceofhegemonistexpansionism,butweshareacommonresponsibility.WeintheUnitedStatesbelievethatourrealstrengthasanationliesnotsomuchinourArmy,orourNavyorthesizeofournationaleconomy.Itrestsinthedecency,andcompassionofourpeople.Itrestsalsointhevalueofourworld.ThepresidentaskedmetocometoChinabecauseofthevitalimportanceheplacesontheUnitedStates-Chinarelationsandbecauseofhisstrongpersonalcommitmenttobuildinganenduringrelationship---onebasedonequalityandmutualtrustandunderstanding.Whilewearenotsonaïveastobelievethattherearenotsomeissuesofdifferencetobediscussed,Ialsobelieve,asdoesthePresident,thatourdifferencesaregreatlyovershadowedbyissueswhichbindusandstrengthenourrelationship.Myvisitisasymbolofthegoodfaithwithwhichweseektobuilduponthestrengthofourfriendship,ourculturalandcommercialtiesandourimportantstrategicrelationship.EventsofthepastdecadehaveconfirmedtimeandtimeagainthatAmericanandChinesefriendshipandcooperationwillflourishthroughtherestofthiscenturyandbeyond.