第一篇：奥巴马2013年4月6日演讲译文

奥巴马2013年4月6日演讲译文【原创】

Hi, everybody.Our top priority as a nation, and my top priority as President, must be doing everything we can to reignite the engine of America's growth: a rising, thriving middle class.That's our North Star.That must drive every decision we make.大家好。我们作为国家的第一要务和我作为总统的第一要务只能是尽一切可能重新启动美国增长的引擎：一个发展的兴旺的中产阶级。这是我们的指路明灯。这是我做出每个决定所必须考虑的。

Now, yesterday, we learned that our businesses created 95,000 new jobs last month.That's about 500,000 new jobs this year, and nearly 6.5 million new jobs over the past three years.昨天，我们得知我们的企业在上个月创造了95,000个新就业机会。今年大约创造了500,000个新就业机会，在过去的三年里一共创造了近650万个新就业机会。

But we've got more work to do to get the economy growing faster, so that everybody who wants a job can find one.And that means we need fewer self-inflicted wounds from Washington, like the across-the-board spending cuts that are already hurting many communities – cuts that economists predict will cost our economy hundreds of thousands of jobs this year.但是要让我们的经济更快地增长，我们还有很多工作要做，以便每一个需要工作的人能够找到一份工作。在意味着我们需要华盛顿不要自残，例如大范围的开支削减已经损害了我们的社区—经济学家们认为这些削减将以我们今年成千上万的就业机会为代价。

If we want to keep rebuilding this economy on a stronger, sturdier foundation for growth – growth that creates good, middle-class jobs – we need to make smarter choices.如果我们希望继续在一个更加强大坚实的增长基础上重建经济—创造好的中产阶级就业机会的增长—我们就要做出明智的决策。

This week, I'll send a budget to Congress that will help do just that – a fiscally-responsible blueprint for middle-class jobs and growth.For years, an argument in Washington has raged between reducing our deficits at all costs, and making the investments we need to grow the economy.My budget puts that argument to rest.Because we don't have to choose between these goals – we can do both.After all, as we saw in the 1990s, nothing reduces deficits faster than a growing economy.本周，我将向国会提交一份预算就是要促进这个—一份对中产阶级就业机会和增长负财政责任的蓝图。多少年来，关于不惜一切代价削减赤字和继续投资发展经济的争论在华盛顿已经白热化了。我的预算将让这个争论降温。因为我们不必在这两个目标中只取其一，我们可以二者兼顾。毕竟当我们回顾1990年代就会发现，没有什么比经济增长减少赤字更快。

My budget will reduce our deficits not with aimless, reckless spending cuts that hurt students and seniors and middle-class families – but through the balanced approach that the American people prefer, and the investments that a growing economy demands.我的预算不是用无目的的草率的损害学生、老人和中产阶级家庭的开支削减来减少赤字—而是用美国人民希望的统筹兼顾的途径和发展经济需要的投资来减少赤字。

Now, the truth is, our deficits are already shrinking.That's a fact.I've already signed more than $2.5 trillion in deficit reduction into law, and my budget will reduce our deficits by nearly $2 trillion more, without harming the recovery.That surpasses the goal of $4 trillion in deficit reduction that many economists believe will stabilize our finances.现在真相是我们的赤字已经减少。这是事实。我已经把减少超过2万5千亿美元赤字的目标签署为法律，我的预算将把我们的赤字再减少将近2万亿美元，而且不损害经济复苏。这超过了很多经济学家们相信的稳定我们的财政必须减少的4万亿美元赤字的目标。

We'll make the tough reforms required to strengthen Medicare for the future, without undermining the rock-solid guarantee at its core.And we'll enact commonsense tax reform that includes closing wasteful tax loopholes for the wealthy and well-connected – loopholes like the ones that can allow a billionaire to pay a lower tax rate than his or her secretary.我们将进行加强未来医保所要求的艰难的改革而不损害它的坚实的核心保障。我们将实施正确的包括堵塞有利于那些富可敌国和神通广大的人们的漏洞的税法改革—这些漏洞可以让千万富翁的税率比他或她的秘书的税率还低。

This is the compromise I offered the Speaker of the House at the end of last year.While it's not my ideal plan to further reduce the deficit, it's a compromise I'm willing to accept in order to move beyond a cycle of short-term, crisis-driven decision-making, and so that we can focus on growing our economy and our middle class for the long run.It includes ideas many Republicans have said they could accept as well.It's a way

we can make progress together.这是我去年年底向众议院议长提供的妥协。它不是我本人的进一步减少赤字的理想方案，它是我可以接受的妥协以便跳出短期的怪圈、危机驱动的决策，这样我们可以致力于长期发展我们的经济和中产阶级。它包括很多共和党人表示他们可以接受的主意。它是我们可以共同取得进步的方法。

But deficit reduction cannot come at the cost of economic growth or middle-class security.And it doesn't have to.My budget will make critical investments to grow the economy, create jobs, and strengthen the middle class.但是削减赤字不能以经济增长和中产阶级安全为代价。也没有必要这样。我的预算将进行必要的投资发展经济、创造就业机会和加强中产阶级。

As I said in my State of the Union Address, every day, we should ask ourselves three questions: how do we make America a magnet for good jobs? How do we give our workers the skills they need to do those jobs? And how do we make sure that hard work leads to a decent living?

正如我在我的国情咨文中所说的，我们每天都应该扪心自问三个问题：我们如何让美国成为好工作的磁石？我们如何给我们的工人这些工作需要的技能？我们如何确保勤奋工作导致体面的生活？

To make America a magnet for good jobs, we'll invest in high-tech manufacturing and homegrown American energy, put people to work building new roads, bridges, and schools, and cut red tape to help businesses grow.要把美国变成好工作的磁石，我们就要投资于高技术制造业和国产能源，让人们从事修建新道路、桥梁和学校的工作，就是繁文缛节助力企业发展。

To give workers the skills they need to do those jobs, we'll invest in education that begins in the earliest years, and job training that better equips workers to compete in a 21st century economy.要给工人们这些工作需要的技能，我们将投资于早期教育和职业培训，使工人们更好地武装起来参与21世纪经济竞争。

To make sure hard work is rewarded, we'll build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class, and focus on revitalizing some of our communities hardest-hit by recession and job loss.要让辛勤工作得到回报，我们将打造通往中产阶级的新的机会阶梯，致力于让那些衰退和工作丧失重创的社区焕发生机。

All of these investments will help grow the economy and create jobs.None of them will add to the deficit.And I will lay out these priorities in greater detail in the days ahead.所有这些投资都有助于发展经济和创造就业机会。它们中没有一个增加赤字。今后我将进一步细化这些要务。

It's a budget that doesn't spend beyond our means.And it's a budget that doesn't make harsh and unnecessary cuts that only serve to slow our economy.We'll keep our promise to an aging generation by shoring up Medicare.And we'll keep our promise to the next generation by investing in the fundamentals that have always made America strong – manufacturing and innovation, energy and education.这个预算是量入而出的。这个预算没有做出只能放缓我们的经济的草率的不必要的削减。我们将通过支持医保来恪守对老年人的承诺。我们将通过投资于一直使美国强大的基础—制造业和创新、能源和教育，来实现对下一代的承诺。

Because that's what it'll take to make sure America remains strong in the years ahead – and to leave behind something better for our kids.因为这是确保美国在未来保持强大—给我们的孩子们留下更好的东西所必须的。

Thanks so much.Have a great weekend!

谢谢，周末愉快。

第二篇：奥巴马演讲译文

奥巴马在今天于内华达大学发表演讲时称：“如果一家美国公司希望创造就业岗位和实现增长，那么我们就应该帮助其达成这一目标。”根据白宫公布的内容概要说明书显示，向能源抵税计划补充50亿美元资金将可吸引到大约120亿美元的私人投资，从而为清洁能源制造行业创造数以千计的工作岗位，这将意味着联邦政府所花费的每1美元都将为清洁能源项目换来大约2.40美元的私人资本。奥巴马称，联邦政府提供的50亿美元投资将可创造将近4万个工作岗位，而120亿美元的私人投资活动则将进一步创造9万个工作岗位。

奥巴马目前正处于视察密苏里州和内华达州的两天之旅中，他将利用此次视察来宣传自己的经济政策，并为民主党参议院候选人筹集竞选资金。在11月份的选举活动中，经济、就业和预算赤字很可能将成为首要问题，此次选举将决定美国国会的控制权。在今天的演讲中，奥巴马对其上任不久后推出的总额8620亿美元的经济刺激性计划作出了辩护，这项计划中有一项内容是为清洁能源行业提供价值23亿美元的抵税。奥巴马曾在1月份表示，在这项抵税计划的帮助下，共有183个清洁能源项目创造了1.7万多个就业岗位，这些项目所涉及的产品包括涡轮发电机和太阳能面板等。

奥巴马今天还表示，美国经济正在从20世纪30年代以来最严重的衰退周期中复苏。据劳工部此前公布的非农就业报告显示，6月份私营企业的就业人数增加了8.3万人，但失业率则仍旧高达9.5%。就内华达州而言，5月份该州的失业率为14%。奥巴马称：“就我所知，对于内华达州而言，我们已经走过了艰难的时刻，但并非所有的困难日子都已经被甩在身后。不过我可以作出承诺的是，我们正在朝着正确的方向前进。

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THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody.Thank you.(Applause.)Please have a seat.Have a seat.(Applause.)Well, thank you, Harry.Thanks for giving me a chance to get out of Washington.It’s very hot there.(Laughter.)It’s hot here, too, but there’s a little more humidity there.And I just love coming to Vegas.(Applause.)I love being here.I mentioned last night, I'm not the only one who loves it, because I noticed that, for some reason, Air Force One is more crowded when we're coming to Vegas.(Laughter.)Somehow I need more staff and logistical support and a couple extra Secret Service guys.(Laughter.)

We've got some wonderful leaders here, and I just want to acknowledge them very quickly.U.S.Representative Dina Titus is here--(applause)--doing a great job.And Nevada’s Secretary of State, Ross Miller, is here.(Applause.)Dr.Neal Smatresk is here, and his family.And they’re doing a great job on behalf of UNLV.(Applause.)And all of you are here.(Applause.)And I am thrilled to see you.But I’m especially here to be with my friend and your Senator, Harry Reid.(Applause.)One of the first stories I heard about Harry was that he was a boxer back in the day here in Nevada.And I was mentioning last--she’s laughing, she’s--oh, I can't believe it.(Laughter.)No, he was.(Laughter.)You wouldn't know that because he’s so soft-spoken.He’s all “well, I'm Harry Reid.”(Laughter.)But when he first told me he was a boxer, he said, “Barack, I wasn’t the fastest, I wasn’t the hardest hitting, but I knew how to take a punch.”(Laughter.)He knew how to take a punch.And Harry Reid became a pretty good boxer because he would simply outlast his opponents.He had a stronger will.I think that tells you something about the kind of person he is, the kind of senator he is, the kind of Senate Majority Leader he is.He’s a fighter, and you should never bet against him.(Applause.)And that’s just what we need right now.That's what Nevada needs right now.(Applause.)That's what Nevada needs, is somebody who’s going to fight for the people of Nevada and for the American people.And you know that he wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth--in Searchlight, Nevada.So when you're going through tough times, Harry Reid has been there.He knows what it feels like to be scraping and scrimping, and struggle to make ends meet.And so when his home state is having a tough time, when the country is having a tough time, he knows that he’s got to be fighting on behalf of not those who are powerful, but on behalf of those who need help the most.Now, let me tell you, when we first took office, amidst the worst economy since the Great Depression, we needed Harry’s fighting spirit--because we had lost nearly three million jobs during the last six months of 2008.The month I was sworn in, January 2009, we lost 750,000 jobs in that month alone.The following month we lost 600,000 jobs.And these were all the consequence of a decade of misguided economic policies--a decade of stagnant wages, a decade of declining incomes, a decade of spiraling deficits.So our first mission was to break the momentum of the deepest and most vicious recession since the Great Depression.We had to stop the freefall and get the economy and jobs growing again.And digging out of this mess required us taking some tough decisions, and sometimes those decisions were not popular.And Harry knew they weren’t popular.I knew they weren’t popular.But they were the right thing to do.And Harry was willing to lead those fights because he knew that we had to change course;that to do nothing, to simply continue with the policies that had gotten us into this mess in the first place would mean further disaster.And to fail to act on some of the great challenges facing the country that we had been putting off for decades would mean a lesser future for our children and our grandchildren.Now, as a result of those tough steps that we took, we’re in a different place today than we were a year ago.An economy that was shrinking is now growing.We’ve gained private sector jobs for each of the past six months instead of losing them--almost 600,000 new jobs.But as Harry pointed out, that’s not enough.I don’t have to tell you that.The unemployment rate is still unacceptably high, particularly in some states like Nevada.And a lot of you have felt that pain personally or you’ve got somebody in your family who’s felt the pain.Maybe you found yourself underwater on your mortgage and faced the terrible prospect of losing your home.Maybe you’re out of work and worried about how you’re going to provide for your family.Or maybe you’re a student at UNLV and you’re wondering if you’re going to be able to find a job when you graduate, or if you’re going to be able to pay off your student loans, or if you’re going to be able to start your career off on the right foot.Now, the simple truth is it took years to dig this hole;it’s going to take more time than any of us would like to climb out of it.But the question is, number one, are we on the right track? And the answer is, yes.And number two, how do we accelerate the process? How do we get the recovery to pick up more steam? How do we fill this hole faster?

There’s a big debate in Washington right now about the role that government should play in all this.As I said in the campaign--and as I’ve repeated many times as President--the greatest generator of jobs in America is our private sector.It’s not government.It’s our entrepreneurs and innovators who are willing to take a chance on a good idea.It’s our businesses, large and small, who are making payroll and working with suppliers and distributing goods and services across the country and now across the world.The private sector, not government, is, was, and always will be the source of America’s economic success.That’s our strength, the dynamism of our economy.And that’s why one of the first things Harry Reid did, one of the first things we did, was cut dozens of taxes--not raise them, cut them--for middle class and small business people.And we extended loan programs to put capital in the hands of startups.And we worked to reduce the cost of health care for small businesses.And right now, Harry is fighting to pass additional tax breaks and loan authority to help small businesses grow and hire all across the country.But he has also tried to look out specifically for Nevada.He understands, for example, that tourism is so enormous an aspect of our economy, and so helped to move our trade promotion act that is going to be helping to do exactly what it says--promote tourism--and bring folks here to enjoy the incredible hospitality.The point is, our role in government, especially in difficult times like these, is to break down barriers that are standing in the way of innovation;to unleash the ingenuity that springs from our people;to give an impetus to businesses to grow and expand.That’s not some abstract theory.We’ve seen the results.We’ve seen what we can do to catalyze job growth in the private sector.And one of the places we’ve seen it most is in the clean energy sector--an industry that will not only produce jobs of the future but help free America from our dependence on foreign oil in the process, clean up our environment in the process, improve our national security in the process.So let me give you an example.Just yesterday, I took a tour of Smith Electric Vehicles in Kansas City, Missouri, on the way here.This is a company that just hired its 50th worker, it’s on the way to hiring 50 more, and is aiming to produce 500 electric vehicles at that plant alone.(Applause.)And these are spiffy-looking trucks.I mean, they are--and they’re used by Fortune 500 companies for distribution--PepsiCo, Frito-Lay.They’re also used for the United States military –-electric trucks with a lot of--they’re very strong, great horsepower.And the reason for their success is their entrepreneurial drive.But it’s also partly because of a grant that we’re offering companies that manufacture electric vehicles and the batteries that power them.Because of these grants, we’re going to be going from only having 2 percent of the global capacity to make advanced batteries that go in trucks and cars, run on electricity--we’re going to go from 2 percent of advanced battery market share to 40 percent just in the next five years--just in the next five years.(Applause.)And that will create thousands of jobs across the country--thousands of jobs across the country, not just this year, not just next year, but for decades to come.So it’s a powerful example of how we can generate jobs and promote robust economic growth here in Nevada and all across the country by incentivizing private sector investments.That’s what we’re working to do with the clean energy manufacturing tax credits that we enacted last year, thanks to Harry’s leadership.Thanks to Harry’s leadership.(Applause.)Some people know these tax credits by the name 48c, which refers to their section in the tax code.But here’s how these credits work.We said to clean energy companies, if you’re willing to put up 70 percent of the capital for a worthy project, a clean energy project, we’ll put up the remaining 30 percent.To put it another way, for every dollar we invest, we leverage two more private sector dollars.We’re betting on the ingenuity and talent of American businesses.(Applause.)

Now, these manufacturing tax credits are already having an extraordinary impact.A solar panel company--a solar power company called Amonix received a roughly $6 million tax credit for a new facility they’re building in the Las Vegas area-– a tax credit they were able to match with roughly $12 million in private capital.That's happening right now.And that’s just one of over--(applause)--that's just one of over 180 projects that received manufacturing tax credits in over 40 states.Now, here’s the--the only problem we have is these credits were working so well, there aren’t enough tax credits to go around.There are more worthy projects than there are tax credits.When we announced the program last year, it was such a success we received 500 applications requesting over $8 billion in tax credits, but we only had $2.3 billion to invest.In other words, we had almost four times as many worthy requests as we had tax credits.Now, my attitude, and Harry’s attitude, is that if an American company wants to create jobs and grow, we should be there to help them do it.So that’s why I’m urging Congress to invest $5 billion more in these kinds of clean energy manufacturing tax credits, more than doubling the amount that we made available last year.(Applause.)And this investment would generate nearly 40,000 jobs and $12 billion or more in private sector investment, which could trigger an additional 90,000 jobs.Now, I’m gratified that this initiative is drawing support from members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, including Republican Senators Richard Lugar and Orrin Hatch.Unfortunately, that kind of bipartisanship has been absent on a lot of efforts that Harry and I have taken up over the past year and a half.We fought to keep Nevada teachers and firefighters and police officers on the job, and to extend unemployment insurance and COBRA so folks have health insurance while they’re looking for work.We fought to stop health insurance companies from dropping your coverage on the basis of preexisting conditions, or right when you get sick, or placing lifetime limits on the amount of care that you can receive.We fought to eliminate wasteful subsidies that go to banks that were acting as unnecessary middlemen for guaranteed student loans from the federal government, and as a consequence, freed up tens of billions of dollars that are now going directly to students, which means more than a million students have access to financial aid that they didn't have before.(Applause.)And we’re now on the cusp of enacting Wall Street reforms that will empower consumers with clear and concise information that they need to make financial decisions that are best for them--(applause)--and to help prevent another crisis like this from ever happening again, and putting an end to some of the predatory lending and the subprime loans that had all kinds of fine print and hidden fees that have been such a burden for the economy of a state like Nevada and haven’t been fair to inpidual consumers in the process.So that’s what Harry and I fought for.And, frankly, at every turn we’ve met opposition and obstruction from a lot of leaders across the aisle.And that’s why I’m glad I’ve got a boxer in the Senate who is not afraid to fight for what he believes in.(Applause.)And Harry and I are going to keep on fighting until wages and incomes are rising, and businesses are hiring again right here in Nevada, and Americans are headed back to work again, and we’ve recovered from this recession, and we’re actually rebuilding this economy stronger than before.(Applause.)That’s what we’re committed to doing.(Applause.)

So, Nevada, I know we’ve been through tough times.And not all the difficult days are behind us.There are going to be some tough times to come.But I can promise you this: We are headed in the right direction.We are moving forward.We are not going to move backwards.(Applause.)

And I’m absolutely confident that if we keep on moving forward, if we refuse to turn backwards, if we’re willing to show the same kind of fighting spirit as Harry Reid has shown throughout his career, then out of this storm brighter days are going to come.Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.(Applause.)

第三篇：奥巴马上海演讲英文稿+译文

奥巴马上海演讲英文稿+译文

President Obama at Town Hall Meeting in Shanghai Obama answers questions from Fudan University students and the Internet THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary November 16, 2009

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AT TOWN HALL MEETING WITH FUTURE CHINESE LEADERS Museum of Science and Technology Shanghai, China 1:18 P.M.CST

PRESIDENT 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.I'd like to thank Fudan University's President Yang for his hospitality and his gracious welcome.I'd also like to thank our outstanding Ambassador, Jon Huntsman, who exemplifies the deep ties and respect between our nations.I don't know what he said, but I hope it was good.(Laughter.)

What I'd like to do is to make some opening comments, and then what I'm really looking forward to doing is taking questions, not only from students who are in the audience, but also we've 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 looking forward to this chance to have a dialogue.This is my first time traveling to China, and I'm 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 just as I'm impressed by these signs of China's journey to the 21st century, I'm eager to see those ancient places that speak to us from China's distant past.Tomorrow and the next day I hope to have a chance when I'm in Beijing to see the majesty of the Forbidden City and the wonder of the Great Wall.Truly, this is a nation that encompasses both a rich history and a belief in the promise of the future.The same can be said of the relationship between our two countries.Shanghai, of course, is a city that has great meaning 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.However, America's ties to this city--and to this country--stretch back further, to the earliest days of America's independence.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 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 tumultuous 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 veterans of that war still warmly greet those American veterans who return to the sites where they fought to help liberate China from occupation.A 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 for all our differences, both our common humanity and our shared curiosity were revealed.As one American player described his visit to China--“[The] people are just like us…The country is very similar to America, but still very different.”

Of course this small opening was followed by the achievement of the 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.The commerce affects our people's 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 your 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.And as demand becomes more balanced, it can lead to even broader prosperity.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.And that is why America will always speak out for these core principles around the world.We do not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation, but we also don't believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation.These freedoms of expression and worship--of access to information and political participation--we believe are universal rights.They should be available to all people, including ethnic and religious minorities--whether they are in the United States, China, or any nation.Indeed, it is that respect for universal rights that guides America's openness to other countries;our respect for different cultures;our commitment to international law;and our faith in the future.These are all things that you should know about America.I also know that we have much to learn about China.Looking around at this magnificent city--and looking around this room--I do believe that our nations hold something important in common, and that is a belief in the future.Neither the United States nor China is content to rest on our achievements.For while China is an ancient nation, you are also clearly looking ahead with confidence, ambition, and a commitment to see that tomorrow's generation can do better than today's.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--and I'm looking forward to deepening the partnership between the United States and China in this critical area tomorrow.But above all, I see China's future in you--young people whose talent and dedication and dreams will do so much to help shape the 21st century.I've said many times that I believe that our world is now fundamentally interconnected.The jobs we do, the prosperity we build, the environment we protect, the security that we seek--all of these things are shared.And given that interconnection, power in the 21st century is no longer a zero-sum game;one country's success need not come at the expense of another.And that is why the United States insists we do not seek to contain China's rise.On the contrary, we welcome China as a strong and prosperous and successful member of the community of nations--a China that draws on the rights, strengths, and creativity of inpidual Chinese like you.To return to the proverb--consider the past.We know that more is to be gained when great powers cooperate than when they collide.That is a lesson that human beings have learned time and again, and that is the example of the history between our nations.And I believe strongly that cooperation must go beyond our government.It must be rooted in our people--in the studies we share, the business that we do, the knowledge that we gain, and even in the sports that we play.And these bridges must be built by young men and women just like you and your counterparts in America.That's why I'm pleased to announce that the United States will dramatically expand the number of our students who study in China to 100,000.And these exchanges mark a clear commitment to build ties among our people, as surely as you will help determine the destiny of the 21st century.And I'm absolutely confident that America has no better ambassadors to offer than our young people.For they, just like you, are filled with talent and energy and optimism about the history that is yet to be written.So let this be the next step in the steady pursuit of cooperation that will serve our nations, and the world.And if there's one thing that we can take from today's dialogue, I hope that it is a commitment to continue this dialogue going forward.So thank you very much.And I look forward now to taking some questions from all of you.Thank you very much.(Applause.)

So--I just want to make sure this works.This is a tradition, by the way, that is very common in the United States at these town hall meetings.And what we're going to do is I will just--if you are interested in asking a question, you can raise your hands.I will call on you.And then I will alternate between a question from the audience and an Internet question from

one of the students who prepared the questions, as well as I think Ambassador Huntsman may have a question that we were able to obtain from the Web site of our embassy.So let me begin, though, by seeing--and then what I'll do is I'll call on a boy and then a girl and then--so we'll go back and forth, so that you know it's fair.All right? So I'll start with this young lady right in the front.Why don't we wait for this microphone so everyone can hear you.And what's your name?

Q: My name is(inaudible)and I am a student from Fudan University.Shanghai and Chicago have been sister cities since 1985, and these two cities have conduct a wide range of economic, political, and cultural exchanges.So what measures will you take to deepen this close relationship between cities of the United States and China? And Shanghai will hold the World Exposition next year.Will you bring your family to visit the Expo? Thank you.PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, thank you very much for the question.I was just having lunch before I came here with the Mayor of Shanghai, and he told me that he has had an excellent relationship with the city of Chicago--my home town--that he's visited there twice.And I think it's wonderful to have these exchanges between cities.One of the things that I discussed with the Mayor is how both cities can learn from each other on strategies around clean energy, because one of the issues that ties China and America together is how, with an expanding population and a concern for climate change, that we're able to reduce our carbon footprint.And obviously in the United States and many developed countries, per capita, per inpidual, they are already using much more energy than each inpidual here in China.But as China grows and expands, it's going to be using more energy as well.So both countries have a great interest in finding new strategies.We talked about mass transit and the excellent rail lines that are being developed in Shanghai.I think we can learn in Chicago and the United States some of the fine work that's being done on high-speed rail.In the United States, I think we are learning how to develop buildings that use much less energy, that are much more energy-efficient.And I know that with Shanghai, as I traveled and I saw all the cranes and all the new buildings that are going up, it's very important for us to start incorporating these new technologies so that each building is energy-efficient when it comes to lighting, when it comes to heating.And so it's a terrific opportunity I think for us to learn from each other.I know this is going to be a major focus of the Shanghai World Expo, is the issue of clean energy, as I learned from the Mayor.And so I would love to attend.I'm not sure yet what my schedule is going to be, but I'm very pleased that we're going to have an excellent U.S.pavilion at the Expo, and I understand that we expect as many as 70 million visitors here.So it's going to be very crowded and it's going to be very exciting.Chicago has had two world expos in its history, and both of those expos ended up being tremendous boosts for the city.So I'm sure the same thing will happen here in Shanghai.Thank you.(Applause.)

Why don't we get one of the questions from the Internet? And introduce yourself, in case--Q: First shall I say it in Chinese, and then the English, okay? PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yes.Q: I want to pose a question from the Internet.I want to thank you, Mr.President, for visiting China in your first year in office, and exchange views with us in China.I want to know what are you bringing to China, your visit to China this time, and what will you bring back to the United States?(Applause.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: The main purpose of my trip is to deepen my understanding of China and its vision for the future.I have had several meetings now with President Hu.We participated together in the G20 that was dealing with the economic financial crisis.We have had consultations about a wide range of issues.But I think it's very important for the United States to continually deepen its understanding of China, just as it's important for China to continually deepen its understanding of the United States.In terms of what I'd like to get out of this meeting, or this visit, in addition to having the wonderful opportunity to see the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, and to meet with all of you--these are all highlights--but in addition to that, the

discussions that I intend to have with President Hu speak to the point that Ambassador Huntsman made earlier, which is there are very few global challenges that can be solved unless the United States and China agree.So let me give you a specific example, and that is the issue we were just discussing of climate change.The United States and China are the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, of carbon that is causing the planet to warm.Now, the United States, as a highly developed country, as I said before, per capita, consumes much more energy and emits much more greenhouse gases for each inpidual than does China.On the other hand, China is growing at a much faster pace and it has a much larger population.So unless both of our countries are willing to take critical steps in dealing with this issue, we will not be able to resolve it.There's going to be a Copenhagen conference in December in which world leaders are trying to find a recipe so that we can all make commitments that are differentiated so each country would not have the same obligations--obviously China, which has much more poverty, should not have to do exactly the same thing as the United States--but all of us should have these certain obligations in terms of what our plan will be to reduce these greenhouse gases.So that's an example of what I hope to get out of this meeting--a meeting of the minds between myself and President Hu about how together the United States and China can show leadership.Because I will tell you, other countries around the world will be waiting for us.They will watch to see what we do.And if they say, ah, you know, the United States and China, they're not serious about this, then they won't be serious either.That is the burden of leadership that both of our countries now carry.And my hope is, is that the more discussion and dialogue that we have, the more we are able to show this leadership to the world on these many critical issues.Okay?(Applause.)

All right, it's a--I think it must be a boy's turn now.Right? So I'll call on this young man right here.Q:(As translated.)Mr.President, good afternoon.I'm from Tongji University.I want to cite a saying from Confucius: “It is always good to have a friend coming from afar.” In Confucius books, there is a great saying which says that harmony is good, but also we uphold differences.China advocates a harmonious world.We know that the United States develops a culture that features persity.I want to know, what will your government do to build a persified world with different cultures? What would you do to respect the different cultures and histories of other countries? And what kinds of cooperation we can conduct in the future?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: This is an excellent point.The United States, one of our strengths is that we are a very perse culture.We have people coming from all around the world.And so there's no one definition of what an American looks like.In my own family, I have a father who was from Kenya;I have a mother who was from Kansas, in the Midwest of the United States;my sister is half-Indonesian;she's married to a Chinese person from Canada.So when you see family gatherings in the Obama household, it looks like the United Nations.(Laughter.)

And that is a great strength of the United States, because it means that we learn from different cultures and different foods and different ideas, and that has made us a much more dynamic society.Now, what is also true is that each country in this interconnected world has its own culture and its own history and its own traditions.And I think it's very important for the United States not to assume that what is good for us is automatically good for somebody else.And we have to have some modesty about our attitudes towards other countries.I have to say, though, as I said in my opening remarks, that we do believe that there are certain fundamental principles that are common to all people, regardless of culture.So, for example, in the United Nations we are very active in trying to make sure that children all around the world are treated with certain basic rights--that if children are being exploited, if there's forced labor for children, that despite the fact that that may have taken place in the past in many different countries, including the United States, that all countries of the world now should have developed to the point where we are treating children better than we did in the past.That's a universal value.I believe, for example, the same thing holds true when it comes to the treatment of women.I had a very interesting discussion with the Mayor of Shanghai during lunch right before I came, and he informed me that in many professions now here in China, there are actually more women enrolled in college than there are men, and that they are doing very well.I think that is an excellent indicator of progress, because it turns out that if you look at development around the world, one of the best indicators of whether or not a country does well is how well it educates its girls and how it treats

its women.And countries that are tapping into the talents and the energy of women and giving them educations typically do better economically than countries that don't.So, now, obviously difficult cultures may have different attitudes about the relationship between men and women, but I think it is the view of the United States that it is important for us to affirm the rights of women all around the world.And if we see certain societies in which women are oppressed, or they are not getting opportunities, or there is violence towards women, we will speak out.Now, there may be some people who disagree with us, and we can have a dialogue about that.But we think it's important, nevertheless, to be true to our ideals and our values.And we--and when we do so, though, we will always do so with the humility and understanding that we are not perfect and that we still have much progress to make.If you talk to women in America, they will tell you that there are still men who have a lot of old-fashioned ideas about the role of women in society.And so we don't claim that we have solved all these problems, but we do think that it's important for us to speak out on behalf of these universal ideals and these universal values.Okay? All right.We're going to take a question from the Internet.Q: Hello, Mr.President.It's a great honor to be here and meet you in person.PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you.Q: I will be reading a question selected on the Internet to you, and this question is from somebody from Taiwan.In his question, he said: I come from Taiwan.Now I am doing business on the mainland.And due to improved cross-straits relations in recent years, my business in China is doing quite well.So when I heard the news that some people in America would like to propose--continue selling arms and weapons to Taiwan, I begin to get pretty worried.I worry that this may make our cross-straits relations suffer.So I would like to know if, Mr.President, are you supportive of improved cross-straits relations? And although this question is from a businessman, actually, it's a question of keen concern to all of us young Chinese students, so we'd really like to know your position on this question.Thank you.(Applause.)PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you.Well, I have been clear in the past that my administration fully supports a one-China policy, as reflected in the three joint communiqués that date back several decades, in terms of our relations with Taiwan as well as our relations with the People's Republic of China.We don't want to change that policy and that approach.I am very pleased with the reduction of tensions and the improvement in cross-straits relations, and it is my deep desire and hope that we will continue to see great improvement between Taiwan and the rest of--and the People's Republic in resolving many of these issues.One of the things that I think that the United States, in terms of its foreign policy and its policy with respect to China, is always seeking is ways that through dialogue and negotiations, problems can be solved.We always think that's the better course.And I think that economic ties and commercial ties that are taking place in this region are helping to lower a lot of the tensions that date back before you were born or even before I was born.Now, there are some people who still look towards the past when it comes to these issues, as opposed to looking towards the future.I prefer to look towards the future.And as I said, I think the commercial ties that are taking place--there's something about when people think that they can do business and make money that makes them think very clearly and not worry as much about ideology.And I think that that's starting to happen in this region, and we are very supportive of that process.Okay?

Let's see, it's a girl's turn now, right? Yes, right there.Yes.Hold on, let's get--whoops, I'm sorry, they took the mic back here.I'll call on you next.Go ahead, and then I'll go up here later.Go ahead.Q: Thank you.PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'll call on you later.But I'll on her first and then I'll call on you afterwards.Go ahead.Q: Okay, thank you.Mr.President, I'm a student from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.I have a question concerning the Nobel Prize for Peace.In your opinion, what's the main reason that you were honored the Nobel Prize for Peace? And will

it give you more responsibility and pressure to--more pressure and the responsibility to promote world peace? And will it bring you--will it influence your ideas while dealing with the international affairs? Thank you very much.PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you.That was an excellent question.I have to say that nobody was more surprised than me about winning the Nobel Prize for Peace.Obviously it's a great honor.I don't believe necessarily that it's an honor I deserve, given the extraordinary history of people who have won the prize.All I can do is to, with great humility, accept the fact that I think the committee was inspired by the American people and the possibilities of changing not only America but also America's approach to the world.And so in some ways I think they gave me the prize but I was more just a symbol of the shift in our approach to world affairs that we are trying to promote.In terms of the burden that I feel, I am extraordinarily honored to be put in the position of President.And as my wife always reminds me when I complain that I'm working too hard, she says, you volunteered for this job.(Laughter.)And so you--there's a saying--I don't know if there's a similar saying in China--we have a saying: “You made your bed, now you have to sleep in it.” And it basically means you have to be careful what you ask for because you might get it.I think that all of us have obligations for trying to promote peace in the world.It's not always easy to do.There are still a lot of conflicts in the world that are--date back for centuries.If you look at the Middle East, there are wars and conflict that are rooted in arguments going back a thousand years.In many parts of the world--let's say, in the continent of Africa--there are ethnic and tribal conflicts that are very hard to resolve.And obviously, right now, as President of the United States, part of my job is to serve as Commander-in-Chief, and my first priority is to protect the American people.And because of the attacks on 9/11 and the terrorism that has been taking place around the world where innocent people are being killed, it is my obligation to make sure that we root out these terrorist organizations, and that we cooperate with other countries in terms of dealing with this kind of violence.Nevertheless, although I don't think that we can ever completely eliminate violence between nations or between peoples, I think that we can definitely reduce the violence between peoples--through dialogue, through the exchange of ideas, through greater understanding between peoples and between cultures.And particularly now when just one inpidual can detonate a bomb that causes so much destruction, it is more important than ever that we pursue these strategies for peace.Technology is a powerful instrument for good, but it has also given the possibility for just a few people to cause enormous damage.And that's why I'm hopeful that in my meetings with President Hu and on an ongoing basis, both the United States and China can work together to try to reduce conflicts that are taking place.We have to do so, though, also keeping in mind that when we use our military, because we're such big and strong countries, that we have to be self-reflective about what we do;that we have to examine our own motives and our own interests to make sure that we are not simply using our military forces because nobody can stop us.That's a burden that great countries, great powers, have, is to act responsibly in the community of nations.And my hope is, is that the United States and China together can help to create an international norms that reduce conflict around the world.(Applause.)Okay.All right? Jon--I'm going to call on my Ambassador because I think he has a question that was generated through the Web site of our embassy.This was selected, though, by I think one of the members of our U.S.press corps so that--

AMBASSADOR HUNTSMAN: That's right.And not surprisingly, “in a country with 350 million Internet users and 60 million bloggers, do you know of the firewall?” And second, “should we be able to use Twitter freely”--is the question.PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, first of all, let me say that I have never used Twitter.I noticed that young people--they're very busy with all these electronics.My thumbs are too clumsy to type in things on the phone.But I am a big believer in technology and I'm a big believer in openness when it comes to the flow of information.I think that the more freely information flows, the stronger the society becomes, because then citizens of countries around the world can hold their own governments accountable.They can begin to think for themselves.That generates new ideas.It encourages creativity.And so I've always been a strong supporter of open Internet use.I'm a big supporter of non-censorship.This is part of the tradition of the United States that I discussed before, and I recognize that different countries have different traditions.I

can tell you that in the United States, the fact that we have free Internet--or unrestricted Internet access is a source of strength, and I think should be encouraged.Now, I should tell you, I should be honest, as President of the United States, there are times where I wish information didn't flow so freely because then I wouldn't have to listen to people criticizing me all the time.I think people naturally are--when they're in positions of power sometimes thinks, oh, how could that person say that about me, or that's irresponsible, or--but the truth is that because in the United States information is free, and I have a lot of critics in the United States who can say all kinds of things about me, I actually think that that makes our democracy stronger and it makes me a better leader because it forces me to hear opinions that I don't want to hear.It forces me to examine what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis to see, am I really doing the very best that I could be doing for the people of the United States.And I think the Internet has become an even more powerful tool for that kind of citizen participation.In fact, one of the reasons that I won the presidency was because we were able to mobilize young people like yourself to get involved through the Internet.Initially, nobody thought we could win because we didn't have necessarily the most wealthy supporters;we didn't have the most powerful political brokers.But through the Internet, people became excited about our campaign and they started to organize and meet and set up campaign activities and events and rallies.And it really ended up creating the kind of bottom-up movement that allowed us to do very well.Now, that's not just true in--for government and politics.It's also true for business.You think about a company like Google that only 20 years ago was--less than 20 years ago was the idea of a couple of people not much older than you.It was a science project.And suddenly because of the Internet, they were able to create an industry that has revolutionized commerce all around the world.So if it had not been for the freedom and the openness that the Internet allows, Google wouldn't exist.So I'm a big supporter of not restricting Internet use, Internet access, other information technologies like Twitter.The more open we are, the more we can communicate.And it also helps to draw the world together.Think about--when I think about my daughters, Malia and Sasha--one is 11, one is 8--from their room, they can get on the Internet and they can travel to Shanghai.They can go anyplace in the world and they can learn about anything they want to learn about.And that's just an enormous power that they have.And that helps, I think, promote the kind of understanding that we talked about.Now, as I said before, there's always a downside to technology.It also means that terrorists are able to organize on the Internet in ways that they might not have been able to do before.Extremists can mobilize.And so there's some price that you pay for openness, there's no denying that.But I think that the good outweighs the bad so much that it's better to maintain that openness.And that's part of why I'm so glad that the Internet was part of this forum.Okay? I'm going to take two more questions.And the next one is from a gentleman, I think.Right here, yes.Here's the microphone.Q: First, I would like to say that it is a great honor for me to stand here to ask you the questions.I think I am so lucky and just appreciate that your speech is so clear that I really do not need such kind of headset.(Laughter.)

And here comes my question.My name is(inaudible)from Fudan University School of Management.And I would like to ask you the question--is that now that someone has asked you something about the Nobel Peace Prize, but I will not ask you in the same aspect.I want to ask you in the other aspect that since it is very hard for you to get such kind of an honorable prize, and I wonder and we all wonder that--how you struggled to get it.And what's your university/college education that brings you to get such kind of prizes? We are very curious about it and we would like to invite you to share with us your campus education experiences so as to go on the road of success.PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, first of all, let me tell you that I don't know if there's a curriculum or course of study that leads you to win the Nobel Peace Prize.(Laughter.)So I can't guarantee that.But I think the recipe for success is the one that you are already following.Obviously all of you are working very hard, you're studying very hard.You're curious.You're willing to think about new ideas and think for yourself.You know, the people who I meet now that I find most inspiring

who are successful I think are people who are not only willing to work very hard but are constantly trying to improve themselves and to think in new ways, and not just accept the conventional wisdom.Obviously there are many different paths to success, and some of you are going to be going into government service;some of you might want to be teachers or professors;some of you might want to be businesspeople.But I think that whatever field you go into, if you're constantly trying to improve and never satisfied with not having done your best, and constantly asking new questions--"Are there things that I could be doing differently? Are there new approaches to problems that nobody has thought of before, whether it's in science or technology or in the arts?--those are usually the people who I think are able to rise about the rest.The one last piece of advice, though, that I would have that has been useful for me is the people who I admire the most and are most successful, they're not just thinking only about themselves but they're also thinking about something larger than themselves.So they want to make a contribution to society.They want to make a contribution to their country, their nation, their city.They are interested in having an impact beyond their own immediate lives.I think so many of us, we get caught up with wanting to make money for ourselves and have a nice car and have a nice house and--all those things are important, but the people who really make their mark on the world is because they have a bigger ambition.They say, how can I help feed hungry people? Or, how can I help to teach children who don't have an education? Or, how can I bring about peaceful resolution of conflicts? Those are the people I think who end up making such a big difference in the world.And I'm sure that young people like you are going to be able to make that kind of difference as long as you keep working the way you've been working.All right? All right, this is going to be the last question, unfortunately.We've run out of time so quickly.Our last Internet question, because I want to make sure that we got all three of our fine students here.Q: Mr.President, it's a great honor for the last question.And I'm a college student from Fudan University, and today I'm also the representative of China's Youth(inaudible.)And this question I think is from Beijing: Paid great attention to your Afghanistan policies, and he would like to know whether terrorism is still the greatest security concern for the United States? And how do you assess the military actions in Afghanistan, or whether