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中國(guó)有句古言，溫故而知新。當(dāng)然，我們過(guò)去30年中也遇到了挫折和挑戰(zhàn)，我們的關(guān)系并不是沒(méi)有困難的，沒(méi)有分歧的。但是我們必須一定是對(duì)手這種想法不應(yīng)該是一成不變的。由于我們兩國(guó)的合作，美中兩國(guó)都變得更加繁榮、更加安全。我們基于相互的利益、相互的尊重就能有成就。

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.

不過(guò)，這種接觸的成功要取決于我們要彼此了解，要能夠進(jìn)行開(kāi)誠(chéng)布公的對(duì)話，彼此進(jìn)行了解。就像當(dāng)年美國(guó)乒乓球運(yùn)動(dòng)員所說(shuō)的，我們作為人有著共同的向往，但是我們兩國(guó)又不同。

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.

我認(rèn)為我們兩國(guó)每個(gè)國(guó)家都應(yīng)該勾畫(huà)出自己要走的路，中國(guó)是一個(gè)文明古國(guó)，它有著博大精深的文化。相對(duì)而言，美國(guó)是一個(gè)年輕的國(guó)家，它的文化受到來(lái)自許多不同國(guó)家移民的影響，而指導(dǎo)我們民主制度文件的影響，我有一個(gè)非常簡(jiǎn)單的向往，代表了一些核心的原則，就是所有的人生來(lái)平等，都有著基本的權(quán)利，而政府應(yīng)當(dāng)反映人們的意志，貿(mào)易應(yīng)該是開(kāi)放的，信息流通應(yīng)當(dāng)是自由的，而法律要保證這個(gè)公平。

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.

當(dāng)然，我們的國(guó)家歷史也不是沒(méi)有過(guò)困難的地方，從很多方面來(lái)講，很多年以來(lái)，我們是通過(guò)斗爭(zhēng)來(lái)促進(jìn)這些原則或者是所有的人民能夠享受到，為了締造一個(gè)更完美的聯(lián)合，我們也打過(guò)一個(gè)很痛苦的內(nèi)戰(zhàn)，把一部分我們被奴役的人口釋放出來(lái)，經(jīng)過(guò)一段時(shí)間才能使婦女有投票權(quán)，勞工有組織權(quán)，包括來(lái)自各地的移民能夠全部不接受。即使他們被解放以后，非洲與美國(guó)人也和美國(guó)人經(jīng)過(guò)一些分開(kāi)的、不平等的條件，經(jīng)過(guò)一段時(shí)間才爭(zhēng)取到全面的平等權(quán)利，所有這些是不容易的。但是我們對(duì)這些核心原則的信念我們?nèi)〉玫倪M(jìn)展，在最黑暗的風(fēng)暴當(dāng)中是作為我們的指南針。

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.

這就是為什么美國(guó)永遠(yuǎn)為了全世界各地的核心原則說(shuō)話，我們不尋求把任何政治體制強(qiáng)制給任何國(guó)家，但是我們也不認(rèn)為我們所支持的這些原則是我們國(guó)家所獨(dú)有的，這些表達(dá)自由、宗教崇拜自由、接觸信息的機(jī)會(huì)、政治的參與，我們認(rèn)為這些是普世的權(quán)利，應(yīng)該是所有人民能夠享受到，包括少數(shù)民族和宗教的族群，不管是在中國(guó)、美國(guó)和任何國(guó)家，對(duì)于普遍權(quán)利的尊敬，作為美國(guó)對(duì)其他國(guó)家的開(kāi)放態(tài)度的指導(dǎo)原則，我們對(duì)其他文化的尊重，我們對(duì)國(guó)際法的承諾和對(duì)未來(lái)的信念的原則。

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.

所有這些都是你們知道關(guān)于美國(guó)的一些情況，我們有很多要從中國(guó)學(xué)習(xí)。我們看看這個(gè)偉大城市的各地，也看看這個(gè)房間，我就相信我們兩國(guó)有很重要的共同點(diǎn)，也就是對(duì)未來(lái)的信念，不管是美國(guó)還是中國(guó)，對(duì)現(xiàn)在的成就不能感到自滿。

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.