8. Remarks by Former President of the United States -Richard Nixon at the University of International Business and Economics

美国前总统尼克松在对外经济贸易大学的讲话

背景知识

本文节选自美国前总统尼克松于1985年访华时在对外经济贸易大学的讲话，有删减。理查德·尼克松（Richard Nixon）,于1913年出生于加利福尼亚，于1994年去世，是美国第37任总统。1972年，尼克松总统访华。1974年8月9日因水门事件爆发而辞职。他是第一位访问中国的美国总统，也是唯一一位在总统任期内因丑闻事件遭到国会众议院的弹劾而被迫辞职的总统。

I made my first trip to China in 1972, Premier Zhou Enlai and I shook hands as I came off the airplane. And that handshake began a new 1) ___ in relations between China and the United States . And later he said to me,”Your handshake came over the vastest distance in the world – twenty-five years of no communication.”

That vast distance is one we have now crossed. We have communication, cooperation, trade, exchanges. For example, in 1972, there were no Americans as tourists in the P.R.C ; last year there were over 100,0000. In 1972,there were no students from the P.R.C studying in the United States ; last year there were over 12,000. In 1972, there was no trade between the two countries; last year trade went over six billion dollars That’s an 2)_____of what has happened in just 13 short years. In recent years,

China has been working hard and creatively at 3) ______ a system that works for China at this period of its history and this stage of its development. The progress for example that China has made in just the 13 years since I was first here has greatly exceeded the 4)____ , and they were fairly high , that I had at that time.

As I look ahead to the 21st century –to your century – I see one world. But the one world I see is not a world without differences between nations or peoples. Rather, it is one in which we all 5)_____ that we have profound differences and that we must learn to live with our differences rather than dying over them.

I see a world where the 6) ____ of being called great is bestowed not on the world’s 7)______ but on the world’s peacemakers. 8)_____. I see an open world, a world of open cities , open skies , open minds and open hearts; 9)________.

Some will question my optimism. But of this one thing I am sure: 10)_____.

This is what I hope for China .This is what I hope for the world . This is what I hope for you , the new generation of china ,whose task is to help to build and to meet those goals.

Key words

1. bestow v.授予，赠

2. warrior n. 勇士，战士

3. drab adj. 单调的，乏味的