Remarks in welcoming ceremonies in Xi’an

    Mayor Fang 1, Governor Cheng, Secretary Li:

    Ni Men Hao! Thank you for the key to your city and for this magnificent welcome. Here in this ancient capital, China seems very young to me tonight, blessed with both a proud history and promise of tomorrow1. I’m delighted to begin my journey in Xi’an, once the capital of China, still the heartland of the Chinese people. I was raised in the heartland of my country. I know that the character of a nation is determined 2 by the hard-working people who live here.

    Over a thousand years ago during the Tang Dynasty, which I have seen recreated tonight, Xi’an was perhaps the most open and culturally advanced city in the entire world. From this place trade routes extended through Asia to Europe and Africa. And to this place great thinkers came, spreading philosophy and new ideas that have contributed to the greatness of China. I look forward to seeing the terra cotta warriors 3, the old city walls, the Muslim Quarter. I look forward to learning more about China’s great contributions to the store of human knowledge, from medince and printing to mathemetics and astronomy, discoveries on which so much of the whole world’s progress is based.

    Tonight I want to see more of a new country you are building on a scale even the emperors couldn’t have foreseen. The China that gave us printing now boasts fax machines, computers and cellular 4 phones. Xi’an is home to filmmakers, Internet explorers, businesspeople of every description2. Here in this city famous for calligraphy 5 a new chapter in China’s story is being written. We Americans admire your accomplishements, your economy, your hard work, creativity and vision, your efforts against hunger and poverty, your work with us on peace and stability in Korea and South Asia. A new day is dawning for the Chinese people, for China’s greatness lies as always with its people. Our own history has convinced Americans that the greatness of any country is measured in its people and in their shared reverence 6 for family and community, for work and learning, and in their individual thoughts, beliefs and creativity.

    In this global information age where both ecnomic growth and individual opportunity are based on ideas. A commitment to providing all human beings the opportunity to develop their full potential is vital to the strength and success of the New China as well. As I travel across China, I hope to learn as much as I can about the Chinese people, your history and your dreams for the future, and I hope to help the Chinese people understand more of America’s history, the lessons the American people have drawn 7 from it, and the dreams we hold for the 21st century. I believe both Chinese and Americans aspire 8 to many of the same things: to provide for our families, to teach our children, to build our community, to protect our earth, to shape our own future and pass brighter possibilities on to our children. There may be those here and back in America, who wonder whether close ties and deep friendship between America and China are good. Clearly the answer is Yes. We have a powerful ability to help each other grow. We can learn from each other. As two great nations, we have a special responsibility to the future of the world. The steps we take over the next week will lead to greater strides for our people in the years ahead.

    Here in this city of your magnificent history, we must always remember that we too are ancestors. Someday our children and their children will ask if we did all we could to build just societies and a more peaceful world. Let our monument be their judgement that we did that. Let our progress include all people with all their differences, moving toward a common destiny. Let us give new meaning to the words written in the ancient book of rites 9, that you call, the Li Ji, “When the great way is followed, all under heaven will be equal.”1 Xie Xie! Thank you very much.

    By US President Bill Clinton