-- just as our Vice President Hu Jintao and you mentioned, you all want to make efforts to promote the Sino-American relationship to go ahead smoothly. So my question is, being the President of the United States, what will it take -- some action to promote the contacts and exchanges between the two countries, between the peoples at all different levels? Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, thank you, that's a very good question. Q Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, first of all, my trip here and my discussion here helps promote -- (applause) -- people in my country are paying attention to my visit here. And it should interest you that I was here in the fall and I'm back here again in the winter -- twice, in a very brief period of time. That should say something about the importance of our relationships.
It's important for our political leaders to come to China. And I know many have, and more ought to come. It's important for the rhetoric, when we describe what we've seen to be accurate and real. And when I go back home, I describe a great nation, a nation that has not only got a great history, but an unbelievably exciting future. Many people in my country are very interested in China, and many come, as you know. They come to not only see the beautiful countryside, but they come to learn more about the culture and the people. And we've got to continue to encourage travel between both our countries. (gap in feed --)
In 1975, everybody wore the same clothes. Now, people pick their own clothes. Just look here on the front row, everybody's dressed differently. Because you thought, this is what you wanted. You made the decision to wear a beautiful red sweater. And when you made that decision, somebody made it.
And, in other words, the person, the individual, the demand for a product influences the production, as opposed to the other way around. Recognizing the desires of the individual in the marketplace is part of a free society. It is a part of the definition of freedom. And I see that as the most significant change that I can see, besides the new buildings and all the construction.
But the most important thing is the human dimension of freeing people to decide for themselves. And with that freedom comes other freedoms. So you can understand why the transformation from my memory of 1975 to today is significant. I mean, it is an amazing change -- for the better, I might add.
I'll answer one more question, then I've got to go have lunch with your President. (Laughter.) Yes, sir, in the blue.
Q Thank you, Mr. Bush. Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the last chance to ask you a question. I have read your autobiography, and in it you wrote about some social problem in the U.S. today, just like the violence in campus and juvenile delinquency, and such as the children in poverty. And we know -- a former schoolmate of our university, Tsinghua, and he studied in USA and was killed last year. And I feel so sad. And I know this kind of crime has become more and more serious in today U.S. As the President, do you have any good plan to improve the human rights today in the U.S.? Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Sure. Well, first of all, I'm proud to report that violent crime actually is going down. But any crime is too much crime. I mean, anytime somebody is violent toward their neighbor, it's too much violence. And there's no question, we've got people living in poverty. But, as I mentioned, our government is very generous in the amounts of money we spend trying to help people help themselves. When we all campaigned for office, one of the big debates is how best to help people help themselves.
Foreign policy is an important part of our campaigns, of course -- at least for President. But the American voter really is more focused on domestic politics, what's happening at home, as you can imagine. If the economy is soft, like ours is now, they want to know what's going to happen -- what are you doing about the economy? If the economy's good, then they don't talk much about the economy.
But always we talk about two key issues to address your problem. One is welfare; how do we structure a welfare system that helps people in need, and in my judgment, should not make them dependent upon their government. And the other big issue is education. It's always not only an important part of campaigns, but it's an important part of being -- once you're in office.
When I was the governor of Texas, I used to always say, an educated child is one less likely to commit a crime. As a governor, and now as President, I have spent a lot of time working with members of both political parties to develop an education plan that starts making sure children learn before they just get shuffled through the system.
One of the saddest facts about my country is that there are a significant number of fourth grade students who cannot read at grade level. Imagine a child who can't
read in the fourth grade is a child that's not going to be able to read in the eighth grade. And if a child can't read in the eighth grade, it's likely that child's not going to be able to read sufficiently when they get out of high school, and therefore won't be able to go to college. It's a shame in America that that's the case. So as part of an education bill I managed to get through Congress last year, we've got a significant reading initiative, where we'll work with the states and the local jurisdictions to focus on an education program that emphasizes reading. This year I hope to work with my wife and others on a early childhood development program, so the youngsters get the building blocks to learn how to read.
I'm actually working my way to your question, I promise you. (Laughter.) Because education is the best anti-crime program. It's important to enforce law. It's important to hold people accountable for their actions. It is important to have consistent policy that says, if you harm somebody, there will be a punishment for that harm. But in the best interests for my country, the long-term solution is to make sure the education system works for everybody. And when that happens, there will be a more hopeful future for people, and there will be less poverty, less hopelessness, and less crime.
Listen, thank you for letting me come. God bless you all. (Applause.) END 10:27 A.M. (Local)
中文对照编辑本段回目录
标 题: 布什演讲全文
北京时间2月22日9时20分，离布什的演讲时间还有40分钟，在清华大学的主楼一层前厅
外已聚集了数百名学生，他们正在等待通过安检，进入前厅的演讲会场。 演讲将于10时15分开始。
演讲将由清华大学校长王大中来主持。 美国总统布什已经抵达清华大学。
布什的演讲将在清华大学的主楼进行，350名学生参加。演讲后半部分将由清华大学 的学生向布什总统提问。
国家副主席胡锦涛和清华大学校长王大中的陪同下进入会场，王大中校长将主持整
个的演讲。布什总统会在国家副主席胡锦涛发表致词以后，发表简短的演讲，教育部副 部长陈至力，中国驻美大使杨洁篪陪同参加。热烈欢迎清华大学校长王大中，中华人民 共和国副主席胡锦涛和美国总统乔治·沃克·布什。
王大中 ：尊敬的布什总统、夫人，尊敬的胡锦涛副主席，尊敬的各位来宾，女士们 、先生们，老师们，同学们，今天我们非常高兴布什总统和夫人一行访问清华园。请允 许我代表清华大学全体师生向布什总统和夫人一行光临清华大学进行访问，表示热烈的 欢迎。今天在主席台上就坐的还有我们的校友胡锦涛副主席，让我们对胡锦涛副主席的 光临表示热烈的欢迎！在布什总统讲演以前，我们首先请胡锦涛副主席致辞！
胡锦涛 ：尊敬的布什总统和夫人，王大中校长，各位校友，女士们、先生们，朋友 们，今天，我很高兴回到母校，和清华大学的师生们一起欢迎来自大洋彼岸的贵宾—— 布什总统和夫人。清华大学是一所历史悠久、享誉中外的高等学府，自强不息、厚德载 物乃清华校训，激励着一代又一代清华学子为中华民族的振兴和人类的进步奋斗不止。 总统先生，您的这次来访，恰逢尼克松访华和中美上海公报发表三十周年。三十年在人 类的历史上，只是短暂的一瞬，但它给中美关系带来的巨大变化将永远载入史册。 两国元首的成功会晤，相信对中美建设性合作关系的进一步发展产生深远影响。 女士们、先生们，朋友们，中美两国都是伟大的国家，中美两国人民都是伟大的人 民。国际形势的发展一再表明，中美两国维护亚太和世界的和平、稳定，促进地区经济 和全球经济的增长和繁荣，打击恐怖主义和其他跨国犯罪，以及解决环境恶化等全球性 问题上，都赋有重要的责任，也都拥有广泛的共同利益。中美友好符合两国人民的心愿 ，顺应历史发展的潮流。 我相信，只要双方相互尊重、平等相待、求同存异，中美关系 就一定能够健康、顺利地向前发展。再次欢迎总统先生和夫人的到来，谢谢各位。 王大中 ：谢谢胡锦涛副主席的致辞，现在我们欢迎布什总统发表演讲。 布什 ：胡副主席，非常感谢您的欢迎致辞，非常感谢您在这里接待我和我的夫人劳 拉。可是我也看到我的助理赖斯女士，她曾经是斯德莫大学的校长，因此她回到校园是 最适合不过的了。非常感谢各位对我的热情的接待，很荣幸能够来到中国，甚至是世界 最伟大的一座学府之一，这所大学恰好是在美国的支持下成立的，成立的目标是为了推
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