Ni hao.It is such a pleasant and an honor to be here with all of you at this great university…Thank you so much for having me.And before I get started today, on behalf of myself and my husband, I just want to say a few very brief words above Malaysian(sic) Airline Flight 370.As my husband has said, theUnited Statesis offering as many resources as poible to aist in the search.And please know that we are keeping all the families and loved ones of those on this flight in our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.And with that, I want to start by recognizing our news Ambaador toChinaAmbaador Baucus…President Wang…Chairman Zhu…Vice President Li.Director Cueller, Profeor Oi and the Stanford center…President Sexton from New York University which has an excellent study abroad program in Shanghai…and John Thorton, Director of the Global Leadership Program at Tsinghua University…thank you all so much for joining us.And most of all, I want to thank all of the student for being here today…and I particulary want to thank Eric Schafer and Zhu Xuanbao for that extraordinary English and Chinese introduction.That was such a powerful symbol of everything I want to talk with you about today.You see, by learning each other’s languagesMr.Schafer and Ms.Zhu and all of you are building bridges of understanding that lead to so much more.And I’m here today because I know that our future depends on connections like these among your people like you acro the globe.That’s why when my husband and I travel abroad, we don\'t just visit palaces and parliament and meet with heads of state.We also come to schools like this one to meet with students like you.Because we believe that relationships between nations are not just about relationship between governments or leaders…they’re about relationships between people, particularly our young people.So we view study abroad programs not just as an educational opportunity f or students…but also as a vital part ofAmerica’s foreign policy.
You see, through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before.Ideas can cro ocean with the click of a button.Companies can do busine and complete with companies acro the globe.And we can text, email and skype with people on every continent.So studying abroad isn’t just a fun way to spend a semester-it’s quickly becoming the key to succe in our global economy.Because getting ahead in today’s workplaces isn’t just about getting good grades or test scores in school…it’s also about having real experience with the world beyond your bordersit’s also about shaping the future of your countries and of the world we all share.Because when it comes to the defining challenges of our timeyou do it by improving yourself in someone’s culture…by learning each other’s stories…and by getting past the stereotypes and misconceptions that too often divide us.That’s how you come to understand how much we all share.And that’s how you realize that we all have a stake in each other’s succebecause I want young people inAmericato be part of this visit.That’s really the power of technologyby questioning and debating them vigorously…by listening to all sides of every argument...and by judging for ourselves.And believe me, I know this can be a mey and frustrating proce.My husband and I are on the receiving and of plenty of questioning and criticizing from our media and our fellow citizens...and it’s not always easy...but we wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.Because time and again, we have seen that countries are stronger and more prosperous when the voices and opinions of all their citizens can be heard.And as my husband said, we respect the uniquene of other cultures and societies.But when it comes to expreing yourself freely, and worshipping as your choose, and having open acce to information – we believe those are universal rights that are the birthright of every person on this planet.We believe that all people deserve the opportunity to fulfill their highest potential as I was able to do in theUnited States.And as you learn about new cultures and form new friendships during your time here in China and in the United States, all of you are the living, breathing embodiment of those values.So I guarantee you that in studying abroad, you’re not just changing your own life…you’re changing the lives of everyone you meet.As the great American President John F.Kennedy once said about foreign students studying in theU.S., “I think they teach more than they learn.”
And that is just as true of young Americans who study abroad.All of you are America’s best face, and China’s best face, to the world.Every day, you show the world your countries’ energy, creativity, optimism and unwavering belief in the future.And every day, you remind us of just how much we can achieve if we reach acro borders…and learn to see ourselves in each other…and confront our shared challenges with shared resolve.So I hope you will keep seeking these kinds of experiences.And I hope you’ll keep teaching each other…and learning from each other…and building bonds of friendship that will enrich your lives and enrich our world for decades to come.You all have so much to offer, and I cannot wait to see all that you achieve together in the years ahead.Thank you so much.Xie Xie.
