評論
打印
Over the two centuries that have followed, the currents of history have steered the relationship between our countries in many directions. And even in the midst of tumultuous winds, our people had opportunities to forge deep and even dramatic ties. For instance, Americans will never forget the hospitality shown to our pilots who were shot down over your soil during World War II, and cared for by Chinese civilians who risked all that they had by doing so. And Chinese veterans of that war still warmly greet those American veterans who return to the sites where they fought to help liberate China from occupation.
在此后的兩個世紀中，歷史洪流使我們兩國關系向許多不同的方向發展，但即使在動蕩的歲月中，兩國人民也抓住機會發展了深入的、甚至極不平凡的關系。例如，美國人民永遠不會 忘記，二戰期間，美國飛行員在中國上空被擊落后，中國公民冒著失去一切的危險招待他們，護理他們。參加過二戰的中國老兵仍然熱情歡迎故地重游的美國老兵，他們曾經在那里作戰，幫助中國獲得解放。
A different kind of connection was made nearly 40 years ago when the frost between our countries began to thaw through the simple game of table tennis. The very unlikely nature of this engagement contributed to its success—because for all our differences, both our common humanity and our shared curiosity were revealed. As one American player described his visit to China—"The people are just like us... The country is very similar to America, but still very different."
近40年前，小小的乒乓球比賽解凍了兩國的關系，使我們兩國建立起另一種聯系。這種往來令人意外，但卻恰恰促進了其成功，因為盡管我們之間存在許多分歧，但是我們共同的人性和共同的好奇心從中得以顯現。正如一位美國乒乓球隊員在回憶對中國的訪問時所說： “那里的人民和我們一樣……這個國家和美國有許多相似之處，也有很大區別。”
Of course this small opening was followed by the achievement of the Shanghai Communique, and the eventual establishment of formal relations between the United States and China in 1979. And in three decades, just look at how far we have come.
無需贅言，這個小小的契機帶來了《上海公報》的問世，并最終促使美中兩國在1979年建立正式外交關系?？梢钥吹皆诖撕蟮?0年，我們取得了多么長足的進展。
