Controlling the spread of terrible weapons is one of the most urgent priorities of our new century. We have no alternative but to act with all the diligence， and more， of the rogue states and terrorists who wish to acquire such weapons for the threat they pose to innocent people. That is the course we are on-and the course we must maintain far into the future.
Confronting and finally defeating the danger of terrorism will also be a long and difficult struggle. That"s why my country， in consultations with other nations， is committed to pursuing what President Bush has called a forward strategy for freedom in the Greater Middle East. Some nations in the Middle East have had great wealth， or possess the resources that can bring such wealth. But national wealth alone is not enough. To fully and fi nally overcome the evil of terrorism， we must set before people of this region an alternative to tyranny and corrupt government that has for so long held all too many back. And that alternative is found in economic freedom， equality under the law， individual liberties， and the right to choose and change one government.
The Greater Middle East initiative supports those across the region who are working for freedom. And we are beginning to see signs of signifi cant progress. In Jordan， elections have been held and the government is taking steps to reduce state control of the press. In Bahrain， elections were held last year. In Egypt， the ruling National Democratic Party has called for increased economic reform and expanded political participation. In Saudi Arabia， the Crown Prince has issued a reform charter and called for the holding of municipal elections. Today， with the help of the international community， and after decades of oppression， the people of Afghanistan and Iraq are preparing to choose their own leaders in free， competitive national elections.
We welcome China contributions to reconstruction efforts in these lands， so that their people may live in security and freedom， never again victimized by despotic regimes that breed or support terror.
While democratic processes are sometimes untidy and unpredictable-as any close observer of American politics can attest-they permit the peaceful expression of diverse views， protect the rights of the individual， check the ability of the state to abuse its power， and encourage the kind of debate and compromise that leads to lasting stability. And this much is certain：free societies do not breed the anger and radicalism that drag down whole nations.
Where young people have the opportunity to choose their own leaders， to build a better life for themselves and their children， and the right to guide their own destinies；peace， justice and prosperity will follow. Freedom has a power all its own， requiring no propaganda to fi nd recruits， no indoctrination to keep its believers in line.
We hear it said by skeptics that the greater Middle East is a hopeless cause for democratic values-that the peoples of that region are somehow just not suited for self-government， and that they are doomed to live in misery and oppression. Those of you who have studied history will fi nd that this dismissive attitude has a familiar ring. Not so long ago， the very same things were said about the people of Asia. Yet today the world looks to Asia as a showcase of the possibilities of human enterprise and creativity. Across this region we see entire nations raising themselves up from poverty in the space of little more than a generation， building strong， modern economies， and becoming stable， peaceful， and open societies of free peoples， governed under laws set by representatives chosen in free elections.
Today China too is embarked on a great journey. As your country grows in regional and global infl uence and responsibility， your strength and your potential rests with your people.
My wish for each of you is for a life in a nation that grows in success， in greatness and in liberty. I thank you for your kind attention this morning， and now I"d be pleased to take your questions.
译文参考
自由是世界共同的语言——美国副总统切尼在复旦大学的演讲
市长，非常感谢您。谢谢您为我做介绍时使用的友好言辞。今天我们很高兴来到这里。我与夫人为能有这样的机会再次来到中国访问而感到荣幸，我们对能够受到如此的款待而心存感激，特别要感谢复旦大学的热情接待。我们为此感到不胜荣幸，谢谢你们。我们此行带来了布什总统和美国人民的良好祝愿。
我知道在座的诸位有很多人就快要从这所优秀的大学毕业。我听说贵校有极为苛刻的标准，能得到复旦大学的学位就代表着需要多年的刻苦攻读。我在此祝贺在座各位学业有成。我也对诸位老师的承上启下，发扬复旦长达九十九年之久的优良传统表示欣赏。
我不需要避讳地跟你们说，与你们上一代人相比，诸位在事业生涯起步之时，你们国家的情况就已发生翻天覆地的变化。我是在1975年第一次访问中国的，当时我陪同杰拉尔德·福特总统和基辛格国务卿前往北京的，那时距尼克松总统来到中国，这一具有历史意义的访问仅过去短短三年的时光。而当时毛泽东主席仍然在位，文化大革命的余波尚未平息。虽然人们对改革抱有一些希望，但这些希望大都还隐藏在人们心中。
对中国人民而言，那时艰苦岁月已渐入尾声。当年美国和中国正着手恢复两国的邦交关系，原因之一是我们都认为苏联已然对我们构成了共同的威胁，不过，美国领导人还注意到其他一些情况。他们了解中国，那个时代的中国表面上一成不变，但在伟大人民的心底蕴藏着多样性和取之不竭的能量。几十年来，随着这片土地获得更多的自由和机会，你们已经开始向全世界展示你们的创造力和创业精神。
诸位是这一潜力爆发的见证者，你们在这里学业有成，对未来充满憧憬。几乎在整整二十年以前，也恰好是这天，里根总统曾到贵校发表演讲，他道出了经济和政治自由的真谛，他说，自由的根基来源于坚定男女老幼都具有尊严的信念。自由的制度反映出了尊重每一个人特有的聪明才智，尊重每一个人拥有自主自决、自由自在生活的特定权利。
相较尼克松总统访华与里根总统访华，如今大部分中国公民已获得了更多的自由去开拓自己的生活道路——他们可以选择职业，购置产业和外出旅行。全中国各地有许许多多与诸位一样的年轻人，他们依靠自己的能力和自己和家人生活蒸蒸日上的殷切愿望，都再期盼国家繁荣昌盛。
25年前中国人开始改革，在这条道路上，中国人民取得了长足的发展。25年以来，中国经济持续快速增长，提高了很多公民的生活水平，亦使中国跻身于世界最大经济体的行列。中国降低了贫困率，近年来始终保持高的经济增长率。种种巨大的经济成就表明，政府允许私营企业和个人享有更多的决策权最终会带来怎样的变化。归根结底，这是首赞扬中国人的颂歌。正是由于中国公民的聪明才智和日复一日的辛勤劳动，中国现代化经济才能如此生机勃勃。
中国经济取得的成就也使中国更大程度地融入世界经济。过去20年来，贵国已经成为各类产品的出口大国，从重型机械、电脑到玩具应有尽有。中国产品涌入外国市场，也获得巨大的利益。中国的发展还源于外来投资的大量涌入——仅去年一年，外来投资已超过五百亿美元——及吸收外国技术和获得持续增长所需的源源不断的能源和原材料供应。
如今，中国占世界贸易总量中超过5%的份额——约达8500亿美元。中美的双向贸易仅在过去12年中就增长了七倍。
经济继续取得发展就需要得到良好的管理。你们的新一代领导人知道这一点。经济的快速增长导致国内面临着各种各样的社会和经济问题。中国在经济实力在不断增长的同时，也承担了新的责任以保持全球经济平衡。我与你们的领导人已经讨论过，在这个相互依存的世界，各国都有责任降低进口壁垒，保护知识产权，保持汇率的灵活性并让市场决定汇率。在这些关键问题上，我们正共同努力。
