Excerpt from President Hu Jintao's Yale Speech
胡锦涛主席耶鲁大学演讲节选
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
女士们、先生们、朋友们！
1. The Chinese and Americans have always had an intense interest in and cared deeply about each other. The Chinese admire the pioneering and enterprising spirit of the Americans and their proud achievement in national development. As China develops rapidly and steady headway is made in China-U.S. cooperation, more and more Americans are following with great interest China's progress and development.
1、长期以来，中美两国人民一直相互抱有浓厚的兴趣和友好的感情。中国人民欣赏美国人民的开拓进取精神，钦佩美国人民在建设国家中取得的骄人业绩。随着中国的快速发展和中美合作的不断拓展，越来越多的美国人也把目光投向中国，更加关注中国的发展进步。
2. Understanding leads to trust. Today, I would like to speak to you about China's development strategy and its future against the backdrop of the evolution of the Chinese civilization and China's current development endeavor. I hope this will help you gain a better understanding of China.
2、了解是信任的基础。今天，我愿从中华文明历史流变和现实发展的角度，谈谈当代中国的发展战略和前进方向，希望有助于美国人民更全面、更深入地了解中国。
3. In a history that spans more than five millennia, the Chinese nation has contributed significantly to the progress of human civilization. But its course of national development has been an arduous one. In particular in the 160 years and more since the Opium War in 1840, the Chinese people have fought courageously and unyieldingly to rid themselves of poverty and backwardness and to realize national rejuvenation, thus profoundly changing the destiny of the Chinese nation. Ninety-five years ago, the Chinese people launched the Revolution of 1911 that overthrew the feudal autocracy which had ruled China for several thousand years and opened the door to China's progress.
3、在5000多年的历史长河中，中华民族为人类文明进步作出了巨大贡献，同时也走过了曲折艰辛的道路。特别是从1840年鸦片战争以来的160多年间，中国人民为摆脱积贫积弱的境遇，实现民族复兴，前仆后继，顽强斗争，使中华民族的命运发生了深刻变化。95年前，中国人民通过辛亥革命推翻了统治中国几千年的君主专制制度，为中国的进步打开了闸门。
4. Fifty-seven years ago, the Chinese people succeeded in winning liberation after protracted and hard struggle and founded New China in which people became their own masters. Twenty-eight years ago, the Chinese people embarked upon the historic drive of reform, opening-up and modernization and have made phenomenal progress through unremitting efforts. Between 1978 and 2005, China's GDP grew from $147.3 billion to $2.2257 trillion. Its import and export volume went up from $20.6 billion to $1.4221 trillion and its foreign exchange reserve soared from $167 million to $818.9 billion. During this period, the number of its poor rural population dropped from 250 million to 23 million. The above review of the profound changes in these 160 years shows one thing, namely, by carrying out persistent and hard struggle, the Chinese people have both changed their own destiny and advanced the cause of human progress.
4、57年前，中国人民经过长期浴血奋斗实现了民族独立和人民解放，建立了人民当家作主的新中国。28年前，中国人民开始了改革开放和现代化建设的伟大历史进程，经过艰苦创业取得了举世瞩目的巨大成就。从1978年到2005年，中国国内生产总值从1473亿美元增长到22257亿美元，进出口总额从206亿美元增长到14221亿美元，国家外汇储备从1、67亿美元增加到8189亿美元，农村贫困人口由2、5亿人减少到2300多万人。回顾这160多年来中国发生的沧桑巨变，可以说，中国人民经过艰苦探索和顽强奋斗，既改变了自己的命运，也推动了人类进步事业。
5. On the other hand, I need to point out that, despite the success in its development, China remains the world's largest developing country, with per capita GDP ranking behind the 100th place. The Chinese people are yet to live a well-off life and China still faces daunting challenges in its development endeavor. Therefore it requires sustained and unremitting efforts to transform the country and make life better for its people. In the next 15 years, we will strive to make new progress in building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way that will benefit China's one billion and more population. We aim to raise China's GDP to $4 trillion by 2020, averaging $3,000 per person. By then, China's economy will be better developed and its democracy will be further enhanced. More progress will be made in science and education. Its culture will be further enriched, the society will become more harmonious and the people will lead a better life.
5、必须看到，中国尽管取得了巨大的发展成就，但仍是世界上最大的发展中国家，人均国内生产总值仍排在世界100名之后，中国人民的生活还不富裕，中国的发展还面临着不少突出的矛盾和问题。要彻底改变中国的面貌和改善中国人民的生活，需要继续持之以恒地艰苦奋斗。中国将在未来15年集中力量全面建设惠及十几亿人口的更高水平的小康社会。具体来说，就是要使中国国内生产总值到2020年达到40000亿美元左右，人均达到3000美元左右，使经济更加发展、民主更加健全、科教更加进步、文化更加繁荣、社会更加和谐、人民生活更加殷实。
6. To realize these goals, China has adopted a new concept of development in line with its national conditions and the requirement of the times. That is, to pursue a scientific outlook on development that makes economic and social development people-oriented, comprehensive, balanced and sustainable. We will work to strike a proper balance between urban and rural development, development among regions, economic and social development, development of man and nature, and domestic development and opening wider to the outside world. Greater emphasis will be put on addressing issues affecting people's livelihood, overcoming imbalances in development and resolving key problems that have occurred in the course of development. We will pursue a new path to industrialization featuring high technology, good economic returns, low resource-consumption, low environment pollution and full use of human resources. We will bring about coordinated economic, political, cultural and social development. And we will endeavor to ensure sustainable development by boosting production, improving people's life and protecting the environment.
6、为了实现我们的发展目标，中国根据本、国国情和时代要求明确了自己的发展理念，这就是树立和贯彻以人为本、全面协调可持续发展的科学发展观，统筹城乡发展、统筹区域发展、统筹经济社会发展、统筹人与自然和谐发展、统筹国内发展和对外开放，更加注重解决民生问题，更加注重克服发展的不平衡性，更加注重解决发展中存在的突出矛盾，致力于走科技含量高、经济效益好、资源消耗低、环境污染少、人力资源优势得到充分发挥的新型工业化道路，推进经济建设、政治建设、文化建设、社会建设协调发展，努力实现生产发展、生活富裕、生态良好的文明发展格局。
7. This concept of scientific development is based on the experience China has gained in its modernization drive and put forth in response to the trends of the times. It is also rooted in the cultural heritages of the Chinese nation.
7、科学发展的理念，是在总结中国现代化建设经验、顺应时代潮流的基'础上提出来的，也是在继承中华民族优秀文化传统的基础上提出来的。
8. The Chinese civilization is one that has continued uninterrupted for more than 5,000 years. The distinct cultural tradition of the Chinese nation that developed in the long course of history has exerted a strong influence on contemporary China, just as it did on ancient China. Putting people first, keeping pace with the times, maintaining social harmony and pursuing peaceful development: these values that are being pursued in China today are derived from its tradition. But they also give expression to the progress of the times.
8、中华文明是世界古代文明中始终没有中断、连续5000多年发展至今的文明。中华民族在漫长历史发展中形成的独具特色的文化传统，深深影响了古代中国，也深深影响着当代中国。现时代中国强调的以人为本、与时俱进、社会和谐、和平发展，既有着中华文明的深厚根基，又体现了时代发展的进步精神。
9. The Chinese civilization has always given prominence to the people and respect for people's dignity and value. Centuries ago, the Chinese already pointed out that "people are the foundation of a country; when the foundation is stable, the country is in peace." "Nothing is more valuable in the universe than human beings." The ancient Chinese emphasized the value of serving the people, enriching them, nourishing them, and benefiting them. We are pursuing today a people-oriented approach toward development because we believe that development must be for the people and by the people and its benefit should be shared among the people. We care about people's value, rights and interests and freedom, the quality of their life, and their development potential and happiness index because our goal is to realize the all-around development of the people. Ensuring the right to survival and development remains China's top priority. We will vigorously promote social and economic development, protect people's freedom, democracy and human rights according to law, achieve social fairness and justice and enable the 1.3 billion Chinese people to live a happy life.
9、——中华文明历来注重以民为本，尊重人的尊严和价值。早在千百年前，中国人就提出“民惟邦本，本固邦宁”、“天地之间，莫贵于人”，强调要利民、裕民、养民、惠民，今天，我们坚持以人为本，就是要坚持发展为了人民、发展依靠人民、发展成果由人民共享。关注人的价值、权益和自由，关注人的生活质量、发展潜能和幸福指数，最终是为了实现人的全面发展。保障人民的生存权和发展权仍是中国的首要任务。我们将大力推动经济社会发展，依法保障人民享有自由、民主和人权，实现社会公平和正义，使13亿中国人民过上幸福生活。
10. The Chinese civilization has always given prominence to unremitting self-improvement, reform and innovation. As an ancient Chinese motto puts it, "As Heaven keeps vigor through movement, a gentleman should unremittingly practice self-improvement." Throughout its 5,000-year history, it is thanks to their perseverance, determination, stamina and innovation that the Chinese nation has grown after surviving numerous setbacks and adversity. The Chinese people have shown enterprising spirit and reform and opening-up creativity in national development and great tenacity in overcoming difficulties on the road to progress. And all this gives expression to the spirit of ,unremitting self-improvement embodied in China's cultural tradition.
10、——中华文明历来注重自强不息，不断革故鼎新。“天行健，君子以自强不息。”这是中国的一句千年传世格言。中华民族所以能在5000多年的历史进程中生生不息、发展壮大，历经挫折而不屈，屡遭坎坷而不馁，靠的就是这样一种发愤图强、坚忍不拔、与时俱进的精神。中国人民在改革开放中表现出来的进取精神，在建设国家中焕发出来的创造热情，在克服前进道路上的各种困难中表现出来的顽强毅力，正是这种自强不息精神的生动写照。
11. The Chinese civilization has always given prominence to social harmony, unity and mutual assistance. Back in the early days of the Chinese nation, the Chinese already advocated that "harmony is most valuable." They strove for harmony between man and nature, among people and between man's body and soul, and yearned for an ideal society where "everyone loves everyone else, everyone is equal and the whole world is one community." Today, China is endeavoring to build a harmonious society. It is a society of democracy and rule of law, fairness and justice, integrity, fraternity, vitality, stability, order and harmony between man and nature. It is a society where there is unity between the material and the spirit, democracy and rule of law, fairness and efficiency, and vitality and order. The Chinese people take the maintenance of ethnic unity and harmony as their bounden duty and the defense of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity their sacred mission. Any act that promoted ethnic harmony and national unity will receive the warm welcome and support of the Chinese people. On the other hand, any act that undermines China's ethnic harmony and national unity will meet their strong opposition and resistance.
11、——中华文明历来注重社会和谐，强调团结互助。中国人早就提出了“和为贵”的思想，追求天人和谐、人际和谐、身心和谐，向往“人人相亲，人人平等，天下为公”的理想社会。今天，中国提出构建和谐社会，就是要建设一个民主法治、公平正义、诚信友爱、充满活力、安定有序、人与自然和谐相处的社会，实现物质和精神、民主和法治、公平和效率、活力和秩序的有机统一。中国人民把维护民族团结作为自己义不容辞的职责，把维护国家主权和领土完整作为自己至高无上的使命。一切有利于民族团结和国家统一的行为，都会得到中国人民真诚的欢迎和拥护。一切有损于民族团结和国家统一的举动，都会遭到中国人民强烈的反对和抗争。、
12. The Chinese civilization has always given prominence to good neighborliness. The Chinese nation cherishes peace. In foreign relations, the Chinese have always believed that "the strong should not oppress the weak and the rich should not bully the poor" and advocated that "all nations live side by side in perfect harmony." The Chinese held that "one should be as inclusive as the ocean, which is vast because it admits hundreds of rivers" and called for drawing upon the strength of others. Today, China holds high the banner of peace, development and cooperation. It pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and commits itself firmly to peaceful development. It seeks to accelerate its development by upholding world peace. The world peace is, in turn, enhanced by China's development. China firmly pursues a strategy of opening-up for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. It genuinely wishes to enter into extensive cooperation with other countries. It is inclusive and is eager to draw on the strength of other civilizations to pursue peace and development through cooperation and play its part in building a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.
12、——中华文明历来注重亲仁善邻，讲求和睦相处。中华民族历来爱好和平。中国人在对外关系中始终秉承“强不执弱”、“富不侮贫”的精神，主张“协和万邦”。中国人提倡“海纳百川，有容乃大”，主张吸纳百家优长、兼集八方精义。今天，中国高举和平、发展、合作的旗帜，奉行独立自主的和平外交政策，坚定不移地走和平发展道路，既通过维护世界和平来发展自己，又通过自身的发展来促进世界和平。中国坚持实施互利共赢的对外开放战略，真诚愿意同各国广泛开展合作，真诚愿意兼收并蓄、博采各种文明之长，以合作谋和平、以合作促发展，推动建设一个持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐世界。
