Welcome especially to our Chinese guests, and to you VFM Zhu.

Today we celebrate the declaration of independence of the United States, made 233 years ago

 And on which our great republic was founded

The powerful ideas penned by Thomas Jefferson resonate across the centuries.

That government should be carried out by representatives elected by the people

                                That no one is above the law

                                That taxation must be fair, and levied through representation

That the Govt’s role is to provide for the collective defense, to provide security and encourage prosperity by creating opportunities

The fundamental values espoused by our American founding fathers:  freedom of expression and of the press, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble and to engage in political discussion without fear of repression or persecution…………. Many of these values have over the past two centuries come to be recognized as fundamental human rights

Our Union is not perfect.

At the time of its founding African Americans were traded as property. They and other minorities did not enjoy basic freedoms so valued and so precious to the white men who were the signers of that Declaration of Independence

It wasn’t until the early part of the last century that American women obtained the right to vote and until the second half of the last century that race based prohibitions began to be questioned and eliminated.

Yes, we have made mistakes. But today we celebrate the fact that we Americans have always found the strength to admit those mistakes, and have had the courage to correct them, sometimes in ways hard to imagine.

Today a man of color, with African roots, leads our Nation and inspires us daily.

 President Obama - Today we celebrate the boundless opportunities of the United States that you represent for all of us and for all races.

Today we are represented overseas by a Foreign Service that looks more and more like America every day, and that is led by a woman who herself could easily have been, and yet might be, our first woman president.

Secretary Clinton – today we celebrate you and the glass ceilings you have broken and for the way you have helped others find the strength and courage to achieve great things.

As we work here in China, let us also celebrate the progress of the People’s Republic of China over the past three decades, decades during which the work ethic and creativity of Chinese people has been so well promoted for the betterment of so many. 

China and the USA are both great nations. We confront a dangerous world, full of threats to our safety, health, prosperity and our shared future.

It is only normal that we will not see eye to eye on every issue.

But while not ignoring those areas of disagreement, we do not dwell on our differences.

Instead, we work together every day. And much of that work is done here in this beautiful building.

It is my great pleasure to have you all here today.

Please join me in celebrating our cooperation through which we can and will continue to demonstrate leadership in common cause for the security, prosperity and greater opportunity for Americans, for Chinese, and for all people.