Nanjing Speech

September 12^th
Nanjing Speech

 
Vice Governor Zhang, Vice Chairman Sun, Minister Sun, Director Han, General Hu,  U.S. and Chinese veterans and family members, ladies and gentlemen:  
 
It is my great honor to join you today in paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who served in World War II.  Let us remember the joint efforts of our servicemen and citizens. Let us take this opportunity to renew our commitment to enhanced cooperation between the United States and China on all fronts. Let us together dedicate ourselves to a more peaceful world.
 
As we look back 60 years, countless examples of bravery abound. US Army Air Transport Command and China National Aviation Corporation pilots flew over the treacherous Himalayan “hump” to deliver much-needed supplies to troops on the ground. The American Volunteer Group (also known as the Flying Tigers) developed innovative tactics while flying early model P-40B planes to achieve impressive combat statistics. The 14^th Air Force continued these successes. Soldiers and engineers cleared jungles and weathered illnesses to build roads through some of the most difficult terrain on earth, all to ensure there would still be a land route through which supplies could reach China.
 
The cooperation between our two countries was not just on a military level but also on a personal one. Even before the United States entered World War II, individual American citizens risked their lives to create a safety zone within the city of Nanjing. In the same way, Chinese citizens risked their lives to guide and assist lost or downed American pilots and planes.
 
As we honor those soldiers who died – including the more than 3,000 names that are enshrined in this memorial; as we honor those soldiers who live – a number of whom are present today… we must not forget the enormity of the challenges the world faced sixty years ago and we will not forget the way China and the United States worked together in many ways to try to bring peace to the region.
 
Just as the world confronted extremism during World War II, extremism remains a threat to world stability today. The United States welcomes China’s increasingly active role on the world stage and also welcomes China’s cooperation in making the world more secure. Today, more than ever, China and the United States are working together on many fronts and pursuing common interests. We have established a strategic dialogue at the highest levels of government to improve our communication and our cooperation. We have increased the exchange of scholars, students, businesspeople and tourists between our two countries. We firmly believe that with enhanced mutual understanding, the partnership forged more than 60 years ago between our two countries will continue to strengthen and improve. 
 
So, just as we did sixty years ago, it is my hope that the U.S. and China will continue to stand side by side, our two peoples shoulder to shoulder, to make our world a more peaceful place.  Our two nations were friends during the war and, as we confront modern challenges, we can and must be friends now.  
 
Thank you.