尊敬的Peter Salovey校长

Yale University President Peter Salovey,

尊敬的耶鲁大学的朋友们，你们好

Friends from Yale University, Good Morning！

欢迎你们来到北京，让我们再次相会

Welcome to China! We are delighted to meet again.

160年前，中国第一位留学生容闳

160 years ago, the first Chinese student to study abroad, Rong Hong

就是在耶鲁大学就读并毕业的

graduated from Yale University.

在他的帮助下

Later, with his help,

清政府在“洋务运动”期间先后派出了100多名学生

the Qing Dynasty government, under the “Westernization Movement” sent over 100 children

去美国学习，学习美国的先进技术、知识和文化

to study in the United States, to learn about modern American technology and culture.

从此，中国关闭的大门打开了

From thereon, China's doors were cast open,

先进的知识和技术涌进了中国

and modern knowledge, technology and culture swept in,

这为中国社会带来了最根本性的变化

bringing fundamental changes to Chinese society.

40年前，中国开放了

40 years ago, China opened its doors to economic reform.

邓小平先生在中美还未建交之前

Prior to reinitiating diplomatic relations with the United States,

就派了52名学生去美国留学

Mr. Deng Xiaoping sent 52 students to study abroad in America.

回顾这一百多年中国的历史

Looking back on the last hundred years of history,

中国社会的每一步进步

every step in the progress and development of Chinese society

都离不开对外的开放，对外的学习

is the result of opening doors, and education.

回头看，敞开胸怀的年代就是我们进步的年代.

For any country, periods of embracing openness, lend to progress and development.

闭关锁国的年代就是我们落后的年代

Periods of isolation led to underdevelopment.

我的夫人张欣

My wife Zhang Xin

就是中国改革开放后比较早出国留学的一批

was among the earliest group of students to study abroad during China’s period of economic reform.

她在英国受到了教育

She received an outstanding education in the UK

学习到了知识、技术和文化

where she learned about modern knowledge, technology and culture.

在那个年代，我们的家庭和国家比较贫穷

At that time, our country, and our families, were poor

无力支付留学生在海外的学费和基本的生活费

and unable to shoulder the expenses of tuition and living expenses abroad.

正是那些海外默默无闻的人们

With the help of so many nameless donors abroad

他们慷慨的捐助，才让她和更多的中国留学生

Zhang Xin, and so many others, obtained the financial aid that

完成了自己的学业

would allow them to complete their studies.

今天，中国的社会进步了

Today, Chinese society has progressed

正像你们来到北京所看到的一样

As you can see as you visit Beijing

在各方面都取得了进步

every aspect of China has progressed.

尤其在物质财富方面，远远的超过了改革开放之初

In particular, from the prospective of material wealth, there is no way to compare today’s China with the China of only decades ago, in the early days of economic reform.

我们有能力支付自己国家学生出国留学的学费

We now have the ability to support financial aid for students from our own country.

我们的这次捐助，实际上

This is the responsibility

就是要去承担这份责任

we have chosen to take on.

在与耶鲁大学的朋友们交流的过程中

As we have developed out relationship with all of you at Yale University

我们听到了你们许多的感谢

we have received so many kind words of gratitude.

实际上真正应该感谢的是我们

The people that truly deserve our thanks are you.

是耶鲁大学一直默默无闻的在支持着中国的留学生

You are the ones who have selflessly aided and supported Chinese students.

在帮助着中国的留学生

You have educated Chinese students.

是改革开放和教育让我们有了今天的富足

It is China’s economic reform that has provided us with today’s prosperity.

对我们今天所拥有的财富

On the topic of wealth,

我和我的夫人张欣，有两点共同的理解

my wife and I share two similar view points:

第一， 这是一份托付

Firstly, wealth is a responsibility.

是社会给我们的一份责任

We are responsible for

这份责任就是要让我们把这些钱要花到该花的地方

spending money where it is needed most

不要乱花钱

and not to spend it wastefully.

教育是最该花钱的地方

Education is the area that most deserves financial support.

我们每个人都是一座拥有宝藏的矿山

Every person’s potential is like a hidden gem,

唯有通过教育才能挖掘出这些宝藏

and education is the tool that unlocks human potential.

第二， 这些财富对我们和我们家庭的每个成员是一种考验

Secondly, wealth is a test for us and for our family.

它要让我们变得更加的谦卑

It forces us to become more humble,

更加的慷慨

more generous,

更加的节俭

more economic,

更有爱心、更有责任心

more caring, and more responsible,

而不是相反

not the other way around.

我们的捐助比起教育所需是微乎其微的

Our contribution serves just a small portion of the vast need for support in education.

但是我们想通过我们的行为

But we hope that this gesture will become

能够架起中美文化交流的桥梁

one part of the bridge connecting China and the United States.

同时我们希望耶鲁大学

We hope that our donation will enable Yale University

能够招更多的中国的学生

to admit more Chinese students

更够让中国贫困家庭的学生受益

and more Chinese students from modest economic backgrounds.

我们也希望这些同学们，通过耶鲁大学良好的教育

We hope that these students, by receiving an outstanding education from Yale University

能够关心社会，关心人类

will continue to care for and contribute

能够做促进社会和人类进步的事情

to the betterment of the world and humanity.

谢谢大家

Thank you!