Ｏｕｒ Ｃｏｍｍｏｎ Ｌｅｇａｃｙ

——Speech by Former US President Jimmy Carter at the Opening of Exhibition Commemorating 30th

Anniversary of Normalization

It is a great honor and privilege for me to open this inspiring exhibition. On November 15， 2008， I opened the exhibit of First Emperor: China’s Terra Cotta Army in Atlanta with Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong. If that exhibit reflects the dazzling civilization of China’s glorious past， this one documents the ever growing and increasingly important relationship between two great nations， the United States and the People’s Republic of China.

I have the same birthday as the People’s Republic of China， October 1st. Deng Xiaoping and others have always said that it was a matter of fate that I would re-establish the friendship between the United States and China. When I became President， I recognized that for 28 years the United States and China had not had diplomatic relations， and I saw the great need for us to change that situation.

Standing here today as a witness to the enormous benefits of a peaceful， constructive， and flourishing relationship of thirty years， I am especially proud of the decision that I made in 1978. At the time， it was not a popular decision， but I was determined to make it. I believed then as I believe today that a peaceful relationship between the United States and China is vital to global peace and prosperity.

Today， China is one of the top trade partners of the U.S.， a stabilizing force in the world economy， and an important actor in many of the world’most challenging issues. The relationship between China and the United States is probably the most important bilateral relationship in the world. Although we may sometimes disagree， we should never be consumed or hindered by our differences. Mutual trust and respect will help us overcome difficulties and move forward.

Normalizing the relationship between the United States and China was an important chapter in my Presidency， a historic moment for China and a momentous change for the world. But this is not only my personal legacy. It is the legacy of many great individuals， some of whom are present here today. It is now a legacy that must be carried on by the future generations of American and Chinese people.

As we mark the 30th anniversary of this friendship， I hope that years from now it will become even stronger， and prosper based not only on material interests， but also on our common belief in the fundamental human values of freedom， equality， and democracy. I wish to express my gratitude to the Chinese people for their many years of friendship. I will continue to serve as a bridge to make sure that the relationship between China and the United States is harmonious and mutually beneficial.

Thank you， and enjoy the exhibition.