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Over the two centuries that have followed, the currents of history have steered the relationship between our countries in many directions. And even in the midst of tumultuous winds, our people had opportunities to forge deep and even dramatic ties. For instance, Americans will never forget the hospitality shown to our pilots who were shot down over your soil during World War II, and cared for by Chinese civilians who risked all that they had by doing so. And Chinese veterans of that war still warmly greet those American veterans who return to the sites where they fought to help liberate China from occupation.
在此后的两个世纪中，历史洪流使我们两国关系向许多不同的方向发展，但即使在动荡的岁月中，两国人民也抓住机会发展了深入的、甚至极不平凡的关系。例如，美国人民永远不会 忘记，二战期间，美国飞行员在中国上空被击落后，中国公民冒着失去一切的危险招待他们，护理他们。参加过二战的中国老兵仍然热情欢迎故地重游的美国老兵，他们曾经在那里作战，帮助中国获得解放。
A different kind of connection was made nearly 40 years ago when the frost between our countries began to thaw through the simple game of table tennis. The very unlikely nature of this engagement contributed to its success—because for all our differences, both our common humanity and our shared curiosity were revealed. As one American player described his visit to China—"The people are just like us... The country is very similar to America, but still very different."
近40年前，小小的乒乓球比赛解冻了两国的关系，使我们两国建立起另一种联系。这种往来令人意外，但却恰恰促进了其成功，因为尽管我们之间存在许多分歧，但是我们共同的人性和共同的好奇心从中得以显现。正如一位美国乒乓球队员在回忆对中国的访问时所说： “那里的人民和我们一样……这个国家和美国有许多相似之处，也有很大区别。”
Of course this small opening was followed by the achievement of the Shanghai Communique, and the eventual establishment of formal relations between the United States and China in 1979. And in three decades, just look at how far we have come.
无需赘言，这个小小的契机带来了《上海公报》的问世，并最终促使美中两国在1979年建立正式外交关系。可以看到在此后的30年，我们取得了多么长足的进展。
