Remarks by the First Lady Before Number Seven School Classroom Visit -- Chengdu, China

Remarks by the First Lady Before Number Seven School Classroom Visit -- Chengdu, China

The White House

Office of the First Lady

Number Seven High School
Chengdu, China

11:16 A.M. CST

March 25, 2014

MRS. OBAMA:  (Applause.)  Well, I’m very excited to meet all of you.  I am here to learn from you.  I’m very interested to hear all the things you’re doing here at the Number Seven School.  I’m really interested to see how the distance-learning program works here; it sounds very exciting. 

And also, I’m open to answering any questions that you all have as well, so feel free.  So I’m going to stop talking, because I want to hear from you.  But thank you for such a warm welcome. 

You all truly make me proud, and it is wonderful to be able to highlight all that you’re doing here to students here in the United States who are following my trip.  So you all are wonderful examples and wonderful representation of your country.

So thank you.  (Applause.)

MR. XIE:  Mrs. Obama -- for your coming.  We, too, feel very honored for your coming.  As you can see here, it’s our usual class.  And every day, we have tens of thousands of students having the class at the same time.  And we are from Number Seven High School -- campus district schools.  And here you can see in the screen is a district school from Wen Jiang Number Two, the school.  It’s a town not very far away from Chengdu, like half-an hour drive from Chengdu.  But we still have another school from our -- distant school, and it’s about four hours’ drive.  It’s in Nanchong, Yi Long High School. 

So we are very eager to ask you questions later.  But first of all, we would like to greet the -- welcome you.  So would you please say something to our First Lady here?

STUDENT:  Hello, Mrs. Obama. 

MRS. OBAMA:  Hello.

STUDENT:  Nice to see you.  Well, my question is --

MR. XIE:  Oh, a question for you.

STUDENT:  -- we’ve seen many examples of creative Americans, so how do you think school education makes students become creative?  Thank you.

MR. XIE:  First of all, a question for you.  So see how they are eager to ask you questions.  (Laughter.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, looking back on when I was young, when I was your age -- probably even younger -- that was the first time that I got the spark of creativity myself.  One of the things I loved to do and still continue to love to do is to write.  And some of my best teachers were in school; they were the people who encouraged me to write, who gave me the skills, who showed me new ideas, new approaches.  They exposed me to literature, and to other great works that fed my creativity.

But also, the wonderful thing about education is that you are surrounded by your peers.  And often, it is your peers who push you and encourage your creativity.  So having the opportunity to come to school every day with other young people who are struggling with the same issues and have the same hopes -- they push you to be even better.

So that’s one of the reasons why I think it’s so important for every child in this world to have access to an education like you all have.  And that’s why I think this distance-learning program is such a wonderful model for reaching out to kids who may not live near schools but can still get the quality education that they need, so that we make sure that we tap into all the creativity of young people like you and none of that energy goes to waste.

Thank you for the question. 

STUDENT:  Thank you.

MR. XIE:  Thank you.  Great.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  So of course we have other students here in the school, and we are still prepare -- I think they prepared questions for you.  So do they get the chance to ask you questions?  No?

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, well -- tell me, what’s the --

MR. XIE:  I mean, the students here --

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, that’s right.  You guys are supposed to ask.  (Laughter.)  So, please. 

STUDENT:  Excuse me.  Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Obama.  As we all know, we are a generation leading the 21st century, and people leading this time are under too much pressure competing with each other.  So what I wonder is, what’s the technical ability, do you think -- should teens just like us have as our core competitiveness to surviving such a society?  Thank you. 

MRS. OBAMA:  I understand this because I have a teenage daughter who is in her second year.  She’s a great student, but she feels the stress of trying to succeed.  Like you, she’s concerned about already what college she’s going to.  My youngest daughter, who is just 12, is already talking about colleges. 

So you’re absolutely right, your generation feels a level of pressure that is oftentimes difficult.  But the one thing that I tell my daughters -- and it’s something that I hope you understand -- is that your education, first and foremost, is for you.  You have to have it in your mind that everything you’re doing is, first and foremost, for yourself and your own development.

I mean, I spoke in my speech about how I felt like I had to make my parents proud, and that was important motivation for me.  But in order to work as hard as you’re going to have to, you have to do it for yourself.  You have to have the vision in your head of where you want to be.  And you have to not let the disappointment of inevitable failure -- which happens to us all -- let you down.

We have all failed.  I have had some miserable failures in my life -- tests I didn’t do well on, big exams I had embarrassing failures on.  My husband, the same way -- he wasn’t always a great student.  But it’s the perseverance, it’s the sense of what your own goal is, and it’s pushing beyond your fear of failure to make sure that you’re still trying to be the best that you can be.

I don’t know if that directly answered your question.

STUDENT:  Thank you.

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

MR. XIE:  Another question here.  Yes.

STUDENT:  Nice to meet you, Mrs. Obama.  (Laughter.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  You all aren’t shy.  I love that.  (Laughter.)

STUDENT:  I know you are in China for -- in some -- in a few days.  So my question is, what’s your impression about the people you meet, the cities you have gone to, and the food you eat in China?  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  This is my first time visiting China, and let me tell you, it has been a phenomenal experience.  Words can’t describe -- I mean, I don’t know if you followed my trip.  I started in Beijing, yesterday we were in Xi’an, and today I’m here in Chengdu. 

And the cities are so vast and so complex and so different from one another.  You can’t lump any aspect of China into one stereotype.  As I mentioned in my speech, sometimes in the United States, people don’t -- they’ve never visited China, they don’t know much about the culture, so sometimes they sort of exist on those stereotypes and misconceptions.  Fortunately, I travel a little more than most people in the United States so I’m already pretty open to new cultures.  But that’s one of the things that I want to do through this trip.

I want to encourage more young people in the United States to, what I call, step outside of their comfort zones and try new things -- get on a plane, travel to another country, experience another language, try new foods.  Because, as I said in my speech, underneath all of those difference, we’re still the same. When I look into your eyes -- and I’ve met many young people -- you all remind me of my girls.  You remind me of my kids.  And I want for you what I want for them and what I want for all kids.

And the kids -- the young people I’ve met here, you all remind me of the kids that I’ve met in India, the kids that I’ve met in Moscow -- I could go on and on.  You all are born with innate gifts, warmth, a possibility for hope that I don’t want you to lose.  And I want us to be in a world that cultivates that for all of you.

So that is my passion.  But being here in China just reminds me, yes, we have millions and millions of phenomenal young people who deserve access to the best that the world has to offer.  So it has been a true privilege, but, more importantly, I’ve been glad that I’ve been able to bring along other kids in the United States who are following this trip.  And maybe they too will think, maybe I’ll come to Chengdu, and maybe I will study at Number Seven School -- (laughter) -- and learn how to speak Chinese as well as you all speak English. 

So that is my hope.

STUDENT:  And what’s your impression about Chengdu and our school?

MRS. OBAMA:  Chengdu is beautiful.  I mean, I have to say, when we drove in last night I didn’t expect it -- it is -- the river that runs through the city is beautiful.  The walkway is gorgeous.  We came in at night, the lights were breathtaking.  In Beijing -- there’s much more green space here than in a bigger city -- (laughter) -- in Beijing, which was wonderful to see. 

I didn’t get to go out last night, but I’m going to have lunch here.  So I’m going to try some traditional dishes, so I’ll have to let you know.  I’m sure I’ll love it.

But the impression is absolutely wonderful.  I told my kids -- I don’t know if this is politically correct -- but Chengdu is probably the kind of city that I would choose to live in if I were to come to China.

STUDENTS:  Ooohh --

MRS. OBAMA:  But that’s no -- (laughter) -- of all of the other cities.  But this one is -- it’s beautiful.

STUDENT:  Okay.  Have fun in Chengdu.  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.

MR. XIE:  -- you have another student from a distance who made -- who wants to ask you another question.  Would you please?  Yes.  And this student is -- well, will you just wait for a moment because we cannot hear you properly.  (Laughter.)  Yes, would you please say it -- also again?  Sorry to interrupt you.

STUDENT:  Oh, okay.  (Laughter.)  I heard that you had tried Chinese calligraphy in Beijing, and I want to know, are you interested in any other forms of Chinese culture like kung fu, (inaudible,) and so on.  That’s all.  Thank you. 

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  I think I might get to try some tai chi while I’m here at this school.  I think that’s what my staff told me. 

And one of my father’s favorite sports -- he introduced us -- and I don’t know how he knew -- to badminton when we were -- and I’m not any good at it now.  But when we were little, we had a badminton set and we would set it up in our backyard, and we played when I was little.  I learned how to play badminton -- again, I am no good at it now.  (Laughter.) 

But, yes, I’m interested in learning so much more.  And that’s one of the reasons why I am excited about the school I mentioned in my speech, the Yu Ying School, which is in Washington, D.C.  It’s a charter school that’s completely dedicated to Chinese culture and Chinese language.  And every single student at that school, from the age of three on up, they’re learning to speak Chinese at a very young age.  They’re learning everything about the culture, the music, the dance, the film, the food. 

And that’s part of my hope that I will encourage through my trip, is that more and more young people in the United States will explore and learn more about Chinese culture.  So, yes, I am interested in doing so much more.

MR. XIE:  Thank you, Mrs. Obama.  I know that -- (applause) -- we appreciate your time to be with us.

MRS. OBAMA:  We’re done?  That’s it? 

MR. XIE:  Yes, well we want -- sorry, but we want you more --

MRS. OBAMA:  Let’s do one more question.

MR. XIE:  One more question.  Yes, you’re lucky, guys.  (Laughter.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  You choose.  It’s hard to pick.

STUDENT:  Okay.  So, hello, Mrs. Obama.  As your daughter is now learning Chinese, has she ever thought being an exchange student in China, or even staying in China for some time? 

MRS. OBAMA:  My youngest -- we were trying to correct this in the media -- in fourth grade -- she’s now in seventh grade -- they focused for a semester on Chinese culture.  And that’s -- and it happened to be the time when the Chinese President was there.  So she knew some phrases when she was very young, but she didn’t continue to study Chinese; she, instead, is taking Spanish.

I am encouraging both of my daughters to study abroad somewhere.  Now, like any parent, I want it to be their choice, because if you tell kids at your age what to do, sometimes you do the exact opposite.  (Laughter.)  And they’re going to figure it out as they get older. 

But my husband and I, we believe that because we are living in a more global economy where our world just feels a lot smaller -- because the Internet and so much of technology allows us to be closer to one another that it is so important for young people like you to be citizens of the world.  You have to be comfortable traveling and living in all parts of the world, because that’s how you’re going to get jobs in the future, that’s how you’re going to be able to make contributions.  Because we can’t solve these problems together if we don’t know one another.  And the best way to learn about one another is to live together and learn each other’s languages. 

So I want my girls to be global citizens.  Now, whether their first effort at studying abroad is in China or Spain or you name it, I will be happy that they take that first step.  So I’m not going to commit them because that would be unfair for me to say, yes, they’re going to come to China.  (Laughter.)  And they will say, mom, why did you say that?

So we’ll see as they get older.

STUDENT:  So thank you. 

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)

MR. XIE:  -- you are even more popular than Mr. Obama, right?  (Laughter.)  And so before you go, please leave us some encouraging words -- to young people?  We do appreciate that. 

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, I think -- I can tell that you all are very serious students already, so I don’t have to tell you how important education is because I think you know that.  I can see that. 

What I want to just remind you is that education is about more than learning words and numbers, and memorizing things, and taking tests and getting good scores.  It’s also about the experiences that you have.  And I hope that, as you grow older, that you’ll understand that life is a balance; that you have to feed yourself with experiences to continue to grow. 

That first question about creativity -- creativity comes because you’re filling yourself with all kinds of different experiences that just shape your mind and shape your thinking.  So if you’re always comfortable and safe, then you have to think to yourself, well, how much am I learning if I’m not pushing myself outside of my comfort zone?  And I think that’s the thing that I would encourage you all to do, is think about how you’re going to continue to fill your life with experiences.

And some of that could be raising your own families, it could be travel, it could be taking up a new hobby, it could be exercising, it could be pursuing a different career than you ever thought you’d ever pursue.  But experiences are the other half of the educational process.

And sometimes we as adults just sort of focus on the scores -- and the scores are important now.  (Laughter.)  The grades are important, and I tell my kids that too.  But think about how you’re going to strike that balance so that you grow up to be well-rounded people.  Because if you’re going to be the leaders of your country, of the world, you’ve got to have a lot of experiences to draw from to make good judgments, and some of that is going to be about what you’ve learned in a book, but a lot of that is going to be about what you’ve learned by meeting and interacting with other people.

So keep learning from each other, and continue to be open to new experiences and to new ideas. 

END
11:36 A.M. CST

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Remarks by President Obama and President Xi Jinping of China Before Bilateral Meeting

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

U.S. Ambassador’s Residence
The Hague, The Netherlands

12:48 P.M. CET

March 24, 2014

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  (In progress)-- We have made incredible strides over these past several decades, and I know that President Xi and I are both committed to continuing to strengthen and build a new model of relations between our countries. 

I want to, first of all, thank the President and the First Lady of China for being such gracious hosts when Michelle, Malia and Sasha first arrived in China.  And they’re still there.  They’ve seen the Great Wall; they’ve seen the Terracotta Warriors.  And from my phone calls with them, they’re having an extraordinary time.  So I want to thank the President for his outstanding hospitality towards my family.

And Michelle had an opportunity to meet with a number of young people in China, and these kinds of person-to-person ties are extremely important.  And she also played some table tennis, although I think this was not the high-level Ping-Pong diplomacy that we saw in the past.  (Laughter.) 

Today, in addition to the important work that we're going to be doing at the Nuclear Security Summit, we'll have the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues that are of mutual interest, including the denuclearization of North Korea, situations surrounding climate change, as well as world issues like the situation in Ukraine.

And because of the numerous meetings and fora that we've been able to establish, we're able not only to work on those issues of mutual interest and concern, but we're also able to work through frictions that exist in our relations around issues like human rights or dealing with maritime issues in the South China Sea and in the Pacific region in a way that's constructive and hopefully will lead to resolutions and improved solutions for all parties concerned. 

We'll also have the opportunity to discuss economic issues, which are a cornerstone of our relationship, and the importance of our trading relationship and making sure that we are both abiding by the rules that allow us to create jobs and prosperity in both of our countries.

I think it's fair to say that this bilateral relationship has been as important as any bilateral relationship in the world, and we've made great strides.  I believe ultimately that by working together, that China and the United States can help to strengthen international law, respect for the sovereignty of nations, and establish the kinds of rules internationally that allow all people to thrive. 

And so I'm very much looking forward to this conversation and to the interaction with President Xi during the course of this Nuclear Security Summit.

PRESIDENT XI:  (As interpreted.)  Mr. President, it's my great pleasure to meet you again.  First of all, let me thank you for calling me recently to express sympathy over the missing Malaysia Airlines flight and for instructing relevant U.S. agencies to join the search for the missing plane, and for sharing information with the Chinese side.  I want to thank you for that.

Before departing Beijing, my wife and I met your wife, Michelle, your mother-in-law, Mrs. Robinson, and your two lovely daughters, Malia and Sasha.  We had a very good conversation.  I know they’ve finished their tour of Beijing and Xi’an and they’re flying to Chengdu.  I'm sure it is a trip of friendship and exchange, and this trip will be remembered for them as a pleasant and memorable one.  When I was bidding farewell to Michelle in Beijing, she asked me to formally convey to you her best regards.  (Laughter.) 

Over the past year, you and I have stayed in close communication through meetings, phone calls, and exchange of letters.  We have arrived at a series of important points of consensus, and made important and positive progress in our bilateral relationship.

We are now in the 35th year of formal diplomatic relations between China and the United States.  We live in a complex world, and there is greater space where China and the United States are cooperating and where we need to and can work with each other. 

I have received and carefully read your recent letter to me, Mr. President.  In the letter you said that you remain committed to building the new model of major country relations with China.  You also said that China-U.S. cooperation can help to advance our two countries’ common interests, and we can address common challenges through practical cooperation.  I appreciate these statements.

I wish to emphasize that China is firmly committed to the set direction of building a new model of major country relations. We are committed to our position of no confrontation, no conflict, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation with regard to the United States.  We’ll adopt a more positive attitude and more vigorous actions to strengthen cooperation with the United States, and also to effectively manage our differences and sensitivities and make sure the China-U.S. relationship will continue to move forward in a healthy and steady fashion.

We will soon go into our meeting; just now you mentioned some issues, which might come up in our meeting.  It is like a menu, and a rich one at that.  I hope through this meeting we can further deepen our communication and exchange.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you, everybody.

END
1:00 P.M. CET

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Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Rutte of the Netherlands After Bilateral Meeting

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Gallery of Honor
The Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

10:49 A.M. CET

March 24, 2014

PRIME MINISTER RUTTE:  Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Netherlands.  Welcome to Amsterdam.  And, Barack, welcome to this very special location. 

We are standing here on historic grounds, surrounded by the finest paintings that Holland has produced and only a stone’s throw away from the house of John Adams, the first American ambassador to the Netherlands and second President of the United States.  It’s a location that symbolizes the enduring partnership between the U.S. and the Netherlands.  Our shared history and heritage go back a long way.

As an historian, it was a special moment for me when earlier this morning I was able to show President Obama two original documents from our National Archives that played an important role in the age-old friendship between our two countries.  The first was our own Declaration of Independence, the Plakkaat van Verlatinghe of 1581, which inspired Thomas Jefferson and his peers.  The second was the American-Dutch Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1782, another remarkable document from an age when peace between countries was usually a heartfelt affair.  And today, friendship is still at the heart of the relationship between the United States and the Netherlands, along with trade, shared values, and joint responsibilities.

Since that first treaty we have worked together in the growing awareness that economic prosperity, a safe and stable world and international cooperation go hand in hand.  With this in mind, the President and I talked about a wide range of subjects, starting with a joint climate initiative and the new steps we will take today in that regard.  The Netherlands is joining with the United States and a group of other countries in a bid to stop international public funding of new coal-fired power plants, for example, by multilateral development banks.  We want to achieve an international level playing field to ensure that private and public parties invest in green growth wherever possible.

We also discussed the important topic of the Transatlantic Investment Partnership between the EU and U.S.  Once concluded, this agreement will create more economic growth and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.  Importantly, it will set new standards that will benefit global trade and third countries as well.  This partnership will bolster our excellent bilateral economic ties even further.

During our conversation I stressed how much we value this partnership.  The Netherlands is the world’s third largest investor in the United States and we are home to some 1,800 American businesses. 

And of course, we also spoke about the major international security issues in Syria, Iran and Ukraine.  Concerning the last, we both regard Russia’s attempts to annex the Crimea as a flagrant breach of international law and we condemn its actions in the strongest possible terms.  The presence of so many world leaders in the Netherlands this week presents an important opportunity for the international community to discuss this subject, as well as other pressing issues that affect our common interests.

Finally, we looked ahead at the Nuclear Security Summit today and tomorrow.  President Obama deserves all the credit for getting this topic high on the agenda.  In 2010, Washington hosted the first summit on this seat.  In 2012, it was Seoul’s turn.  And now the Netherlands is proud to host the summit today and tomorrow in The Hague that will bring us closer to the goal of securing potentially dangerous nuclear material.

Barack, your presence underlines the importance of the summit, and this event, too, demonstrates the strength of the bilateral ties between our countries and of our joint commitment to peace, security and democracy.  I’m delighted to be able to hear from you publicly here at this splendid location.

Again, thank you for coming.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Mark, thank you.  And it is a splendid location.  I’m so grateful for your kind words.  We were very pleased to welcome you back in 2011 to the White House, and I appreciate your warm welcome today.  This is my first visit to Amsterdam and to The Hague and to the Netherlands, and I’m so pleased that I’ve had a chance already to meet some wonderful students.  I want to thank the Mayor and the curator for their hospitality as well.  I’m proud to be with some of the Dutch masters who I studied in school, and to see just the extraordinary traditions of this great country. 

I’d be remiss if I did not mention that I’m proud of both of our teams at the Olympics.  So in addition to painting, you really know how to speed skate.  (Laughter.)

As the Prime Minister said, we just had an excellent opportunity to experience the museum and to see those documents, including the Treaty of Friendship that John Adams negotiated more than 200 years ago, as a reminder of the historic ties between our countries.  And this is -- of all the press conferences I’ve done, this is easily the most impressive backdrop that I’ve had to a press conference. 

Of course, we’re here for our third Nuclear Security Summit. And I want to thank His Majesty, King Willem-Alexander, as well as Mark, the people of the Netherlands, for all the preparations that go into bringing together so many heads of state.  This is just one more example of Dutch leadership -- not just on nuclear security, but on many global challenges. 

As you know, the Netherlands is one of our closest allies, and our cooperation underscores a larger point -- our NATO allies are our closest partners on the world stage.  Europe is the cornerstone of America’s engagement with the world.  And today we focused on several priorities -- in Europe and beyond.

First, we obviously spent a considerable amount of time on the situation in Ukraine.  Europe and America are united in our support of the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people.  We’re united in imposing a cost on Russia for its actions so far. Prime Minister Rutte rightly pointed out yesterday the growing sanctions would bring significant consequences to the Russian economy.  And I’ll be meeting with my fellow G7 leaders later today, and we’ll continue to coordinate closely with the Netherlands and our European partners as we go forward.

Second, I thanked the Prime Minister for the Netherlands’ strong commitment and contributions to NATO.  Dutch forces have served with distinction in Afghanistan and joined us in confronting piracy off the Horn of Africa.  Through NATO, the Netherlands contributed to the deployment of Patriot air batteries in Turkey and are making important investments in NATO defense capabilities.  Dutch forces are also making critical contributions to the international stabilization mission in Mali. So, across the board, the Dutch are making their presence felt in a very positive way, and we’re very grateful for that.

Third, we discussed how we can keep expanding the trade that creates jobs for our people.  We’re already among each other’s largest trade and investment partners, but we can always do more. And so I appreciated the Netherlands’ strong support for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or T-TIP, which can fuel growth both in the United States and in Europe, especially for our small and medium-sized companies.

Fourth, we discussed a range of global challenges.  And as the United States and the P5-plus-1 partners continue negotiations with Iran, we have the basis for a practical solution that resolves concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.  But at the same time, I think it’s important that everyone remember during these negotiations we’ll continue to enforce the overall sanctions architecture that helped bring Iran to the table in the first place. 

I also wanted to commend the Netherlands for its leadership in the international effort to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons, and that includes your role as the host of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.  And more broadly, our two countries are going to keep working together to deliver humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people.

And, finally, we reaffirmed our shared determination to confront climate change and its effects, including rising sea levels, which obviously is something that the Netherlands is concerned about, given your experience with seas and tides.  We’re pleased that the Netherlands has joined our initiative that will virtually end all public financing for coal-fired plants abroad.  It’s concrete action like this that can keep making progress on reducing emissions while we develop new global agreements on climate change.

So, a final note.  When John Adams was negotiating the treaty that we saw earlier, he wrote that the Dutch have -- and I’m quoting here -- have always “distinguished themselves by an inviolable attachment to freedom and the rights of nations.”  That was true then; it remains true today. 

So, Mark, I want to thank you and the Dutch for your hospitality, for your organization, for your partnership and for your leadership on the world stage.  And I want to thank you for sharing these extraordinary paintings with me this morning.

Dank u wel.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END
11:00 A.M. CET

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Remarks by the First Lady and Ambassador Baucus Before Roundtable with Chinese Educators, Parents and Students

The White House

Office of the First Lady

American Embassy Beijing, China

10:09 A.M. CST

March 23, 2014

AMBASSADOR BAUCUS:  Zăoshàng hăo.  We’re very honored that all of you are here.  And it’s most appropriate that we’re -- talked about education -- and, more specifically, how we can help each other get that -- of educating each other, helping each other and learning from each other’s country, and how we can work better together.

I’m going to be very brief.  I just wanted to tell you how excited I am that Michelle Obama is here; second, the subject is just -- it’s education.  It’s kids, because the kids are our future. 

I believe that all of us have a moral obligation who are on this place -- on this planet -- we’re not here very long.  We leave it, and we leave it in as good a shape or better shape than we found it.  That means our children and our grandchildren -- leave it in as good a shape, a better shape than we found it for our kids and for our grandkids.  And education is a key way to help accomplish that objective. 

So I just wanted to tell you how happy we are that we’re here together.  And thank you, Mrs. Obama, for being here.

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, thank you.  Thank you, Ambassador Baucus.  I’m not going to talk long either. 

I have had a wonderful first few days here in Beijing.  And, as the Ambassador said, one of the reasons I have come to China is to learn more about education around the world.  Education is an important focus for me.  It’s personal, because I wouldn’t be where I am today without my parents investing and pushing me to get a good education.

And my parents were not educated themselves, but one of the things they understood was that my brother and I needed that foundation.  So the President and I have made education a key focus of our work over the coming years because we want to make sure that as many young people in the United States and around the world, quite frankly, have access to education.

So, I’ve had a chance to visit a high school with Madame Peng here in Beijing and talked to some of the high school students there.  Yesterday, I had an amazing conversation with a group of students at Peking University yesterday, along with students at Stanford because through the Internet, we were able to have a joint conversation.  In a couple of days, I’m going to travel to Chengdu, and I’m going to be able to speak with more high school students there, really to see another region of the country and to speak to the students there, as well.  So I’m very excited.

But today, I am grateful to all of you, first of all, for taking the time on a Sunday -- (laughter) -- to be here with me, and for your willingness to share your stories and your experiences.  Because one of the things we say, it’s really by sharing our stories with each other that those bonds of connection really grow. 

So I’m here to learn and to listen, although anything you want to ask me, of course, I’m more than willing to share.  

 END                 10:13 A.M. CST

Remarks by the First Lady at Stanford Center at Peking University

The White House

Office of the First Lady

Beijing, China

March 22, 2014

MRS. OBAMA:  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Well, ni-hao.  (Laughter.)  It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you at this great university, so thank you so much for having me.

Now, before I get started today, on behalf of myself and my husband, I just want to say a few very brief words about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.  As my husband has said, the United States is offering as many resources as possible to assist in the search.  And please know that we are keeping all of the families and loved ones of those on this flight in our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.

Now with that, I want to start by recognizing our new Ambassador to China, Ambassador Baucus; President Wang; Chairman Zhu; Vice President Li; Director Cueller; Professor Oi, and the Stanford Center; President Sexton from New York University, which is an excellent study abroad program in Shanghai; and John Thornton, Director of the Global Leadership Program at Tsinghua University.  Thank you all for joining us.

But most of all, I want to thank all of the students who are here today.  And I particularly want to thank Eric Schaefer and Zhu Xuanhao for that extraordinary English and Chinese introduction.  That was a powerful symbol of everything that I want to talk with you about today.

See, by learning each other’s languages, and by showing such curiosity and respect for each other’s cultures, Mr. Schafer and Ms. Zhu and all of you are building bridges of understanding that will lead to so much more.  And I’m here today because I know that our future depends on connections like these among young people like you across the globe.

That’s why when my husband and I travel abroad, we don’t just visit palaces and parliaments and meet with heads of state.  We also come to schools like this one to meet with students like you, because we believe that relationships between nations aren’t just about relationships between governments or leaders -- they’re about relationships between people, particularly young people.  So we view study abroad programs not just as an educational opportunity for students, but also as a vital part of America’s foreign policy.

Through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before.  Ideas can cross oceans with the click of a button.  Companies can do business and compete with companies across the globe.  And we can text, email, Skype with people on every continent. 

So studying abroad isn’t just a fun way to spend a semester; it is quickly becoming the key to success in our global economy.  Because getting ahead in today’s workplaces isn’t just about getting good grades or test scores in school, which are important.  It’s also about having real experience with the world beyond your borders –- experience with languages, cultures and societies very different from your own.  Or, as the Chinese saying goes:  “It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.”

But let’s be clear, studying abroad is about so much more than improving your own future.  It’s also about shaping the future of your countries and of the world we all share.  Because when it comes to the defining challenges of our time -– whether it’s climate change or economic opportunity or the spread of nuclear weapons -- these are shared challenges.  And no one country can confront them alone.  The only way forward is together.

That’s why it is so important for young people like you to live and study in each other’s countries, because that’s how you develop that habit of cooperation.  You do it by immersing yourself in one another’s culture, by learning each other’s stories, by getting past the stereotypes and misconceptions that too often divide us. 

That’s how you come to understand how much we all share.  That’s how you realize that we all have a stake in each other’s success -- that cures discovered here in Beijing could save lives in America, that clean energy technologies from Silicon Valley in California could improve the environment here in China, that the architecture of an ancient temple in Xi’an could inspire the design of new buildings in Dallas or Detroit.   

And that’s when the connections you make as classmates or labmates can blossom into something more.  That’s what happened when Abigail Coplin became an American Fulbright Scholar here at Peking University.  She and her colleagues published papers together in top science journals, and they built research partnerships that lasted long after they returned to their home countries.  And Professor Niu Ke from Peking University was a Fulbright Scholarship -- Scholar in the U.S. last year, and he reported -- and this is a quote from him -- he said, “The most memorable experiences were with my American friends.”

These lasting bonds represent the true value of studying abroad.  And I am thrilled that more and more students are getting this opportunity.  As you’ve heard, China is currently the fifth most popular destination for Americans studying abroad, and today, the highest number of exchange students in the U.S. are from China.

But still, too many students never have this chance, and some that do are hesitant to take it.  They may feel like studying abroad is only for wealthy students or students from certain kinds of universities.  Or they may think to themselves, well, that sounds fun but how will it be useful in my life?  And believe me, I understand where these young people are coming from because I felt the same way back when I was in college. 

See, I came from a working-class family, and it never occurred to me to study abroad -- never.  My parents didn’t get a chance to attend college, so I was focused on getting into a university, earning my degree so that I could get a good job to support myself and help my family.  And I know for a lot of young people like me who are struggling to afford a regular semester of school, paying for plane tickets or living expenses halfway around the world just isn’t possible.  And that’s not acceptable, because study abroad shouldn’t just be for students from certain backgrounds. 

Our hope is to build connections between people of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds, because it is that diversity that truly will change the face of our relationships.  So we believe that diversity makes our country vibrant and strong.  And our study abroad programs should reflect the true spirit of America to the world. 

And that’s why when my husband visited China back in 2009, he announced the 100,000 Strong initiative to increase the number and diversity of American students studying in China.  And this year, as we mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization of relationships between our two countries, the U.S. government actually supports more American students in China than in any other country in the world.

We are sending high school, college and graduate students here to study Chinese.  We’re inviting teachers from China to teach Mandarin in American schools.  We’re providing free online advising for students in China who want to study in the U.S.  And the U.S.-China Fulbright program is still going strong with more than 3,000 alumni. 

And the private sector is stepping up as well.  For example, Steve Schwarzman, who is the head of an American company called Blackstone, is funding a new program at Tsinghua University modeled on the Rhodes Scholarship.  And today, students from all kinds of backgrounds are studying here in China. 

Take the example of Royale Nicholson, who’s from Cleveland, Ohio.  She attends New York University’s program in Shanghai.  Now, like me, Royale is a first-generation college student.  And her mother worked two full-time jobs while her father worked nights to support their family.  And of her experience in Shanghai, Royale said -- and this is her quote -- she said, “This city oozes persistence and inspires me to accomplish all that I can.”  And happy birthday, Royale.  It was her birthday yesterday.  (Laughter.) 

And then there’s Philmon Haile from the University of Washington, whose family came to the U.S. as refugees from Eritrea when he was a child.  And of his experience studying in China, he said, “Study abroad is a powerful vehicle for people-to-people exchange as we move into a new era of citizen diplomacy.”

“A new era of citizen diplomacy.”  I could not have said it better myself, because that’s really what I’m talking about.  I am talking about ordinary citizens reaching out to the world.  And as I always tell young people back in America, you don’t need to get on a plane to be a citizen diplomat.  I tell them that if you have an Internet connection in your home, school, or library, within seconds you can be transported anywhere in the world and meet people on every continent. 

And that’s why I’m posting a daily travel blog with videos and photos of my experiences here in China, because I want young people in America to be part of this visit.  And that’s really the power of technology –- how it can open up the entire world and expose us to ideas and innovations we never could have imagined. 

And that’s why it’s so important for information and ideas to flow freely over the Internet and through the media, because that’s how we discover the truth.  That’s how we learn what’s really happening in our communities and our country and our world.  And that’s how we decide which values and ideas we think are best –- by questioning and debating them vigorously, by listening to all sides of an argument, and by judging for ourselves. 

And believe me, I know how this can be a messy and frustrating process.  My husband and I are on the receiving end of plenty of questioning and criticism from our media and our fellow citizens.  And it’s not always easy, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.  Because time and again, we have seen that countries are stronger and more prosperous when the voices of and opinions of all their citizens can be heard. 

And as my husband has said, we respect the uniqueness of other cultures and societies, but when it comes to expressing yourself freely and worshipping as you choose and having open access to information, we believe those universal rights -- they are universal rights that are the birthright of every person on this planet.  We believe that all people deserve the opportunity to fulfill their highest potential as I was able to do in the United States.

And as you learn about new cultures and form new friendships during your time here in China and in the United States, all of you are the living, breathing embodiment of those values.  So I guarantee you that in studying abroad, you’re not just changing your own life, you are changing the lives of everyone you meet.

And as the great American President John F. Kennedy once said about foreign students studying in the U.S., he said “I think they teach more than they learn.”  And that is just as true of young Americans who study abroad.  All of you are America’s best face, and China’s best face, to the world -- you truly are.

Every day, you show the world your countries’ energy and creativity and optimism and unwavering belief in the future.  And every day, you remind us -- and me in particular -- of just how much we can achieve if we reach across borders, and learn to see ourselves in each other, and confront our shared challenges with shared resolve.

So I hope you all will keep seeking these kinds of experiences.  And I hope you’ll keep teaching each other, and learning from each other, and building bonds of friendship that will enrich your lives and enrich our world for decades to come.

You all have so much to offer, and I cannot wait to see all that you achieve together in the years ahead.

Thank you so much.  Xie-Xie.  (Applause.)

                                           END                11:48 A.M. CST  

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Remarks by the First Lady Michelle Obama and President Xi Jinping of China

The White House

Office of the First Lady

Diaoyutai Guest Houses
Beijing, China

6:07 P.M. CST

March 21, 2014

PRESIDENT XI:  (As interpreted.)  Mrs. Michelle Obama, may I start by extending my warm welcome to you, to your mother, Mrs. Robinson, and your two lovely daughters, Malia and Sasha.

In June last year at Annenberg Estate, during my meeting with your husband, President Obama, we decided that the Chinese side will invite you to China.  And the other day when I was speaking to him on the phone, we mentioned this again.  And it’s such a great pleasure to see you in person today.

I cherish my sound working relationship and personal friendship I have already established with your husband, and we stay in close touch through meetings, phone conversations and correspondence.  I look forward to meeting with him again at the Nuclear Security Summit to be held in the Hague in a couple of days’ time, and I also look forward to receiving him in China in November when he visits China and attends the APEC Economic Leaders meeting.  I also hope very much that you will be traveling with him at that time.   

China-U.S. bilateral relationship matters very much to both of our countries and to the world.  I am confident that with the concerted efforts of the two sides, the China-U.S. relationship will keep moving forward towards our shared goal of building a new model of major country relationships. 

I wish to thank the U.S. side for sending such a heavyweight ambassador to China.  I believe that he will receive his duty with great success, and he will inject new impetus to this bilateral relationship.

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you so much.  Mr. President, Madame Peng, we are honored and thrilled to be here in China with you.  And we’re so grateful for the warmth and hospitality that you’ve shown me and my family.

We had a wonderful first day here in Beijing.  We had an opportunity to meet with students, I tried my hand at ping pong -- not so good.  (Laughter.)  And our visit to the Forbidden City is one that we will never forget.  Being able to see my mother, who doesn’t get to travel internationally often, walk through that ancient city, and to see her excitement and wonder is a moment that I will treasure forever.

I’m going to focus my visit on education, which is an important issue to both of our nations.  We’ve got to continue to highlight the importance of student exchange between our countries, and I’ll be speaking about that tomorrow. 

END
6:11 P.M. CST

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Remarks to the Press by Vice President Joe Biden, President Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania, and President Andris Berzins of Latvia

The White House

Office of the Vice President

Presidential Palace
Vilnius, Lithuania

1:20 P.M. (Local)

March 19, 2014

PRESIDENT GRYBAUSKAITE:  (As interpreted.)  Good afternoon. So today we had an important meeting with U.S. Vice President Biden and Latvian President Berzins.  With our partners, we discussed the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the security of the Baltic States and Europe as a whole.  I see it as a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the entire international community.

We witnessed the use of brutal force to redraw the map of Europe and to undermine the postwar political architecture established in Europe.  We strongly condemn Russian actions on the territory of sovereign Ukraine.  We consider Sunday’s referendum and its results illegal.  The so-called referendum is a violation of the constitution of Ukraine, international law and the United Nations Charter. 

De facto Russia is carrying out the annexation of Crimea and this is happening very close to the borders of Lithuania.  The situation is a direct threat to our regional security.  Therefore, we must take all the necessary measures to ensure the security of Europe and the Baltic region. 

And this is what we discussed with Vice President Biden and Latvian President Berzins.  And I would like to thank the United States, especially, which immediately responded to the threats and took all necessary actions to ensure regional security, including the reinforcement of NATO-Baltic air policing mission. The United States is a strategic partner of Lithuania and the Baltic countries.  It has always firmly supported and continues to support our aspirations to ensure political, military, economic, and energy security in the region.

Thank you.

PRESIDENT BERZINS:  Ladies and gentlemen.  Dalia, thank you for hosting this event.  I was happy in a different way to see your country (inaudible.) 

Secondly, I would like to appreciate the visit of Vice President Joe Biden to the Baltic States.  Thank you for fulfilling your promise to come to us on this very, very important current stage.  But I would like to thank you for unwavering reassurance.  It is a clear reference to Article 5 by our NATO ally, the United States, to the security of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, as expressed by the Vice President during our meeting earlier today.
 
The situation in Ukraine caused by annexation of Crimea is alarming.  This dramatically re-forms the European security structure with global implications.  Today we discussed the need for not only the immediate de-escalation of the situation, but also for long-term solutions for the security architecture.  I am glad that we could offer some practical steps with regard during our discussions today.  The same practical approach (inaudible) energy security -- there is the issue of supply need to be addressed.  As a good example here, I would like to underline the need to accelerate the construction of gas interconnection linking Poland, Lithuania and further on, to Latvia, and using storage facilities in Latvia.

Madam President, dear Vice President, we exchanged views on the situation inside Ukraine.  We share the opinion that Ukraine must be helped immediately, both politically and economically.  And I can only praise the United States and the European Union alike for very decisive steps outlining their commitment in this regard.

Yesterday, immediately after meeting with President Komorowski, I got a call from him and we agreed to coordinate our activities over the short term and also in longer term. (Inaudible) this common view on September in NATO meeting in U.K. This coordination and support of U.S. is very, very crucial in current stage and we are fully convinced that working closely together we will come to peaceful solution immediately for Ukraine and for all future activities for whole world.  This is most crucial for it.

Thank you.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Thank you.  Madam President, thank you for the hospitality.  It’s great to see you again, to be with you again, particularly in such magnificent surroundings.  Thank you for the hospitality.  And, Mr. President, it’s good to see you again.  It’s good to be back in Vilnius.

For 50 years, three embassies in exile in Washington, D.C. stood as a symbol of America’s commitment to freedom and independence and the people of the Baltics.  Next week, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of your membership in NATO as fellow free nations and close friends.  Nobody understands better than the people of the Baltics the value of freedom.  And nobody understands better the promise of a Europe whole, free, and at peace.

Today, I spoke with my colleagues, the Presidents of Lithuania and Latvia, about the situation in Ukraine.  Yesterday, I met with Estonian President Ilves and the President of Poland and the Prime Minister of Poland in Warsaw.  Just as you did a generation ago, the Lithuanians, Latvians, and Estonians join hands in a human chain of freedom. 

Ukrainians have shown tremendous courage to realize their aspirations for a better life and integration into the institutions of their choice -- not anyone else’s choice -- of their choice.  Russia has chosen to respond with military aggression, a referendum rejected by virtually the entire world, illegal efforts to annex Crimea, and now reports of armed attacks against Ukrainian military personnel and installations in Crimea. 

I want to make it clear:  We stand resolutely with our Baltic allies in support of the Ukrainian people and against Russian aggression.  As long as Russia continues on this dark path, they will face increasing political and economic isolation.

There are those who say that this action shows the old rules still apply, but Russia cannot escape the fact that the world is changing and rejecting outright their behavior.  Global markets and the international community will and should bet in the long run on countries that reject aggression and corruption, embrace openness and live up to their obligations.  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania understand this well.  That doesn’t mean that there aren’t aggressors out there that require firm and resolute response.  There always have been and there always will be.  But it does mean that there are costs, and growing costs, that come with naked aggression.

Madam President, Mr. President, the reason I traveled to the Baltics was to reaffirm our mutual commitment to collective defense.  President Obama wanted me to come personally to make it clear what you already know, that under Article 5 of the NATO treaty, we will respond.  We will respond to any aggression against a NATO ally. 

As someone who fought for your nation’s admission into NATO, rest assured we take our responsibilities very, very, very seriously -- the President does; I do; my nation does.  That’s why we have in the recent past beefed up our U.S. rotation in NATO Baltic air policing program, which protects the skies above Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.  And that will continue to be the case.  We’ve also asked other members of NATO to make additional contributions to this and other efforts, and I’m confident they will step forward.

Looking ahead, we’re exploring a number of additional steps to increase the pace and scope of our military cooperation, including rotating U.S. forces of the Baltic region to conduct ground and naval exercises, and training missions.  The question today is not what can America do for the Baltic nations; it is what can we do together -- what can we do together. 

The Baltic nations have shown leadership at the OSCE, the European Union, the Eastern Partnership and the U.N. Security Council.  Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian troops have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans in Afghanistan and have served in difficult regional and global security missions. 

I know that President Obama will want to use the upcoming NATO summit in South Wales to generate concrete commitments to ensure that NATO is able to meet its Article 5 obligations to all members, which has been a priority from him and me since the beginning of our administration. 

And, finally, we spoke of energy.  We spoke about energy cooperation.  We have learned the hard way that protecting the sovereignty of nations depends on having more than one supplier of energy.  We support your efforts within the European Union to diversify your energy sources, to create more flexible energy markets, and to translate energy innovation into energy security so that no nation can use supplies of energy as a political weapon or a quasi-military weapon against you.

As Ukraine fights for its future, the success of the Baltic nations, your success, paints a picture of what is possible for nations that respect the rights and unleash the talents of their people as both your countries have done. 

We are in this with you together.  We are absolutely committed.  May God bless you and your people, and my God bless our troops.  Thank you very much.

END
2:07 P.M. (local)

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