[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[June 26, 1998]
[Pages 1065-1066]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks to the People of Xiahe
June 26, 1998

    Nin men hao, Xiahe.
    Thank you, Yunlong, for your welcome. I 
thank all of the students for the greeting and for the wonderful music, 
and I thank all the rest of you for making all of us in the American 
delegation feel so welcome here.
    My wife and I are delighted to be joined by our daughter, my mother-in-law, and 
Secretary Albright, Secretary 
Daley, Ambassador and Mrs. Sasser, and six Members 
of the United States Congress, Senator Rockefeller, Senator Baucus, Senator 
Akaka, and Representatives Dingell and Hamilton and 
Markey, along with a number of people who 
work with me in the White House. We are all very honored to be here. 
[Applause] Thank you.
    I understand that soon, like nearly half a million other villages 
across China, you will be voting to choose your local leaders. I know 
what it is like to run for office. I have won elections, and I have also 
lost, too. I like winning better than losing, but whenever there is an 
election and the people decide, everyone wins.

[[Page 1066]]

    I have come to China to strengthen the ties between our two nations. 
Over the past 25 years, your country has launched a remarkable period of 
change, and today, most Chinese, including the members of this village, 
enjoy a higher standard of living than at any time in China's history.
    Here, by using better farming techniques, you have freed up time and 
money for other projects, like your brick factory, your construction 
crews, your handicrafts. Your village has sponsored language classes in 
English and Japanese to help you in dealing with foreign tourists. 
Today, your village committee owns a dozen businesses, with 300 hard-
working people now able to provide for their families. Many of you have 
opened your own businesses, and in only 15 years, average income here 
has grown 17 times. I congratulate you.
    I also appreciate the fact that you have invested money back into 
your community in better schools, in better roads, in installing cable 
television to bring the world into your homes. Your achievements are a 
window for all the world to see what local democracy has brought to 
China and what a brighter future you are building for the children here 
with us today.
    We Americans respect your devotion to family, to education, to work, 
your respect for the land and for your heritage. And we hope you will 
reap the fruits of your labor for many years to come.
    Thank you again for making us all feel so welcome here in Xiahe. 
Thank you. Xie xie.

Note: The President spoke at 11:40 a.m. in the village. In his remarks, 
he referred to Yang Yunlong, chief, Xiahe Village Committee; Dorothy 
Rodham, his mother-in-law; and Mary Sasser, wife of U.S. Ambassador 
James M. Sasser.