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U.S.-China Relations:

A Framework for the New Millennium

Lincoln Lecture by The Honorable Curt Weldon (R-PA)
United States House of Representatives
at Fudan University
Shanghai, China
March 1997

(Congressman Weldon welcomes comments. Comments can be sent to his
legislative aide Andrew LaVanway at andrew.lavanway@mail.house.gov)

Thank you very much. I am greatly honored to be here today and wish to

express my heartfelt appreciation to President Yang Fu-Jia for his invitation to
come and deliver this year's Lincoln Lecture before the faculty, students, and
guests of Fudan University. Likewise, I wish to thank Lincoln National
Corporation and all of you who have taken time to come and listen to an
American Congressman speak about U.S.-China relations.

The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, for whom this lecture
is named, believed strongly in the value of education. That is why I am
especially pleased to be here on the campus of one of the world's most
prestigious and well-known universities in one of the world's largest and most
dynamic cities. Fudan University has a long and distinguished history, and you
should all be proud to be a part of that history. You are the future leaders of your
country and what you learn here will not only help China to modernize and
advance confidently into the future, but will also have a critical impact on the
development of relations between our two countries.

I am doubly happy to be here today because my previous attempt to visit your
lovely university ended in disappointment. I am particularly thankful to President
Yang for his understanding that in spite of the marvelous technology mankind
has created, we are not always its masters. Two months ago, on my way to
Shanghai to deliver this speech, my plane developed mechanical problems. The
extended layover in Alaska that resulted forced me to travel directly to Beijing
and to cancel my visit to Shanghai. However, I did have an enjoyable visit with
President Yang in Washington, DC during his recent trip to the United States.
Following our lunch in the United States Capitol, I had the opportunity to
introduce President Yang to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt
Gingrich, who is here in China this week.

Although this is my inaugural visit to your city, the warmth of your reception has
made it feel like a homecoming for me. This is not surprising, however, since I
also experienced the warmth of the Chinese people first hand in Beijing. My visit
with your leaders there was informative and productive. I came to your country
with a desire to learn more about the way China sees itself and the rest of the