TEXT: ALBRIGHT 7/1 REMARKS AT SHANGHAI RELIGIOUS ROUNDTABLE
(Spiritual values help build, sustain societies)Shanghai -- "China must meet the twin challenges of stability and openness to make its citizens creative, empowered and successful in the 21st-century knowledge economy," Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright said.
In opening remarks at a Religious Roundtable in Shanghai July 1, Albright said: "The enormous changes currently underway in China are bringing tremendous benefits to China's people -- more private enterprise, more openness, more choice, including in religious affairs. But change has also brought social and economic upheaval."
"How China meets those challenges," she continued, "and what role faith communities play, will be of interest to people all over the world."
U.S. interest in religious affairs in China does not stem from a desire to interfere, Albright said. "Rather, it comes from our belief, and our experience, that spiritual values are not Western or Eastern, capitalist or socialist, but deeply human -- and that they help build and sustain the kinds of societies we all hope to live in," she said.
Following is the official text of Albright's remarks, as prepared for delivery:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Shanghai, China)
___________________________________________________
Text as Prepared for Delivery
July 1, 1998SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT
OPENING REMARKS AT RELIGIOUS ROUNDTABLE
Shanghai, China
July 1, 1998Good afternoon, and thank you all for taking the time to meet with me today.
I very much wanted to have this discussion because, as the American Secretary of State, I think it is important that I learn as much as I can about China.
I read and watch television, of course, and have meetings and speak with experts, such as Rabbi Arthur Schneier, who is with us today, and who visited China on a mission for President Clinton and me several months ago.
But there is no substitute for talking directly to you.
What I hear from you about religious life in your communities will complement what I experienced at Gangwa Shi Church in Beijing last Sunday, as well as what I heard earlier today at the Ohel Rachel Synagogue about Shanghai's history of religious diversity and tolerance.
So my purpose today is to do more listening than talking.
I do want to begin, however, with just three points.
The enormous changes currently underway in China are bringing tremendous benefits to China's people -- more private enterprise, more openness, more choice, including in religious affairs. But change has also brought social and economic upheaval.
China must meet these twin challenges of stability and openness to make its citizens creative, empowered and successful in the 21st-century knowledge economy. How China meets those challenges, and what role faith communities play, will be of interest to people all over the world.
For although China's situation is unique, people in my country and around the world are also taking a fresh look at the place of religion in times of change. And I suspect the people of China, as they have for thousands of years, will come up with interesting answers.
I also want to stress that America's interest in religion, and religious freedom, does not grow out of some desire to interfere in Chinese affairs or to favor one religion over others.
Rather, it comes from our belief, and our experience, that spiritual values are not Western or Eastern, capitalist or socialist, but deeply human -- and that they help build and sustain the kinds of societies we all hope to live in.
And finally, I want to say that the conversation between our countries and peoples must be truly two-way. We in the United States still have a great deal to learn -- for we do not always manage to live up to our own ideals, or to agree on what religion's place in society should be.
So now I would welcome your thoughts on any of the subjects I have raised, or any others you would like to discuss.
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