WEEKLY ADDRESS: A New Chapter with Cuba

每周电视讲话：美古关系翻开新篇章

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, President Obama discussed his upcoming trip to Cuba, a visit that will further advance the progress we’ve made since he announced the new chapter of U.S. – Cuba relations more than a year ago. This will be the first visit of a U.S. President to Cuba in nearly 90 years. President Obama believes the best way to promote American interests and values, and help improve the lives of the Cuban people, is through engagement. During his trip, the President will meet with President Raul Castro to discuss the progress we've made in the ongoing process of normalizing relations, and reaffirm our support of universal values like freedom of speech, assembly, and religion. The President will also meet with members of civil society and Cuban entrepreneurs, and speak directly to the Cuban people about our shared beliefs and continued support as they build the future they want. The President acknowledges the serious differences we have with the Cuban government, and although the transformation of this new relationship will take time, the President noted that his visit to Cuba will advance the goals that guide us – promoting American interests and values, and assisting efforts to build a future of more freedom and more opportunity for the Cuban people.

华盛顿：在本周的讲话中，奥巴马总统介绍了即将到来的古巴之旅，一年多以前奥巴马宣布美古关系翻开历史新篇章，这次访问将大大推动两国关系发展。这也是美国总统将近90年来第一次访问古巴。奥巴马总统相信，这是提升美国利益和价值的最好方式，也是帮助古巴人民改善生活水平的最好方式，这种方式就是加大双方交往。在这次行程中，奥巴马总统将会见劳尔•卡斯特罗总统，与他沟通探讨进一步推动两国关系正常化议题，并重申美国对言论、集会和宗教信仰自由等普世价值观的坚持和拥护。奥巴马总统还将会见古巴社会团体成员和企业家，并与古巴民众直接对话，介绍我们的理念，继续支持古巴人民建设他们的未来。奥巴马总统还会严肃指出美国与古巴政府间存在的差异，这一新的两国关系演进将持续很长时间，奥巴马总统也指出，他的古巴之旅将推动新的两国关系发展目标的实现，这一目标就是提升美国的利益和价值，帮助古巴人民创造一个更美好、更民主、更繁荣的未来。

Hi, everybody.  This week, we made it official—I’m going to Cuba.

大家好。这个星期，我们正式决定，我即将出访古巴。

When Michelle and I go to Havana next month, it will be the first visit of a U.S. president to Cuba in nearly 90 years.  And it builds on the decision I made more than a year ago to begin a new chapter in our relationship with the people of Cuba.

下个月米歇尔和我到访哈瓦那，将是美国总统将近90年来第一次访问古巴。这一切源自一年多以前我做出的决定，我们与古巴人民的关系翻开了历史的新篇章。

You see, I believe that the best way to advance American interests and values, and the best way to help the Cuban people improve their lives, is through engagement—by normalizing relations between our governments and increasing the contacts between our peoples.  I’ve always said that change won’t come to Cuba overnight.  But as Cuba opens up, it will mean more opportunity and resources for ordinary Cubans.  And we’re starting to see some progress.

大家都明白，我相信，提升美国的利益与价值的最好方式、帮助古巴人民改善生活水平的最好方式，就是增进双方交往，实现两国政府关系的正常化，增进两国人民之间的接触。我一直在说，与古巴之间关系的变化不是一天完成的。但只要古巴敞开国门，也就意味着古巴的普通民众将享有更多机会和资源。我们也开始看到很多积极的成就。

Today, the American flag flies over our embassy in Havana, and our diplomats are interacting more broadly with the Cuban people.  More Americans are visiting Cuba than at any time in the last 50 years—Cuban-American families; American students, teachers, humanitarian volunteers, faith communities—all forging new ties and friendships that are bringing our countries closer.  And when direct flights and ferries resume, even more of our citizens will have the chance to travel and work together and know each other.

今天，美国国旗飘扬在哈瓦那的美国大使馆，我们的外交官们也与古巴人民进行着越来越广泛的接触。去古巴的美国人比过去50年里的任何时候都要多，有古巴裔的美国人，美国的学生、老师、人道主义人士、宗教团体等等，所有人的努力都在培育着全新的纽带和友谊，将两国之间的关系拉的更近。等直飞航班和航线恢复之后，将有更多的人前往古巴旅行，与古巴人民一起工作，增进彼此的了解。

American companies are starting to do business in Cuba, helping to nurture private enterprise and giving Cuban entrepreneurs new opportunities.  With new Wi-Fi hotspots, more Cubans are starting to go online and get information from the outside world.  In both our countries, there’s overwhelming support for this new relationship.  And in Cuba today, for the first time in a half century, there is hope for a different future, especially among Cuba’s young people who have such extraordinary talent and potential just waiting to be unleashed.

美国的企业也将在古巴开展业务，帮助古巴培育私营企业，给古巴的企业家提供新的发展机遇。通过新建的WiFi热点，更多的古巴人开始上网，从外面的世界了解更多的信息。在我们两个国家，这一新的关系得到了空前的支持。今天的古巴，也是半个多世纪以来第一次有了对未来的新希望，尤其是对古巴的年轻人而言更是如此，他们非凡的才能和潜力正在等待发挥和释放。

My visit will be an opportunity to keep moving forward.  I’ll meet with President Castro to discuss how we can continue normalizing relations, including making it easier to trade and easier for Cubans to access the Internet and start their own businesses.  As I did when I met President Castro last year, I’ll speak candidly about our serious differences with the Cuban government, including on democracy and human rights.  I’ll reaffirm that the United States will continue to stand up for universal values like freedom of speech and assembly and religion.

我的到访将让我们有机会把这一关系继续推动向前。我将与卡斯特罗总统会面，共同探讨如何推进两国关系正常化，包括让两国间的贸易交往更顺畅，让古巴人民可以更方便地上网、开办企业。与去年我会见卡斯特罗总统的时候所说的一样，我将坦诚而严肃地指出我们与古巴政府之间的差异，包括民主和人权问题。我也会重申，美国将继续坚持和拥护包括言论、集会和宗教信仰自由在内的普世价值。

I’ll meet with members of Cuba’s civil society—courageous men and women who give voice to the aspirations of the Cuban people.  I’ll meet with Cuban entrepreneurs to learn how we can help them start new ventures.  And I’ll speak directly to the Cuban people about the values we share and how I believe we can be partners as they work for the future they want.

我还将会见古巴民间团体成员，这些人勇敢的表达出古巴人民的愿望。我还将会见古巴的企业家，了解我们如何帮助他们开办新企业。我还将直接与古巴人民对话，与他们探讨我们的价值观，以及在他们为未来奋斗的道路上，我们如何陪伴他们一起成长。

We’re still in the early days of our new relationship with the Cuban people.  This transformation will take time.  But I’m focused on the future, and I’m confident that my visit will advance the goals that guide us—promoting American interests and values and a better future for the Cuban people, a future of more freedom and more opportunity.

我们还处在与古巴人民交往的早期阶段。这一关系转化过程需要一定的时间。但我关注的是未来，我有自信认为我的访问将大大促进这一目标的实现，提升美国的利益和价值，为古巴人民带去更美好、更自由、更繁荣的未来。

Thanks everybody.  And to the people of Cuba—nos vemos en La Habana.

谢谢大家！所有古巴人民，咱们哈瓦那见。