世博大家談:加深世人對和諧社會的理解

非常感謝貴委員會邀請我參加“世界百位名人寄語上海世博”的活動，作為早稻田大學的校長，這對于我本人及早稻田大學來說，都是莫大的榮幸和無比的愉悅。

近幾年來，中國取得了舉世矚目的經濟發(fā)展成果，與世界各國積極加強經濟交流。去年以來，世界經濟遭遇了急速的下滑，中國經濟卻最早從危機中脫離，給予世界人民以希望。而且，去年8月在北京舉行的奧林匹克運動會取得了圓滿的成功，至今仍然記憶猶新。通過經濟、體育、文化的交流，使世界人民能夠了解新的中國，加深了對中國所提倡的和諧社會的理解。我始終堅信本次上海世界博覽會的召開，將為中國贏得更大的發(fā)展機遇，同時揭開在此后的國際社會中，中國扮演起更為重要角色的時代帷幕。

1905年，早稻田大學設立了清朝留學生部，過去的104年間，積極致力于中國留學生的培養(yǎng)工作。讓我引以自豪的是，以中國共產黨的創(chuàng)立者之一李大釗為代表，早稻田大學培養(yǎng)了一大批筑就當今中國基礎的優(yōu)秀人才。一方面我們珍重與中國的歷史聯(lián)系，另一方面早稻田大學寄希望于，在下一個百年中能夠培養(yǎng)出更多促進日中兩國互惠發(fā)展的優(yōu)秀人才，同時我們也已經與90多家中國的教育研究機構及大學建立了合作關系。至今，已經啟動了很多學生共同培養(yǎng)項目、研究者共同研究項目等，現(xiàn)在我們正在著手準備開設日中大學間的第一所共同研究生院。我始終牢記著2008年5月胡錦濤主席閣下來我校視察時的寄語，“兩國青年是中日友好的生力軍，中日友好的未來要靠大家去開創(chuàng)，”作為從事高等教育的工作者，就應該朝向培養(yǎng)能夠為日中兩國以及整個世界，做出積極貢獻的優(yōu)秀人才，這一偉大的目標前進。

2010年上海世博會的主題是“城市，讓生活更美好”，這也是我們所向往的重要目標。今天，因為急速的全球化進程，人類社會遇到了環(huán)境資源問題、民族問題、地區(qū)間差異、價值觀的沖突等各方面難題。為了解決這些問題，世界人民必須攜起手，果敢地面對處理。這就是上海世博會的標志中所蘊含的喻意，也是希望世界所共鳴的，即中國人民強烈希望舉辦一次世界的、多元文化相融合的博覽會。同時，我強烈地感到，通過舉辦上海世博會，中國人民將不斷追求持續(xù)發(fā)展的創(chuàng)造力。我聽說大會將吸引7000萬參觀者。我本人非常期待，本次大會能夠以前所未有的嶄新計劃和踏實的管理經營，向世界傳遞發(fā)展與環(huán)境、多元文化融合、科學技術與人、都市與農村等新模式下多元世博理念，與中國現(xiàn)在的積極面貌。

我見證了四川大地震的復興、北京奧林匹克的成功以及之后的中國發(fā)展。我堅信2010年上海世博會一定能夠取得偉大的成功，也一定會給世界帶來新的驚喜。最后，我謹代表早稻田大學，預祝2010年上海世博會取得圓滿成功，也對現(xiàn)在每天都堅守在世博崗位上的每一位工作者表示由衷的感謝。

Thank you for inviting me to participate in the event of "Expo Tributes from 100 Eminent Voices." It is a great honor and pleasure for me both as president of Waseda University and on behalf of our university.

Apart from orchestrating its own phenomenal economic growth, China has been striving to strengthen ties with countries around the world. The global economy has suffered a tailspin in 2008. China, as the first country to rise up from the crisis, has become a beacon of hope to the world.

The great success of the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008 is fresh in our memories. Such economic, sports and cultural exchanges have helped people around the world to understand China and have deepened their understanding of the "harmonious society" that China has been advocating.

It is my enduring belief that World Expo 2010 Shanghai will promote even greater opportunities for China's growth and will mark the beginning of an era when China will play a greater role on the international stage.

Waseda University has devoted intense efforts to the education of Chinese young people since 1905, when it set up a department for students from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). To our great pride, Waseda University has trained many of the outstanding people who laid the foundation for present-day China, such as Li Dazhao, one of the founders of the Communist Party of China.

We cherish not only our historical ties with China, but also the opportunity of continuing to train outstanding Chinese talent in the next 100 years to promote the mutual benefit and common development of Japan and China.

With that purpose in mind, we have formed educational exchanges with more than 90 Chinese colleges, educational institutions and research facilities. We have already launched a large number of cooperative projects related to student teaching and academic study, and are now preparing for the creation of the first graduate school jointly run by Japanese and Chinese universities.

I always remember the words of Chinese President Hu Jintao during his visit to our university in May 2008: "Young people in the two countries are the new blood for Sino-Japanese friendship, whose future relies on efforts from both of them."

As people dedicated to higher education, we have an obligation to move forward in our goal of training the young talent who will contribute to the future of Japan, China and indeed the whole world.

The theme of World Expo 2010 Shanghai is "Better City, Better Life." We share this goal. With the rapid advancement of globalization, many problems now challenge human society: preservation of the environment, wise use of resources, easing of ethnic tensions and bridging conflicts of values.

To solve these problems, the whole world must work together and with resolution. The message implied in the logo of Shanghai World Expo is that the Chinese people wish to host an exposition of global and multicultural convergence. That strikes a responsive chord in the world. I am quite certain that the Chinese people will continue their pursuit of creative and sustainable development through World Expo 2010 and beyond.

I am told that the exposition will attract 70 million visitors. By its resourceful planning and thoughtful implementation, this exhibition is certain to present a positive image of present-day China and to offer the world multi-faceted concepts exploring human potential, economic development, environmental protection, cultural understanding, technological innovation and the advancement of urban and rural areas.

I have witnessed China's recovery from the earthquake in Sichuan, the success of the Beijing Olympic Games and the nation's strong, ongoing commitment to development.

I predict World Expo 2010 Shanghai will be a great success and will surprise the world. On behalf of Waseda University, I would like to express our best wishes for a very successful World Expo 2010 as well as our heartfelt appreciation for all the people who have worked so hard to make this great event a reality.