The Younger Generation In the Twenty-first Century

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

We always say ‘we are the future’. Indeed. We, the younger generation represents modern knowledge, new concepts, ambition and great desire for success. But, have you ever thought of this question: how can we be successful in the 21st century, which is full of great challenges and fierce competitions? In my opinion, there are two important factors.

First, we have to catch the opportunities and face the challenges. China has successfully entered the World Trade Organization, Beijing has won the bid for the 2008 Olympic Games… If we want to be successful, we have to seize these opportunities. SARS and AIDS, environmental pollution, growing population… We have no choice but to solve these problems with our own hands. Thus, catching¹ the opportunities and trying our best to cope with the difficulties is necessary for us to succeed in the 21st century.

Secondly², we have to learn to cooperate and compete. Last year, when SARS was spreading rapidly in China, scientists all over the world cooperated with each other and prevented the disease from spreading in a short period of time. At the same time, they were also competing against each other to see who could conquer the disease first. By cooperating and competing, the world develops day by day. Therefore, we, the younger generation, must know how to cooperate and compete.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are standing³ at the outset of a new century, we are at the gate of a new era. Looking back, the 20th century is a century of great developments and remarkable⁴ changes. Looking forward, the 21st century is a century full of opportunities, challenges, cooperation and competition. I believe, if we can seize the opportunities, face the challenges, cooperate and compete, success in the 21st century belongs to him, to you and to me.

二十一世纪的新一代

女士们，先生们，晚上好。

我们常说：“我们就是未来”。的确。我们，年轻的一代代表着最新的知识和观念、壮志雄心和对成功的巨大渴望。但是，你是否想过这样一个问题：我们如何能够在充满巨大挑战和激烈竞争的21世纪中取得成功？在我看来，有两点是非常重要的。

首先，我们必须抓住机遇、直面挑战。中国已经成功加入了世界贸易组织，北京已经赢得了2008年奥运会的承办权……如果我们想要成功，就必须抓住这些机遇。传染性非典型肺炎和艾滋病、环境污染、人口增长……除了用我们的双手解决这些问题，我们别无选择。因此，抓住机遇并竭尽全力去对付困难对于我们在21世纪的成功是必不可少的。

第二，我们必须学会合作与竞争。去年，当传染性非典型肺炎在中国流行时，世界各地的科学家通力合作，在很短的时间内使疫情得到了控制。同时，他们也在相互竞争，看谁能够率先攻克这种疾病。在合作与竞争的过程中，世界不断进步。因此，我们，年轻的一代，必须知道如何合作与竞争。

女士们、先生们，我们正站在新世纪的起点，我们正处在一个伟大时代的开端。回顾过去，20世纪是一个发展迅速、充满巨大变化的世纪；展望未来，21世纪是一个充满机遇与挑战，合作与竞争的世纪。我相信，如果我们能够抓住机遇、直面挑战、相互合作、相互竞争，21世纪的成功属于他、属于你，也属于我。