Transcript from First Lady Michelle Obama’s Event at Howard University Washington, D.C. January 19, 2011 SIDNEY A. RIBEAU, President, Howard University: Our University takes pride in our historic preparation of students for involvement in the world community. Today we’re building on more than 142 years of commitment to our international connections and working vigorously to ensure that we expand our international footprint so that every, I say, every Howard student has an international experience. [applause & cheering] Let’s hear it for that. This is one of our institutional priorities and one that we will fulfill. Many of our students have traveled or are studying abroad through programs sponsored by their units and departments. In addition, our Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center remains the hub for a variety of academic and public affairs programs. I am happy to report that last year, 17 of our Howard MBA students spent two weeks studying in China as a part of their global business environment course. This is only one of several programs connecting our student and faculty to their Chinese counterparts. We want to build on these successes. We are delighted therefore that we are joined today by the Ambassador Chen, the wife of the People’s Republic of China Ambassador to the United States. We at Howard are happy that we can play a small part in helping the President and First Lady host China for this state visit. Ladies and gentlemen please give a warm Howard University welcome to Ambassador Chen [applause & cheering] CHEN NAIQING, Wife of Chinese Ambassador to the United States: Thank you. Thank you very much. Honorable Michelle Obama, the First Lady. Mr. President Sidney Ribeau, Assistant Secretary Ann Stock, ladies and gentlemen, friends, it’s my great honor to join the first lady and others in today’s panel discussion. Let me first extend my sincere thanks to the First Lady and Howard University for hosting this important event during President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the United States. It highlights the gratifying progress we have achieved in the cultural and people to people contact between our two nations. It also shows and reassures all of us that the torch of friendship is in good hands and will be handed down to younger generations like you. [applause] The educational exchanges between China and the United States have a long history. In 1854 the first Chinese student came to Yale University to study. Subsequently quite a large number of Chinese youth followed his footsteps. They later returned to China and became the pioneers and trailblazers in their respective field of studies. As early as in 1870 Harvard University opened the Chinese course and has since produced many prominent scholars on China studies. In October 1978, the two countries signed, MOU, on educational exchanges, just before the establishment of formal diplomatic relations. In December the same year as a result, the first group of 52 Chinese students arrived in Washington, D.C. and educational exchanges began to flourish. Since then, educational exchanges have grown and made some really remarkable progress. In 1989, China for the first time became the number one source of foreign students in the United States and has stayed within the top two ever since. In 2010 there will be in total some 127,000 Chinese students in the United States. And the number of American students in China has also been increasing very rapidly. It reached almost 20,000 in 2009. The second largest in foreign students in China. At present we face some great opportunities to bring our educational collaboration to greater depth. When President Obama visited China in November 2009, he announced the initiative that the United States will send 100,000 students to China in the following four years. This initiative has been written into the joint statement. In May 2010 the first meeting of China, US high level consultation mechanism for people to people exchanges was held in Beijing. The two sides launched a series of educational programs. For example China will send 10,000 students here for doctorate studies in the next four years. And about 10,000 American students will go to China for training courses under the Chinese Bridge program. We look forward to working closely with the United States to make sure that these programs are implemented smoothly as expected and bring our educational exchanges to a higher level. [applause] Ladies and gentlemen to take forward the 21st Century China - US partnership that features mutual respect and mutual benefit would not be possible without the involvement and support from our people, particularly the young people. I sincerely hope that your experience of studying or working in China will stay with you long after you return home. And you will continue to reach out to China as much as you can. And engage in efforts and deeper understanding and friendship between

Transcript from First Lady Michelle Obama’s Event at Howard University Washington, D.C. January 19, 2011 SIDNEY A. RIBEAU, President, Howard University: Our University takes pride in our historic preparation of students for involvement in the world community. Today we’re building on more than 142 years of commitment to our international connections and working vigorously to ensure that we expand our international footprint so that every, I say, every Howard student has an international experience. [applause & cheering] Let’s hear it for that. This is one of our institutional priorities and one that we will fulfill. Many of our students have traveled or are studying abroad through programs sponsored by their units and departments. In addition, our Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center remains the hub for a variety of academic and public affairs programs. I am happy to report that last year, 17 of our Howard MBA students spent two weeks studying in China as a part of their global business environment course. This is only one of several programs connecting our student and faculty to their Chinese counterparts. We want to build on these successes. We are delighted therefore that we are joined today by the Ambassador Chen, the wife of the People’s Republic of China Ambassador to the United States. We at Howard are happy that we can play a small part in helping the President and First Lady host China for this state visit. Ladies and gentlemen please give a warm Howard University welcome to Ambassador Chen [applause & cheering] CHEN NAIQING, Wife of Chinese Ambassador to the United States: Thank you. Thank you very much. Honorable Michelle Obama, the First Lady. Mr. President Sidney Ribeau, Assistant Secretary Ann Stock, ladies and gentlemen, friends, it’s my great honor to join the first lady and others in today’s panel discussion. Let me first extend my sincere thanks to the First Lady and Howard University for hosting this important event during President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the United States. It highlights the gratifying progress we have achieved in the cultural and people to people contact between our two nations. It also shows and reassures all of us that the torch of friendship is in good hands and will be handed down to younger generations like you. [applause] The educational exchanges between China and the United States have a long history. In 1854 the first Chinese student came to Yale University to study. Subsequently quite a large number of Chinese youth followed his footsteps. They later returned to China and became the pioneers and trailblazers in their respective field of studies. As early as in 1870 Harvard University opened the Chinese course and has since produced many prominent scholars on China studies. In October 1978, the two countries signed, MOU, on educational exchanges, just before the establishment of formal diplomatic relations. In December the same year as a result, the first group of 52 Chinese students arrived in Washington, D.C. and educational exchanges began to flourish. Since then, educational exchanges have grown and made some really remarkable progress. In 1989, China for the first time became the number one source of foreign students in the United States and has stayed within the top two ever since. In 2010 there will be in total some 127,000 Chinese students in the United States. And the number of American students in China has also been increasing very rapidly. It reached almost 20,000 in 2009. The second largest in foreign students in China. At present we face some great opportunities to bring our educational collaboration to greater depth. When President Obama visited China in November 2009, he announced the initiative that the United States will send 100,000 students to China in the following four years. This initiative has been written into the joint statement. In May 2010 the first meeting of China, US high level consultation mechanism for people to people exchanges was held in Beijing. The two sides launched a series of educational programs. For example China will send 10,000 students here for doctorate studies in the next four years. And about 10,000 American students will go to China for training courses under the Chinese Bridge program. We look forward to working closely with the United States to make sure that these programs are implemented smoothly as expected and bring our educational exchanges to a higher level. [applause] Ladies and gentlemen to take forward the 21st Century China - US partnership that features mutual respect and mutual benefit would not be possible without the involvement and support from our people, particularly the young people. I sincerely hope that your experience of studying or working in China will stay with you long after you return home. And you will continue to reach out to China as much as you can. And engage in efforts and deeper understanding and friendship between

Transcript from First Lady Michelle Obama’s Event at Howard University Washington, D.C. January 19, 2011 SIDNEY A. RIBEAU, President, Howard University: Our University takes pride in our historic preparation of students for involvement in the world community. Today we’re building on more than 142 years of commitment to our international connections and working vigorously to ensure that we expand our international footprint so that every, I say, every Howard student has an international experience. [applause & cheering] Let’s hear it for that. This is one of our institutional priorities and one that we will fulfill. Many of our students have traveled or are studying abroad through programs sponsored by their units and departments. In addition, our Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center remains the hub for a variety of academic and public affairs programs. I am happy to report that last year, 17 of our Howard MBA students spent two weeks studying in China as a part of their global business environment course. This is only one of several programs connecting our student and faculty to their Chinese counterparts. We want to build on these successes. We are delighted therefore that we are joined today by the Ambassador Chen, the wife of the People’s Republic of China Ambassador to the United States. We at Howard are happy that we can play a small part in helping the President and First Lady host China for this state visit. Ladies and gentlemen please give a warm Howard University welcome to Ambassador Chen [applause & cheering] CHEN NAIQING, Wife of Chinese Ambassador to the United States: Thank you. Thank you very much. Honorable Michelle Obama, the First Lady. Mr. President Sidney Ribeau, Assistant Secretary Ann Stock, ladies and gentlemen, friends, it’s my great honor to join the first lady and others in today’s panel discussion. Let me first extend my sincere thanks to the First Lady and Howard University for hosting this important event during President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the United States. It highlights the gratifying progress we have achieved in the cultural and people to people contact between our two nations. It also shows and reassures all of us that the torch of friendship is in good hands and will be handed down to younger generations like you. [applause] The educational exchanges between China and the United States have a long history. In 1854 the first Chinese student came to Yale University to study. Subsequently quite a large number of Chinese youth followed his footsteps. They later returned to China and became the pioneers and trailblazers in their respective field of studies. As early as in 1870 Harvard University opened the Chinese course and has since produced many prominent scholars on China studies. In October 1978, the two countries signed, MOU, on educational exchanges, just before the establishment of formal diplomatic relations. In December the same year as a result, the first group of 52 Chinese students arrived in Washington, D.C. and educational exchanges began to flourish. Since then, educational exchanges have grown and made some really remarkable progress. In 1989, China for the first time became the number one source of foreign students in the United States and has stayed within the top two ever since. In 2010 there will be in total some 127,000 Chinese students in the United States. And the number of American students in China has also been increasing very rapidly. It reached almost 20,000 in 2009. The second largest in foreign students in China. At present we face some great opportunities to bring our educational collaboration to greater depth. When President Obama visited China in November 2009, he announced the initiative that the United States will send 100,000 students to China in the following four years. This initiative has been written into the joint statement. In May 2010 the first meeting of China, US high level consultation mechanism for people to people exchanges was held in Beijing. The two sides launched a series of educational programs. For example China will send 10,000 students here for doctorate studies in the next four years. And about 10,000 American students will go to China for training courses under the Chinese Bridge program. We look forward to working closely with the United States to make sure that these programs are implemented smoothly as expected and bring our educational exchanges to a higher level. [applause] Ladies and gentlemen to take forward the 21st Century China - US partnership that features mutual respect and mutual benefit would not be possible without the involvement and support from our people, particularly the young people. I sincerely hope that your experience of studying or working in China will stay with you long after you return home. And you will continue to reach out to China as much as you can. And engage in efforts and deeper understanding and friendship between