(Photo: @AP Images)  

 “对中国人民来说，新的一天正在开启，因为中国的伟大一如既往地在于它的人民。”美国总统比尔·克林顿（Bill Clinton）在抵达中国古都西安后的欢迎仪式上这样宣布。

克林顿总统于1998年6月24日至7月3日对中国进行了一次国事访问。这张照片记录的是在1998年6月26日星期五，克林顿夫妇在西安市郊的下和村与学生们打招呼。

离开西安之后，克林顿先生接下来与中国江主席进行了一场在电视上直播的辩论，在北京大学向500名学子发表了演讲，并游览了桂林漓江以强调环保的重要性。

克林顿先生在回答了大学生的问题后表示：“这些问题比我的演讲重要的多。”他补充道：“在我自己讲话的时候，我从来学不到任何东西。只有在聆听的时候我才能学到东西。”  

“A new day is dawning for the Chinese people, for China’s greatness lies, as always, with its people,” declared U.S. President Bill Clinton during his arrival ceremony to China’s ancient capital of Xi’an.  President Clinton traveled to China for a state visit from June 24 to July 3, 1998.  Mr. and Mrs. Clinton are pictured here greeting students in Xiahe village outside of Xi’an on Friday, June 26, 1998. 

After Xi’an, Mr. Clinton would move on to engage in a debate with Chinese President Jiang Zemin broadcast on live television, deliver a speech to 500 students at Peking University, and tour the Li River in Guilin to highlight environmental protection.  After taking questions from university students, Mr. Clinton said, “The questions were far more important than my speech.”  He added, “I never learn anything when I’m talking. I only learn things when I’m listening.”