世博大家谈:加深世人对和谐社会的理解

非常感谢贵委员会邀请我参加“世界百位名人寄语上海世博”的活动，作为早稻田大学的校长，这对于我本人及早稻田大学来说，都是莫大的荣幸和无比的愉悦。

近几年来，中国取得了举世瞩目的经济发展成果，与世界各国积极加强经济交流。去年以来，世界经济遭遇了急速的下滑，中国经济却最早从危机中脱离，给予世界人民以希望。而且，去年8月在北京举行的奥林匹克运动会取得了圆满的成功，至今仍然记忆犹新。通过经济、体育、文化的交流，使世界人民能够了解新的中国，加深了对中国所提倡的和谐社会的理解。我始终坚信本次上海世界博览会的召开，将为中国赢得更大的发展机遇，同时揭开在此后的国际社会中，中国扮演起更为重要角色的时代帷幕。

1905年，早稻田大学设立了清朝留学生部，过去的104年间，积极致力于中国留学生的培养工作。让我引以自豪的是，以中国共产党的创立者之一李大钊为代表，早稻田大学培养了一大批筑就当今中国基础的优秀人才。一方面我们珍重与中国的历史联系，另一方面早稻田大学寄希望于，在下一个百年中能够培养出更多促进日中两国互惠发展的优秀人才，同时我们也已经与90多家中国的教育研究机构及大学建立了合作关系。至今，已经启动了很多学生共同培养项目、研究者共同研究项目等，现在我们正在着手准备开设日中大学间的第一所共同研究生院。我始终牢记着2008年5月胡锦涛主席阁下来我校视察时的寄语，“两国青年是中日友好的生力军，中日友好的未来要靠大家去开创，”作为从事高等教育的工作者，就应该朝向培养能够为日中两国以及整个世界，做出积极贡献的优秀人才，这一伟大的目标前进。

2010年上海世博会的主题是“城市，让生活更美好”，这也是我们所向往的重要目标。今天，因为急速的全球化进程，人类社会遇到了环境资源问题、民族问题、地区间差异、价值观的冲突等各方面难题。为了解决这些问题，世界人民必须携起手，果敢地面对处理。这就是上海世博会的标志中所蕴含的喻意，也是希望世界所共鸣的，即中国人民强烈希望举办一次世界的、多元文化相融合的博览会。同时，我强烈地感到，通过举办上海世博会，中国人民将不断追求持续发展的创造力。我听说大会将吸引7000万参观者。我本人非常期待，本次大会能够以前所未有的崭新计划和踏实的管理经营，向世界传递发展与环境、多元文化融合、科学技术与人、都市与农村等新模式下多元世博理念，与中国现在的积极面貌。

我见证了四川大地震的复兴、北京奥林匹克的成功以及之后的中国发展。我坚信2010年上海世博会一定能够取得伟大的成功，也一定会给世界带来新的惊喜。最后，我谨代表早稻田大学，预祝2010年上海世博会取得圆满成功，也对现在每天都坚守在世博岗位上的每一位工作者表示由衷的感谢。

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.