美国商务部长骆家辉在创业峰会上发表讲话

爱思英语编者按：2010年4月26日，美国商务部长骆家辉（GARY LOCKE）在总统倡导的创业峰会（Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship）上发表讲话。以下是讲话全文：

Good morning. I can"t begin to tell you how honored I am to be before such a distinguished group of entrepreneurs.

早上好。诸位都是创业的杰出代表，我在此发表讲话，首先感到荣幸之至。

On behalf of President Obama, I want to welcome you to the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship.

我代表奥巴马总统欢迎诸位出席总统倡导的创业峰会。

Last year, when President Obama detailed in Cairo his vision for this summit, he did so knowing that ties between America, Muslim-majority countries and Muslim communities around the world should be based on more than concerns about security or diplomatic issues – even though they are critical.

去年，奥巴马总统在开罗（Cairo）详述他对这次会议的设想，他认为美国与全世界穆斯林占人口大多数的国家及穆斯林社区的关系应该有更广泛的基础，不应该仅限于安全或外交方面的问题，尽管这些问题十分重要。

This summit underscores the President"s commitment to pursuing a more comprehensive engagement based on mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual responsibility.

这次峰会强调了总统坚持在互相尊重、共同利益和共同责任的基础上寻求更全面的接触的信念。

With us today is an incredibly diverse range of participants. You hail from over 50 countries on five continents; individuals of many religious backgrounds; and you represent the full spectrum of the entrepreneurship ecosystem.更多信息请访问：http://www.24en.com/

今天在座的代表具有十分广泛的多样性。你们来自5大洲50多个国家；代表们具有众多的各类宗教背景；你们代表了创业生态系统的各行各业。

Some of you are entrepreneurs, some investors. Some run companies, foundations and non-profits, while others founded them. But together you epitomize and recognize the immense and vital role that a vibrant private sector has in promoting economic opportunity, and in improving the standards and quality of life for all within each of our communities and nations.

你们中间有些人是企业家，有些是投资者。有些人经营公司、基金会和非营利组织，另外也有些人是这些机构的创始人。但是你们有共同的体现和认识，说明民间部门的繁茂昌盛对于增进经济机会，改善我们各自社区和国家内全体人民的生活标准和生活质量发挥了不可估量的重要作用。

This entrepreneurial force extends across our respective shores. It unites America and Muslim-majority countries in a shared vision of promise.

这股创业的力量跨越了我们各国的边界，促使美国与全世界穆斯林占人口大多数的各国携手实现共同的憧憬。

Much like this event today, trade and commerce have always brought together diverse peoples in a common pursuit.

贸易和商业也与今天的会议十分相像，往往能够促使不同背景的各国人民为了共同的目标和衷共济。

For thousands of years, entrepreneurs have found ways to transcend national, political, economic, physical and spiritual boundaries to create opportunity and prosperity for all.

几千年来，企业家们寻觅各种方法，跨越民族、政治、经济、物资和精神的疆界，为所有的人创造机会和繁荣。

As we look at the history of Islamic civilization, we see a rich tradition of invention and innovation.

回顾伊斯兰文明史，我们看到发明创造的悠久传统。

The world was given coffee from Yemen; the first fountain pen from Egypt; and the first windmill from Persia.

全世界从也门得到咖啡；从埃及得到第一只自来水笔；从波斯得到第一具风车。

It was a Muslim engineer who invented the crankshaft, which is the foundation of much of the machinery in today"s modern world.

是穆斯林的工程师，发明了曲轴，直至今天仍然在很大程度上是现代机械制造的根基。

For centuries, goods and services flowed east and west through the trading hubs that extended throughout your countries and regions.

几个世纪以来，这些商品和服务通过遍布你们国家和地区的贸易集散地流向东方和西方。

Today, perhaps more than ever, international trade holds tremendous potential for improving people"s lives. And innovation and entrepreneurship in particular have the potential to be the great equalizer.

今天，国际贸易对改善人民的生活蕴藏的巨大潜力或许是前所未有的。创新和创业精神尤其有潜力成为巨大的平衡力量。

Any man or woman with a great idea and the will to pursue it can change not only their own lives, but peoples" lives all over the world. Just look around this room and you see almost 300 living examples of exactly that.

任何人如果有新颖的设想和坚定的意志，不论男女，不仅可以改变自己的生活，还能改变世界各地人民的生活。环顾整个会场，你会看到近300个活生生的例证。

As our world stares down an immense set of challenges, from climate change and poverty to disease and resource scarcity, we need the brightest minds from every corner of the globe looking for solutions.

从气候变化到贫困，从疾病到资源匮乏，我们的世界目睹这些极大的挑战，此时此刻我们需要全球每一个角落具有超凡才识的人们寻求解决办法。

And today, we are honored to have some of those bright minds gathered right here in this room.

今天在座的一些人士就有过人的才识，我们感到很荣幸。

You hail from different countries and work in different industries and are addressing different social challenges, but you are united by your relentless will to succeed, even in the face of immense obstacles.

你们来自不同的国家，在不同的行业工作，应对不同的社会挑战。但你们共同具有坚韧不拔的意志，即使面临巨大的挑战，仍坚持获得成功。

There"s a young woman here who built a thriving tailoring business in Taliban controlled Afghanistan; a young man who launched a nonprofit to promote entrepreneurship in the Palestinian territories, and a doctor from Nigeria working to advance health among that country"s young people.

你们中间有一位年轻的女性曾在塔利班控制下的阿富汗创办生意兴隆的缝纫企业。有一位青年男子发起了一个非营利组织，在巴勒斯坦领土倡导创业。还有一位来自尼日利亚的医生为增进本国青年的健康而努力工作。

Also with us is the founder of a private equity firm that makes investments in natural resources and infrastructure in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, and several founders of major corporations, from courier services and airlines to telecommunications.

在座的还有在印度尼西亚和东南亚地区进行自然资源和基础设施投资的一个民间股本公司的创建人，还有几位分别从事快递服务、航空和电信等行业的大公司创建人。

You are different in so many ways. And yet you all share a unique and uncommon talent to bring hope and opportunity to your communities.

你们在很多方面各不相同，然而你们都共有独特的、不同寻常的才能，为你们所在的社区带来了希望和机会。

The challenge before us is to take the tremendous success all of you have had individually and expand it throughout the Islamic world.

现在，摆在我们面前的挑战就是把你们局部取得的巨大成功扩展到整个伊斯兰世界。

There are over one billion people living in Muslim-majority countries today.

如今，有超过10亿人在穆斯林占人口大多数的国家生活。

They represent a vast reserve of under-utilized potential in the global economy – both in terms of their demand for goods and services, as well as their ability to create technological and social innovations that will drive economic growth and social development within their own countries and throughout the world.

就其对商品和服务的需求，以及他们为推动本国乃至全世界经济增长和社会发展进行技术和社会创新的能力而言，他们都构成了全球经济中潜在能力未得到充分发挥的巨大储备力量。

All of you are here today because of your past, present and future efforts to unleash this potential.

你们所有的人今天出席这次会议是因为你们过去、现在和将来为充分发挥这一潜力进行了努力。

It is very much in America"s and the entire world"s interests that you succeed.

你们获得成功十分符合美国乃至全世界的利益。

In the United States, we are just now emerging from the worst economic crisis many of us have ever seen.

在美国，我们刚开始摆脱很多人有生以来未曾经历过的最严重的经济危机。

Too many Americans who want work still can"t find it; and too many people who are working can"t get enough of it.

众多希望得到工作的美国人仍然找不到工作，还有很多有工作的人也无法感到满意。

To replace the jobs we have already lost and to create new, better paying jobs, the Obama Administration is taking bold steps to grow our economy.

为了弥补我们已经失去的工作岗位，创造新的报酬更高的工作岗位，奥巴马总统及其政府正为促进我国经济增长采取有魄力的步骤。

Central to these efforts is a renewed focus on international trade. The stronger the economies of the world and the more middle class in all of our nations, the more international markets there will be for each of our nations.

这些工作中的一个重要部分就是进一步强调国际贸易。世界经济越强大，各国的中产阶级队伍越壮大，每一个国家需要的国际市场就越多。

Strong and balanced international trade only works if countries have growing economies and growing middle classes that are fully engaged in the international marketplace. There needs to be people – entrepreneurs – all around the world who can take new ideas and innovations from elsewhere around the world – as well as create their own – and spur growth in their own countries.

惟有各国经济不断增长，全面参与国际市场的中产阶级队伍日益扩大，才会有兴旺、平衡的国际贸易。全世界必须有这样的一批人——创业者——既能吸取来自世界各地的新思想和新发明，又能自主创新，促进本国经济增长。

And building that capacity in Muslim-majority countries and Muslim communities is why we have all gathered here this week.

我们这个星期在这里举行会议，目的就是为了在穆斯林占人口大多数的国家和穆斯林社区建设这样的能力。

So why the focus on entrepreneurs?

那么，为什么要特别强调创业者？

Because they are the heart of all thriving economies.

因为他们在所有繁荣的经济体中都是中坚力量。

When innovators and entrepreneurs can easily turn their ideas into businesses, jobs and economic opportunity follow closely behind.

一旦创新者和创业者可以很容易地将自己的设想转化为经营的业务，工作岗位和经济机会就会接踵而至。

Entrepreneurs are a powerful force for change.  They improve the business climate in their own countries and champion necessary policy reforms. And they improve practices in global markets.

创业者是强大的变革力量，他们改善本国的商业环境，积极倡导必要的政策改革。他们还有助于改进全球市场的实务。

Commerce, grounded in mobile telecommunications, for example, is rapidly transforming markets worldwide thanks to the work of entrepreneurs from Muslim majority countries such as Bangladesh.

例如，由于创业者在孟加拉国等穆斯林占人口大多数的国家努力工作，以移动电信为基础的商务活动正在全世界范围内迅速促进市场的变革。

In the United States, we have always relied upon entrepreneurs to be a primary engine of our economic growth.

在美国，我们一贯依靠企业家为我国经济增长提供主要动力。

Firms less than 5 years old – many of which are considered small businesses – have accounted for nearly ALL net new jobs in America"s private sector over the last three decades.

在过去的30年里，美国成立不到5年的公司--许多被视为小型企业--几乎占民营部门新创造的全部净就业机会。

My own biography is a testament to America"s entrepreneurial history.

我本人的经历就是美国企业家精神的见证。

My grandfather immigrated to America from China, initially working as a servant for a family in the capital city of Washington State, in exchange for English lessons. My father, also born in China, opened a small business in Washington State, a grocery store. I worked at that store as a student, and it was the profits from that store and the fruits of my father"s hard work that enabled me to become Governor of the state of Washington, 100 years after my grandfather landed in America, one mile from where my grandfather was a servant boy.

我祖父从中国移民到美国，最初在华盛顿州首府的一个家庭帮佣，换取学习英文的机会。我父亲也出生在中国，在华盛顿州经营小生意，开了一个杂货店。我当学生的时候就在铺子里打工。正是店铺的盈利和我父母亲辛勤劳动的成果，使我在祖父第一次踏上华盛顿州首府的土地100年之后，成为华盛顿州州长，距离祖父年青时帮佣的地方仅一英里之遥。

But immigration should not be the only pathway for those seeking opportunity.

但移民对寻求机会的人来说不应该是唯一途径。

As much as America has benefited from the contributions of immigrants, we also respect the strong desire that citizens around the world have to see their own countries grow, develop and thrive.

美国从移民的贡献中获益匪浅，我们也尊重世界各国公民希望本国兴旺、发展和繁荣的强烈愿望。

Entrepreneurs can change not just economies but societies. Social networking sites haven"t just spawned new companies…they have changed how people around the world interact with one another. Even before there was the Internet, there were people who mobilized communities to advance just causes – from education and healthcare to civil rights.

企业家不仅可以改变经济状况，而且也能改变社会面貌。社交网站不仅仅催生了大量新的公司......它们也改变了世界各地的人们相互往来的方式。在因特网出现之前，就有人动员社区推进教育、保健、民权等正义事业。

And I am happy to hear that one of the regional conferences that will follow this Summit – in Iraq - will focus on social entrepreneurship.

我很高兴地获悉，这次峰会之后在伊拉克举办的一个区域会议将以社会创业为主题。

I want to be clear that the United States engages in these efforts to expand entrepreneurship in a spirit of partnership, not of patronage.

我要说明的是，美国参与倡导创业的有关努力是出于伙伴精神，而不是采取施惠的姿态。

The U.S. and American workers have much to gain from this summit, as well as other efforts to build economic cooperation between our nations.

美国和美国从业人员从这次峰会和其他发展各国经济合作的活动中会收到很大益处。

From brilliant scientific advances in water management and desalinization technologies, to the truly incredible success Middle Eastern telecom companies have enjoyed distributing mobile phones throughout the developing world, to the staggering growth of services and tourism in the Gulf – there is no question that Muslim communities have the capacity to nurture a thriving entrepreneurial culture.

从用水管理和海水淡化技术领域辉煌的科学进步，到中东各电信公司在发展中国家经营手机业务所取得的难以置信的成功，还有海湾国家服务和旅游事业的惊人增长，毫无疑问穆斯林社会完全有能力培育欣欣向荣的企业文化。

The challenge at this summit is to fully realize that potential by growing new businesses, industries and economic opportunity.

本次峰会面临的挑战是开拓新企业、新产业和新的经济机会，充分发挥这方面的潜力。

Over the next couple days, we"ll be holding plenary sessions to address a wide array of issues that help build entrepreneurial cultures. Among other things, we will be talking about social entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, access to capital, women and youth entrepreneurship and mentoring and networking.

今后几天，我们将举行全体会议，讨论一系列有助于发展创业文化的问题。我们将探讨的其他问题有社会创业精神、技术与创新、资本筹集渠道、妇女和青年创业、技术指导和网络联系。

We"ve got a full slate of events, and I"m confident that we"ll conclude this summit with concrete commitments to act. But I want everyone here to know that President Obama and his administration do not see this summit as a one-time event, but rather part of the process of creating a sustainable focus on entrepreneurship.

我们的日程排得很满，但我相信，本次峰会结束的时候我们会得到采取具体行动的承诺。我想让在座的每一个人都知道，奥巴马总统和他的政府并不视这次峰会为一次性活动，而是认为这是持续强调创业精神的程序中的一个组成部分。

U.S. Embassies around the world are holding roundtables with entrepreneurs and other key stakeholders. USAID has already held several listening sessions on entrepreneurship, including in Cairo, and a virtual effort that included thousands of participants from over 150 countries.

世界各地的美国大使馆正在与企业家和其他重要利益相关者举行讨论会。美国国际开发署（USAID)已经就创业精神举行了几次听取意见的会议，包括在开罗和一个包括来自150多个国家数以千计的人参与的网上现场活动。

And several foreign governments and NGOs have offered to host follow-on regional conferences…from Algeria to Kyrgyzstan, Bahrain to Indonesia. And I"m proud to say that the Commerce Department is deeply engaged in this challenge.

一些外国政府和非政府组织已表示愿意主办后续区域研讨会，其中有阿尔及利亚、吉尔吉斯斯坦、巴林和印度尼西亚等。我很自豪地说，商务部积极参与了这项重要工作。

This year, the Commerce Department will be leading at least five trade missions to Muslim majority countries. And we will be hosting as many as 27 reverse trade missions from Muslim majority countries. This December, I"ll be hosting a conference in Washington, D.C. to highlight opportunities for commercial engagement for American companies in the Middle East and North Africa.

今年，商务部将率领至少5个商贸访问团前往穆斯林占人口大多数的国家，我们还将接待多达27个来自穆斯林占人口大多数的国家的商贸访问团。12月，我将在华盛顿哥伦比亚特区主持一次会议，强调美国公司在中东和北非进行商业接触的机会。

And, together with the State Department, the Commerce Department"s Commercial Law Development Program is advancing policy and legal frameworks in Muslim majority countries with the goal of advancing entrepreneurship.

此外，国务院、商务部的商务法发展项目正为穆斯林占人口大多数的国家完善政策和法律框架共同努力，目的是倡导创业精神。

This is a government-wide effort for the U.S. And you will hear from many of my colleagues about the many ways we are working to advance mutually beneficial ties between our peoples.

这是一项整个美国政府都参与的努力。各位将会听到我的很多同事介绍我们为促进各国人民互惠互利的关系所采取的诸多做法。

This summit is a beginning, not an end.

这次峰会是一个起点，而不是终点。

And even as President Obama and his administration continue our vigorous efforts to promote entrepreneurship, we know there are limits to what we can do.

奥巴马总统及本届政府将继续积极倡导创业精神，但我们知道我们的能力有限。

Governments have an important role to play in convening, mobilizing and facilitating. We can develop policies and incentives to spur entrepreneurship.

政府可以发挥召集、动员和促进的重要作用。我们可以拟定政策和计划，激发创业精神。

But ultimately, it is leaders like you who will build the businesses and the networks, and create the innovations that your economies and communities need in order to grow.

但归根结底，正是你门这样的领袖人物创建了工商业和网络，实现了各经济体和社区促进增长所需的创新。

You have so much to offer. And when you leave the summit tomorrow, I hope you will return to your communities with a renewed sense of purpose that you will mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs and will advocate for changes in your societies that will allow your neighbors to realize their full potential.

你们可以做出如此众多的贡献。你们明天开完峰会离开时，我希望您带着全新的使命感回到自己的社区，培养下一代创业家，在你们生活的社会倡导变革，使街坊邻里都能发挥他们的全部潜力。

Because promoting entrepreneurship is, in fact, very much about promoting our common humanity.

因为促进创业精神事实上正是在倡导我们共同的人道。

Every time a person"s potential is deferred or squandered, whether here or abroad, it is a tragedy.

无论是在这里还是在海外，每当一个人的潜力被贻误或被浪费时，都是一场悲剧。

In this world, people are largely defined by their calling, by their profession. This is fundamental to the human condition – seeking a purpose, seeking meaning through work or service. When people cannot find work, when they cannot apply themselves to better their own lives or the lives of their families and community, they ache for meaning.

在这个世界上，界定一个人的标准往往是其使命或职业。通过从事的工作或服务寻求目标、找到方向，正是人类状况的基本事实。当人们找不到工作，无法做到为自己、为家人和为社区改善生活时，他们就渴望找到方向。

That ache is powerful… It is compelling. And in some way, your presence here is a response to that ache, to the knowledge that ambition can transform lives and transform societies, but only if it is met with opportunity.

这种渴望蕴含强大的力量……且十分迫切。从某种意义上讲，各位今天出席峰会正是对这种渴望的响应，也说明雄心壮志可以改变生活、改变社会，但必须要有施展的机会。

I hope this summit can help soothe that ache in all our societies, and that our countries can find common ground in providing our people purpose and opportunities for a better life. Thank you.

我希望这次峰会有助于满足各个社会存在的这种渴望，并希望各国都能找到共同点，努力为民众改善生活寻求目标和机会。谢谢各位。