Ambassador Terry Branstad Arrives Featured Image 
作者美国驻中国大使泰里·布兰斯塔德
特朗普总统上周在白宫被问到美国是否欢迎中国学生以及中国学生是否可以获得赴美签证。总统的回答很直接：“我们拥有世界上最佳的大学体系………. 而它之所以伟大的其一原因是我们有大批来自中国的学生。……我们希望保持这样的状态。”
我们欢迎中国学生加入美国校园。 美国学校因其充满活力的校园文化而蓬勃发展，它欢迎来自所有背景和所有国家的学生。 从小型学院到大型大学，来自美国各地的学校管理者经常告诉我，他们重视中国学生的存在，中国学生的观点和精力帮助所有学生更加充分地参与教育。
我们关于学生签证的讯息很明确，它没有变化。总统近期再次表示：我们欢迎所有合法的中国旅行者前往美国，包括学生和学者。北京的大使馆和全中国各地的美国领事馆中有尽职尽责的领事官根据具体情况裁定每一份签证申请。去年，美国教育机构里有36万名中国学生，比其他任何国家的学生都多。这清楚地表明美国高等教育是向中国学生开放的。
父母们经常问：“把我的孩子送去美国读书有什么价值？”
我告诉他们，在美国读书是你对你的教育以及对你孩子的教育能够做出的最好的投资。在美国读书让中国的年轻人做好准备，能在世界上最大的两个经济体中施展才华。当你在全球经济中寻找工作时，这是一种绝佳的优势。他们在两个国家以及两种文化中都变得从容自如。他们学着去进行批判性和独立的思考。在美国，中国学生可以在结交来自世界各地的朋友时提高他们的英文。
最后，我再谈个问题：中国学生要做什么才能在美国获得成功？
我要从我的亲身经历中举个例子。我作为美国大使来到中国的两年间，我尽可能地抽出时间去拜访中国的人民，去了解你们的生活。除了对中国主要城市的常规访问，我还有幸去参观过中国的许多自然风光和历史名胜，从哈尔滨的冰雕节到桂林的水稻梯田。朋友们教给我一点点中国书法和如何包饺子。虽然这不会让我成为一位专家或老北京，但这提高了我从事自身工作的能力，更好地向中国人民沟通美国的观点。
所以，我的建议是：当你来到我们的校园时，与当地人交朋友。加入一个校园俱乐部或在当地社区当志愿者。放下你的手机，阅读我们的报纸或社交媒体动态消息——即使你不同意你读到的内容。形成有力的见解。了解你的教授。看看你是否可以邀请一位美国朋友假期来中国拜访你。试试只收看美国电视节目来完善你的英语水平。
这并不容易。在两种文化之间建立桥梁并不容易。但这值得付出额外的努力。我相信，那些选择在美国学习并充分参与美国生活的人们将提升自身的事业前景，为中国的持续发展做出贡献，并加强美中关系。

By U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad
Last week in the White House, President Trump was asked whether the U.S. welcomes Chinese students and if Chinese students can obtain visas to the United States.  The President’s answer was direct: “We have the greatest university system in the world … And one of the reasons it’s great is we have a lot of students from China … and we want to keep it that way.”
Chinese students are a welcome addition to American campuses.  U.S. schools thrive thanks to their vibrant campus cultures, which welcome students from all backgrounds and all nations.  School administrators from across the country—from small colleges to major universities—regularly tell me they appreciate the presence of Chinese students, whose perspectives and energy help all students engage more fully with their education.
We have a clear message on student visas and it has not changed. The President just said it again: We welcome all legitimate Chinese travelers to the United States, including students and scholars.  Dedicated consular officers at the Beijing Embassy and at U.S. Consulates around the country adjudicate each visa application on a case-by-case basis.  In the last year U.S. educational institutions hosted 360,000 Chinese students, more than from any other nation.  This clearly demonstrates that U.S. higher education is accessible to Chinese students.
Parents often ask: “What is the value of sending my child to study in the United States?”
I tell them that studying in the United States is the best investment you can make in your education, and in your child’s education.  Studying in the United States prepares the youth of China to operate effectively in the world’s two largest economies.  That is an extraordinary advantage when you are looking for work in the global economy.  They become comfortable in both countries and both cultures.  They learn to think critically and independently.  In the United States, Chinese students can perfect their English while making friends from around the world.
Finally, let me address one more question:  What can Chinese students do to succeed in the United States?
I am going to draw on example from my personal life.  In the two years since I moved to China as U.S. Ambassador I have carved out time as often as possible to visit with the people of China, to learn about your lives.  Besides regular visits to China’s major cities, I have also been fortunate to visit many of China’s natural wonders and historical places, from Harbin’s ice festival to the rice terraces of Guilin.  Friends have taught me a bit of Chinese calligraphy and dumpling making.  While this does not make me an expert, or an old Beijinger, it has improved my ability to do my job, to communicate the U.S. viewpoint to the people of China.
So here is my advice:  When you come to our campuses, introduce yourself to local friends.  Join a campus club or volunteer in the local community.  Put your phones downs, read our newspapers or social media feeds—even if you don’t agree with what you read.  Form strong opinions.  Get to know your professors.  See if you can invite an American friend to visit you in China for vacation.  Try to watch only American television shows to perfect your English.
It isn’t easy.  Bridging two cultures rarely is.  But it is worth the extra work.  I am confident that those who choose to study in the United States and engage fully while there will improve their career prospects, contribute to China’s continued development, and strengthen U.S.-China relations.