Max Baucus: “I rise to speak at this watershed moment in the U.S.-China relationship. This is a relationship that will affect our…”

“I rise to speak at this watershed moment in the U.S.-China relationship. This is a relationship that will affect our children's future. And how we manage this relationship now will help determine the long-term strength of our Nation. Warren Buffett has an answer for anyone who questions America's future. As he said earlier this year: The prophets of doom have overlooked the all-important factor that is certain: Human potential is far from exhausted, and the American system for unleashing that potential--a system that has worked wonders for over two centuries despite frequent interruptions for recessions and even a Civil War--remains alive and effective . . . Now, as in 1776, 1861, 1932 and 1941, America's best days lie ahead. I agree. America has the world's best universities, a tradition of brilliant entrepreneurship, and the drive and ingenuity of our people. We gave the world the light bulb, the airplane, the Polio vaccine, the personal computer, and the Internet. We have been the world's engine of innovation for more than a century. But we cannot rest on our laurels. We can and must rise to the challenge of China. This is a challenge I recognized long ago. That is why I led the effort to grant permanent normal trade relations to China, so we could begin to get China to play by the rules. That is also why I have traveled to China eight different times, to stress to their leaders the importance of playing by those rules.…”