I started an online education project while I was Governor of Washington State.  It’s called the Digital Learning Commons and it integrates online courses with web-based teacher and classroom resources, library databases and other digital tools.  

And I’m very pleased to tell you that one of the most popular languages offered through the Digital Learning Commons is Mandarin!  Young Americans are thirsty for knowledge about China.   They understand that learning the language is essential to their futures.  Online education satisfies these needs, particularly in rural areas where foreign language teachers are harder to find.

China is also embracing digital learning tools.  Late last year, the Ministry of Education approved the establishment of 68 online institutes to provide higher education to those who cannot study as full-time students.  That is very exciting news, indeed.

The celebration of China’s rich cultural heritage – through education, technology and exhibitions such as this - says as much about China’s future as it does about your past.

For I believe that in celebrating Chinese traditions, arts, and ways of life, you inspire the forces driving China’s future economic and cultural development. 

The rise of cultural industries is China’s next step in transforming the country from a developing nation to a world power.   

There’s no question that your country’s rich heritage can be converted into products that have worldwide demand.  As this exhibition demonstrates, the cultural expressions of film, music, literature and digital media can be lucrative export items.  

And with cultural industries representing just two percent of China’s gross domestic product today, foreign investors believe the country’s cultural market is the next golden opportunity.  

Your economic advancement and increasing openness affords an historic opportunity to showcase the vitality, glamour and tradition of the Chinese culture.  Harness the power of technology and the Internet, and this cultural dialogue becomes instantaneous, continuous and increasingly powerful.  

As you well know, the Beijing Olympics provide an unprecedented opportunity to display all that is great about China – your past, present and future.   

In just a few short months, the world’s attention will be centered on China.  On laptops, televisions and smart phones, millions will do more than just watch the world’s greatest athletic competition. They will see the splendor – many for the very first time – of China.   I wish you a harmonious and peaceful Olympics that brings greater worldwide understanding of this truly unique country.

Last month, the Chinese ambassador to Britain wrote this in the Peoples Daily:  

“The world has waited for China to join it, now China has to have the patience for the world to understand China.”  

There is much to understand about China… its history, arts, religions, political systems, and more.    

And even with technology and the Internet, it will take the world quite a while to discover everything we need to know about this great nation. I thank all of you for helping this discovery and supporting continued cultural exchange through music, art, language, film and ideas.  

I wish you a successful fair and thank you very much for inviting me to participate.