“These are difficult times and times of change, but there are some good signs on the horizon. For example, recently, as you probably know, in Korea, there are negotiations for the unification of the rail systems of Korea. This is a very difficult situation, for reasons that some of you may understand. But nonetheless, progress is proceeding. We are also having related progress, with China, with India, with Russia, and other countries, to develop high-speed rail systems to connect the China coast with the European Atlantic coast. These unifications, and Korea as a part of it, if the Korea program succeeds and the unification of the two railroads occurs, this will mean that there will be new connections into China, which will be beneficial for development in the northeastern part of China. It also means that there will be connections to the Russian Trans-Siberian Railroad. This will go together, if it succeeds, with the efforts which are coming from China, from Shanghai and other points, to reach into Central Asia and into Europe along routes which go eventually into India, and will be going into Burma and will be going into other parts of Asia.

“So, there is possibly a new time in the world ,if we can bring it into being. The possibilities are there. The hope is there. The work is being done. If this is done, we can have a world of peace. And obviously, in such a situation, the overseas Chinese, who represent a foothold in non-China parts of the world, will play an important part in facilitating these connections. I hope that we can come, in the course of this century, into a new kind of planet, a planet composed of sovereign nation-states, but united by a community of principle. These developments around railroads and transports, and cooperation of similar types do express a desire for that community of principle.  Thank you.”

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