"We will never forget the contributions which have touched us deeply," Jiang said, speaking of the Americans who supported China's democratic liberation cause in 1911. "The Chinese people have always admired the American people for their pragmatic attitude and creative spirit."

Explaining that the two countries and their "complementary markets" had the potential to benefit from one another, Jiang said he and President Clinton agreed during their meetings "to promote the lofty cause of world peace and development."

"China and the U.S. share common interests, and they share common responsibilities on many important questions," Jiang said, calling for the two countries to work together to maintain world peace, prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and protect the environment for human survival.

Jiang closed his address on a positive note, referring to the motto over Dexter Gate, one of the gates to Harvard Yard, that reads: "Enter to grow in wisdom; depart to serve better thy country and thy kind."

"Young people in China have also a motto: Keep the motherland in heart and serve the people with heart and soul," Jiang said. "I hope that in the course of building our countries, younger generations of Chinese and Americans will learn from each other...and strive for a better future."

Inside Sanders

Sanders Theatre was bustling with activity hours before Jiang made his 11 a.m. appearance.

Students went through ID card checks and metal detectors before checking their coats inside the theater and being led to the balcony--where by 9:30 the majority of the undergraduates who beat the odds and won a coveted ticket had already taken their seats.

Security remained tight throughout the event, with members of the Secret Service posted throughout the theater. One Secret Service member remained stationed at the narrow balcony directly above the stage throughout the event.

Jiang was flanked by Rudenstine; Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles; University Marshal Richard M. Hunt; Director of the Fairbank Center for East Asian Studies Ezra F. Vogel; Li Daoyou, the Chinese ambassador to the United States; Qian Qichen, China's vice premier and foreign minister, and James Sasser, the U.S. ambassador to China. Jiang entered Sanders on schedule and promptly received a 20-second standing ovation.

"It's not so much what he said but more about the magnetism of his power," said Rebecca U. Weiner '99. "The woman sitting next to me started shaking when he stepped onto the stage. She was that excited to see him."

After brief introductions by Hunt, Knowles and Rudenstine, Jiang took center stage, where he proceeded to keep audiences in Sanders, Science Center A and E and the Boylston auditorium racing to keep up with the rapid Mandarin-to-English translation.

Two outbursts disrupted the polite attentiveness and occasional laughter with which Jiang's speech was generally received.

Immediately following Jiang's speech, Vogel announced that Jiang would answer questions selected by a committee of fellows of the Fairbank Center, which received more than 100 questions.

At that point, one man stood up in the upper balcony and shouted the words "human rights." He was immediately joined by four more people, dressed in white T-shirts. All five turned their backs to Jiang, revealing the slogan "Free Tibet" in large, black letters.