Improving China-U.S. Relations Worth
Celebrating for the Holiday Season
by Huang Ping,
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in New York
It’s the holiday season of the year. Over the past week, Americans gathered with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, an opportunity to reflect on the many good things in their lives.
This year, Americans can also give thanks for the recent improvements in China-U.S. relations. Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden met on the sidelines of the APEC gathering in San Francisco for a long overdue conversation about how the United States and China must work closer together to address some of the world’s most complex problems.
I understand why the news headlines focused heavily on the two leaders agreeing to the reestablishment of military-to-military communication and to committing to fighting the terrible opioid crisis. But more attention should be given to the guarantee the two presidents made for more people-to-people contacts in the coming years.
During his welcoming speech at the APEC gathering, President Xi, recalling his now famous maiden trip to America, said, “I stayed at the Dvorchaks in Iowa. I still remember their address--2911 Bonnie Drive. That was my first face-to-face contact with the Americans. The days I spent with them are unforgettable. For me, they represent America. I have found that although our two countries are different in history, culture and social system and have embarked on different development paths, our two peoples are both kind, friendly, hardworking and down-to-earth.”
President Xi also made time in San Francisco to visit with many people he described as “old friends,” Iowans he has had the honor of getting to know over time.
In that same speech in San Francisco, President Xi added, “The future of China-U.S. relations will be created by our peoples. The more difficulties there are, the greater the need for us to forge a closer bond between our peoples and to open our hearts to each other, and more people need to speak up for the relationship. We should build more bridges and pave more roads for people-to-people interactions.”
President Xi and President Biden approved measures that will increase the number of direct flights between our two countries. There will also be conversations about expanding tourism opportunities in China and the United States, and streamlining visa application procedures also will be examined. These efforts will lead to many more Americans visiting China, and many more Chinese visiting America. The relationship between our nations will improve. President Xi’s words bear repeating: “our two peoples are both kind, friendly, hardworking and down-to-earth.” The more we get to know each other, the more we will see those positive attributes in each other.
In my role as Consul General for China’s consulate in New York, I am honored whenever I get to meet the good people of America. Whether I am representing the consulate in an official capacity or simply enjoying a quiet dinner on the town with my wife, I am always impressed by the energy exhibited by your fellow citizens. Your teenagers and young adults especially inspire me; they seem to have a never-ending enthusiasm for learning about the past, the present and the future.
President Xi also said that China is ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years to increase exchanges between the two peoples, especially between the youth. With that in mind, please allow me a moment to address U.S. college students who want to study in China: You will discover a modern and exciting country, one always eager to show that after five decades of reform and opening up that China is a modern nation, equipped with the latest technological advances and committed to being a positive force for the world. Whether you are in China’s biggest cities or smallest communities, you will be greeted with warmth and affection. We, all 1.4 billion Chinese, want to show off our country; so, please visit.
President Xi also noted in San Francisco that win-win cooperation should define the China-U.S. relationship. During the visit, the two sides reached more than 20 important deliverables in multiple areas, including: establishing government talks on AI and launching the Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s; setting up a working group on counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S. side lifting its sanction on relevant Chinese institutions; agreeing to work toward a significant further increase in scheduled passenger flights early next year, and expanding cultural, sports, youth and business exchanges; in terms of principles related to China-U.S. relations, stressing the importance of all countries treating each other with respect and finding a way to live alongside each other peacefully, and of maintaining open lines of communication, preventing conflict, upholding the U.N. Charter, cooperating in areas of shared interest, and responsibly managing competitive aspects of the relationship, so as to provide guidelines for bringing China-U.S. relations back to the right track.
As President Xi said, “We are in an era of challenges and changes. It is also an era of hope. The world needs China and the United States to work together for a better future. We, the largest developing country and the largest developed country, must handle our relations well. In a world of changes and chaos, it is ever more important for us to have the mind, assume the vision, shoulder the responsibility, and play the role that comes along with our status as major countries.”
China wants America to succeed, and we Chinese know that many Americans want to see us thrive as well. We are thankful, and perhaps most noticeably at this time of year, whenever our American friends offer good wishes. Please allow me to offer a traditional Chinese saying that you might repeat as you enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner: A drop of water in need shall be returned with a spring indeed. In other words, a kindness offered shall also be returned.
I wish you a safe and memorable holiday season.