On March 1, Ambassador Qin Gang visited the BYD coach and bus factory in Lancaster, California, and met with BYD workers together with Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris. Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Zhang Ping was present at the visit.

Accompanied by Li Ke, President of BYD Americas, Ambassador Qin toured the bus production factory, learning about BYD's local production and operation, and talking cordially with workers. The workers warmly welcomed Ambassador Qin. Li Ke said that BYD entered North American market in 1999 and set up a bus factory in Lancaster in 2013, which has now developed an annual production capacity of 1,500 buses. Ambassador Qin walked through the production lines, and asked the workers if they are satisfied with their work and life. The workers replied that BYD has created many jobs and brought great changes to them and their families. Welding engineer Primitivo Sedeno said, “BYD has made it easier for me to have a better life”. Production manager Daniel Alvarez said that BYD has given him a second chance. Other workers believed that BYD has made Lancaster more important on American map.

After touring the production line, Ambassador Qin met with more than 300 workers on site. Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris extended a warm welcome to the Ambassador, and said that BYD has not only created more than 1,000 jobs and improved people's livelihoods, but also greatly enhanced environmental protection. BYD's story shows what can happen when China and the US work together, turning the impossible into possible. Martin Tompkins, CEO of Antelope Valley Transit Authority, said that the use of BYD electric buses has helped avoid 1.7 million gallons of diesel fuel and 4.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

In his impromptu remarks to the workers, Ambassador Qin said, BYD is a household name and a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles in China. But before coming to the big factory here in Lancaster, I didn’t know that BYD has such a big exposure in the US. This is a success story of not only BYD’s cooperation with Lancaster, but also China-US economic and trade cooperation. As BYD's name — Build Your Dreams — suggests, not only buses but also dreams are being built here. Finding jobs, developing better communities, building a better future and a greener world are common dreams for the Chinese and American people. BYD is a place for hope and dreams. I can see the hope for China-US economic and trade cooperation here. I want to say to American government officials and members of Congress, if you don’t believe that our cooperation is mutually beneficial, please come to Lancaster, come to BYD. China-US economic and trade cooperation is win-win in nature. China and the US working together has great significance for fighting climate change and other global challenges and creating a better life for the people. Our two countries should strengthen cooperation and realize our dreams together.

Ambassador Qin's remarks won rounds of applause from the workers. The worker representatives presented Ambassador Qin with a commemorative plaque bearing the Ambassador’s name, and they took a group photo. Then accompanied by Mayor Paris, Ambassador Qin took a ride of BYD bus that just came off the production line.