President Song Jiongming,

Secretary Susan Lee,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great delight to join you at the "Future Resonance — ShanghaiEye Night" China-U.S. people-to-people exchange events, which are also part of the "Shanghai Let's Meet" city promotion initiative.

A few days ago, President Xi Jinping paid a milestone state visit to the United States, during which the two heads of state jointly provided new guidance for the development of China-U.S. relations. In alignment with the common understandings reached between the two Presidents, the gala tonight testifies to the vibrant cultural exchanges between our two countries. So first of all, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations on the success of this event, and also express sincere gratitude to all friends who have made this possible!

Today, I wish to share a few personal observations with you:

First, while culture has roots, cultural exchanges know no borders. Just now, artists from both China and the United States together presented a wonderful artistic experience, complementing each other and bringing out the best in one another. While our two countries have different histories and cultures, that is no reason for estrangement, but rather an impetus to celebrate our diversity. Just as the One Voice Children’s Choir beautifully sang, “I see you, you see me”, and “the wind and tide can’t keep us”.

President Xi Jinping personally attaches great importance to China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges. Building on the “50,000 in five years” initiative, which was completed ahead of schedule, President Xi has invited 100,000 young Americans to visit China for exchanges and study in the coming five years. Shanghai plays an indispensable role in friendly engagement between China and the United States, Shanghai Media Group serves as an important bridge for China-U.S. cultural exchanges, the State of Maryland is a pioneer in bilateral subnational interactions and “pickleball diplomacy”, and all the artists are envoys of goodwill between our two countries. I encourage you to continue bridging hearts through the power of culture, and foster greater mutual understanding and affinity between our two peoples.

Second, just as many trees make a forest, many hands will make a big difference. A single tree can hardly survive in the desert alone. But thanks to a donation from American teacher Mr. Ronald Sakolsky, which helped purchase 50,000 saplings, and the tireless care of Chinese desert control worker Ms. Yin Yuzhen over more than two decades, a once-barren desert has blossomed into a lush oasis. When two individuals from our two countries join hands, the impossible becomes possible. Just imagine: If more people come together and our two countries move in the same direction, what bigger miracles can we create?

With the eight deliverables achieved during our Presidents’ summit and a series of mutually beneficial arrangements reached between the two economic and trade teams, we are witnessing brighter prospects for China-U.S. cooperation. I hope friends from the business community, including the U.S.-China Business Council and the United States-China Association of Commerce, and all other sectors, will pitch in to help more saplings of cooperation take root, and nurture them into thriving forests.

Third, by learning from the past, we can chart the course ahead; through steadfast action, we can go far. Once housing China’s Liaison Office in the United States, the Mayflower Hotel we are in today has witnessed the historic normalization in the China-U.S. relationship. Over the past five decades and more, this relationship has gone through ups and downs, the most important inspiration from which is that, China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.

This year, our two Presidents have met twice in Beijing and Washington D.C., agreeing to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability on the basis of respect, fairness, and reciprocity. This new characterization is grounded in history, and will certainly lead to a better future.

Let us work together to translate the new vision into real action, and ensure our bilateral relationship will ride the wind and tide, and achieve steady and sustained progress.

Thank you very much.