Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'm very happy to be invited to this forum commemorating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the US.

Let me first express my appreciation to the American Chinese Federation and the Zhou Enlai Peace Institute for their long-standing efforts to promote mutual understanding between China and the US. Congresswoman Judy Chu, State Senator Ted Lieu, Assembly member Ed Chau, representatives of Congressman Ed Royce and Former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, thank you for participating in this event.

As we know, Premier Zhou Enlai was instrumental in the initiation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which have served as the cornerstone of China's independent foreign policy of peace and have been written into the communiqués on the establishment of diplomatic relations that China has signed with over 160 countries. It is exactly pursuant to this independent foreign policy of peace that we develop our relations with the US. And nothing illustrates our foreign policy better than our handling of relations with the US, because this relationship is the most important as well as the most sensitive, the most comprehensive as well as the most complex, and the most promising as well as the most challenging. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

We can't celebrate our diplomatic ties without looking at the days when it was non-existent. As early as 1971, a US Ping Pang player went by mistake onto the bus of the Chinese National Ping Pang team in Japan. This led to the so called Ping Pang Diplomacy and the subsequent visit to China in 1972 by President Richard Nixon.

Dr. Henry Kissinger in his book on China has drawn on his extensive personal experience with the Chinese leaders including Premier Zhou Eenlai. The book, to some extent, reveals how Zhou's vision and wisdom has shaped China's foreign policy and the development of Sino-US relations.

 We know President Nixon is from Orange County. It is no common knowledge that the American Ping Pang player is also from Southern California. So it is fare to say that Southern California is the incubator of Sino-US Diplomatic relationship.

Seven years after President Nixon's China trip, Mr. Deng Xiaoping and President Carter took the historic step to officially normalize relations between our two countries. Since then, thanks to the joint efforts from both sides, China-US relationship has been in good shape, in spite of some twists and turns.

Today our relations have grown beyond anybody's imagination 35 years ago. The two sides have signed dozens of cooperation agreements in political, economic, trade, agricultural, scientific, technological and many other fields. Every year, hundreds of official delegations at various levels are sent to each other country for mutual visits. Every year, some 100,000 Chinese and American students go to study in each other country, showing a clear pattern of two-way traffic.

China and the United States enjoy expanding channels of exchanges and cooperation. Over 70 cooperation mechanisms have been put in place involving various government departments, legislatures and political party leadership. The thriving local and people-to-people exchanges lend increasing impetus to our bilateral relations.

We are now each other's 2nd largest trading partners. Bilateral trade exceeded 520 billion US dollars last year, an increase of over 200 times from the beginning of diplomatic relations.

I have been working in Los Angeles for over a year and I am glad that China and the consular districts of Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles have become important partners in trade and investment. Significant progress has been made in areas of cultural exchanges and educational cooperation, in which Southern California shoulders the role of spearhead. Trade volume between Customs Territory of Los Angeles and China accounts for over one third of the total Sino-US trade volume. Southern California has become a prime target for Chinese investment and the resort frequented by Chinese tourists.

We are both major countries with important influence in world affairs as well as permanent members of the UN Security Council. Together with other countries, we shoulder "primary responsibility for the international peace and security."

Moreover, we are confronted with so many common challenges. Climate change, food security, energy security, disease prevention, alleviating poverty, combating transnational crimes, counter- terrorism, non-proliferation are all calling for our joint efforts. There are high expectations on the prospect of China and the US working together to address global challenges.

Yet what must be pointed out, however, is that over the past 35 years, China-US relations have never been plain sailing. Our relationship has, in the course of development, gone through ups and downs and run into quite a few difficulties and obstacles. Some of the issues between China and the US have been there for a long time and are of great importance. The most important and sensitive of those is the Taiwan issue. There are also structural issues between our two countries that are results of our different social systems, historical and cultural backgrounds and development levels. We also have disagreements over specific issues due to diverging interests in certain areas or lack of effective communication and coordination. All these issues and disagreements need to be appropriately managed so as to maintain the sustained, sound and steady development of China-US relations.

 Ladies and gentleman,

We are now at a historical crossroads. China has taken a major decision to deepen reform in an all-round way. And this coincided with the decision taken by President Xi Jinping of China and President Obama of the US that our two countries should work together to build a new model of major-country relationship at the Annenberg Estate last year. This is by no means a pure coincidence. This is a strategic choice made by our leaders.

This new model of major-country relationship is based on the vision that China and the US, being the largest developing country and the most powerful developed country respectively, should take the lead in building such a win-win partnership on the basis of mutual respect. Our commitment to achieve this common objective not only meets the shared aspiration of our two peoples, but also serves peace, stability and prosperity of the world.

We are fully aware that achieving this goal is no easy job. It requires steadfast commitment and persistent efforts from both sides. We need more than ever to work even harder to deepen and broaden our cooperation.

We should firmly keep the overall China-US relationship in the right direction from a strategic and long-term perspective.

We should continue to follow through on the important consensus of our leaders to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship and see to it that our relationship will have fewer ups and downs and always be kept on an upward trend.

We should work more proactively to wrap out the progress of China-US relations at every stage of development.

We should maintain and intensify exchanges at the top and other levels, give full play to the guiding role of such mechanisms as the Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

We should work more creatively to expand all kinds of new pathways to the sustainable development of China-US cooperation.

We should strengthen bilateral military cooperation and enhance mutual understanding and trust. Last week, I went to San Diego to attend a welcome ceremony for visiting Chinese Naval Fleet. One major purpose of the visit is to practically push forward the new type China-US navy-to-navy relations characterized by harmony, progress and pragmatic cooperation. I hope that more good-will exchanges alike can be carried out in the future to enrich the new model of major country relationship.

We should be more active in strengthening strategic communication, seek common ground while reserve differences, respect each other's core interests.

We should actively encourage our people to further improve mutual understanding so as to build stronger public support for friendly ties between our two countries.

I believe everyone present today can play a constructive role in building strong foundation for a sound bilateral relationship. I believe overseas Chinese in Southern California can make a unique impression on friendly cooperation between China and the United States. This is a task on which we need to concentrate. Thanks for all your efforts and input. By joining hands together, I am convinced that we will be able to make more remarkable achievements in the next 35 years.

Before concluding my remarks, allow me to wish today's event a complete success!

Thank you.