Ambassador urges stronger partnership

Beijing's top envoy in Washington has called for stronger people-to-people ties between China and the United States, and encouraged more US people to visit the country.

Speaking at the 24th Washington Chinese Culture Festival on Saturday, Ambassador Xie Feng noted that 2026 is a significant year for China-US relations, which has already seen a "historic and landmark" meeting between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in May in Beijing, where the leaders agreed to build a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.

"Their meeting set a clear direction forward," Xie said.

Quoting Xi, Xie noted the hope of China-US relations lies in the people, the foundation in the societies, the future in the youth and vitality at the local level.

He said that Xi's initiative to invite 50,000 young people in the US to China in five years reached the target two and a half years ahead of schedule, and that young people on both sides are becoming a stronger force for friendship between the two countries.

He also cited the recent reunion of retired US educator Ronald Sakolsky and Yin Yuzhen, a Chinese woman known for her decades of work fighting desertification.

In 1999, while teaching in Central China's Henan province, Sakolsky saw a television report about Yin's efforts to combat desertification. Moved by her determination, he raised $5,000 over the next two months to support her tree-planting work.

Sakolsky returned to China on Aug 23 and reunited with Yin after 26 years.

Xie said their story showed that Chinese and US people could make the world better by working together.

"Let us build more bridges for people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and strengthen the public foundation for a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability," he said.

In his speech, Xie also said a spontaneous trip to China is becoming a reality, thanks to the country's offer of unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of 50 countries and visa-free transit for up to 240 hours to travelers from 57 countries, including the US.

China welcomed 22.9 million foreign visitors in the first half of the year, up 20.4 percent year-on-year, Xie said. Slightly more than three-fourths of them entered without a visa.

The ambassador described "China Cool" as one of the summer's biggest travel buzzwords, with many foreign visitors venturing beyond well-known attractions to eat at local restaurants, explore neighborhoods and experience everyday life in China.

"As China opens up wider, it is making more friends around the world," Xie said. "We hope many more Americans will visit China, experience the country firsthand, share what you see and experience with others, and bring our two peoples closer."

He added that the Washington Chinese Culture Festival has become an annual tradition, growing more popular with each passing year.

"It has become a window into China for the American public and a bridge of friendship between our two peoples," he said. "I hope many of you will one day visit China — and turn today's glimpse into a lasting connection of your own."

The Washington Post, in a list of best things to do over the weekend, noted that the annual Chinese festival "fills Pennsylvania Avenue NW on Saturday with the sounds of music and the wafting aroma of traditional Chinese food".

The festival featured tai chi, Peking Opera, folk musicians and dancers representing different regions of China. Food vendors lined both sides of the stage, offering a variety of delicious treats.

Government representatives and other local officials from Washington, Maryland and Virginia attended the event.

Congratulatory letters were sent by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and US Representatives April McClain Delaney and Grace Meng, according to a news release from the embassy.

huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com