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U.S. and China strengthen bonds people-to-people
Liu Yandong
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/11/17/us-china-relations-exchange-education-column/3619945/
Annual exchange presents opportunity to further cultivate our relationship.
In 1784, just eight years after the founding of the United States, the U.S. merchant ship Empress of China called at Guangzhou, marking the beginning of people-to-people exchange between China and the U.S. More than 60 years ago, China and America fought shoulder-to-shoulder in the anti-fascist war, forging a deep friendship. People-to-people exchange has helped to grow our bilateral relations.
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and I will co-chair the fourth China-U.S. High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange in Washington, D.C. It aims to implement the important agreement President Xi Jinping and President Obama reached in June on building a new model of major-country relationships between China and the U.S.
The key to sound relations between countries lies in the amity between their peoples based on mutual understanding. Sincere people-to-people exchange can rise above differences in history, culture and social system to give a strong boost to relations between nations.
Forty-two years ago, it was "ping-pong diplomacy" that broke the ice on China-U.S. relations. Now, over 10,000 citizens of our two countries fly across the Pacific Ocean every day. It is hard to estimate the number of Chinese and American people who interact via the Internet and mobile phones. The affinity is growing between our two countries. More and more Americans are fascinated by the Chinese language, kung fu and the Chinese culture, while Hollywood movies, Disney and the NBA are increasingly popular in China.
The China-U.S. High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange set up in 2010 is an innovation in our friendly cooperation. Our people have been brought closer as a result of cooperation in six major areas, namely education, science and technology, culture, women, youth and sports.
People-to-people exchange has joined strategic cooperation and win-win business ties as the three pillars underpinning the China-U.S. relationship. With 235,000 Chinese students studying in America, China is now the largest source of international students in the U.S. The "100,000 Strong Initiative" has enabled 68,000 American students to study in China. "Youth and Innovation," the theme of this round of consultation, is one of great vision. Exchange between youth will sow the seed of friendship for China-U.S. relations in the future.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. Reform has brought sea changes to China, but as a major developing country, China still has to make arduous efforts to achieve modernization for its 1.3 billion people. Several days ago, the Communist Party of China convened the Third Plenum of its 18th Central Committee, which has moved to deepen reform.
China will focus on economic reform and accelerate reform in all other areas, with a view to promoting social fairness and justice and enhancing people's well-being. This has created new opportunities for the growth of China-U.S. relations. Mutual respect and win-win cooperation between our great nations will not only benefit both peoples but also encourage world peace and development. I am convinced that with vigorous cooperation between governments and mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples, we will be able to build a new model of major-country relationships, inspiring generations to come.
中美关系归根结底是人民的关系
刘延东
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-11/18/c_118191397.htm
1784年,美国建国仅8年,美国商船“中国皇后”号抵达广州,开启了中美人民交往的历史。60多年前,中美在反法西斯战争中并肩战斗,结下了深厚友谊。人文交流成为两国关系发展的牢固纽带。
11月21日,我和约翰·克里国务卿将在华盛顿共同主持第四轮中美人文交流高层磋商,旨在落实今年6月习近平主席和奥巴马总统在安纳伯格庄园达成的构建中美新型大国关系重要共识。谨此向美国人民致以亲切问候和良好祝愿!
国之交在民相亲,民相亲在心相通。人与人、心与心的交流,超越历史文化和社会制度等差异,能为国家关系发展提供强大动力。42年前,正是“乒乓外交”打破了中美关系的坚冰。今天,两国每天有上万人穿梭于太平洋两岸,通过互联网、手机互动的民众更难以计数。众多民众彼此怀有好感,喜欢汉语、中国功夫、中华文化的美国人越来越多,好莱坞电影、迪士尼、NBA在中国广受欢迎。
2010年建立的人文交流高层磋商机制,是中美友好合作的创举。教育、科技、文化、妇女、青年、体育六大领域合作拉近两国民众的距离,人文交流与战略合作、经贸互利一道成为中美关系三大支柱。中国现有23.5万学生留学美国,是美最大留学生来源国;美国“十万强计划”推动6.8万学生来华留学。本轮磋商以“青年·创新”为主题,极富远见。青年的交往将为中美关系的未来撒播友谊的种子。
今年正值中国改革开放35周年,改革使中国面貌一新,但作为发展中大国,要使13亿人进入现代化仍需艰苦努力。几天前,中国共产党召开了十八届三中全会,就全面深化改革作出总体部署。中国将加快推进以经济体制改革为重点的包括政治、文化、社会、生态文明等所有领域改革,促进社会公平正义,增进人民福祉。这为中美关系发展创造了新的机遇。中美两个伟大国家相互尊重、合作共赢,不仅造福两国人民,而且有利于世界和平与发展。我相信,两国政府通力合作、人民相知相亲,我们就一定能够走出一条前无古人、后启来者的新型大国关系之路。 |
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