The 4th Forum on US-China Relations was jointly hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Carter Center on November 19 in Atlanta, USA. Former US President Jimmy Carter, Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mme. Wu Xi, Charge d’Affaires of Chinese Embassy to the USA, Mr. Li Qiangmin, Consul General of Chinese Consulate General in Houston, Ambassador Mary Ann Peters, CEO of the Carter Center, Mme. Susan Thornton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of US State Department attended the forum and delivered speeches.
President Carter reviewed his profound connections with China, and said that he loves the United States and China, as well as the people of these two countries. A good US-China relationship is not only in line with the fundamental interests of the people of both countries, but also beneficial to the peace and stability of Asia Pacific region and the world. The US and China have carried out fruitful cooperation in dealing with many global challenges, especially in the area of climate change, and succeeded in setting up a great example for other countries to follow. He believes that with mutual respect, any difference or dispute between the US and China could be resolved peacefully.
President Li Xiaolin thanked President Carter, who is now 91 years old for attending the forum and giving a speech. As the witness of the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations, President Carter has made great contribution to the sound development of China-US relations. Today, the China-US relationship has become one of the most dynamic and important bilateral relations in the world. Yet given the huge differences between China and the US, it is inevitable for our two countries to have different point of views and even disputes. CPAFFC is willing to work with all sectors in the United States, in furthering the exchange and cooperation in the fields of economic and trade relation, local government and people-to-people interactions, so as to deepen mutual understanding and friendship.
Charge d’affaires Wu Xi noted that President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to the US in the past September, and the two heads of state agreed to continue the efforts in building a new model of major country relations between China and the United States based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation. The two sides are now jointly working on implementing the results of this visit, and had made important progress in areas such as military-to-military exchanges, JCCT meeting and countering cybercrime. The shared interests of China and the US far outweigh the differences. To follow up, our two countries should further strengthen mutual trust, expand cooperation, constructively manage differences and transform disputes into opportunities for cooperation in creative ways, so as to build up more stable, more resilient bilateral relations between China and the US.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Susan Thornton said, the US and China have established constructive bilateral relations through joint efforts. Currently, the economic and trade relations between the two countries grow rapidly. The US and China conducted productive cooperation in various fields including climate change, food safety, and public health. The US believes that the development of China will benefit both countries. A peaceful, stable and prosperous China is in the interests of the two countries and the world.
Over 50 experts and scholars from think-tanks, colleges and universities, media and businesses from China and the US attended the forum. They held in-depth discussions on topics of China-US strategic trust, economic and trade relations, people-to-people diplomacy and major potential challenges to China-US relations in the next five years.
