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China-U.S. Friendship Serves Interests of All: Qian
Visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen stressed in Washington on Friday that China-U.S. friendship serves the interests of not only the people of the two countries but the whole world as well.
Qian, who arrived in the United States on Sunday for a week- long visit, made the remarks while addressing a welcome luncheon jointly hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, U.S.-China Business Council, U.S.-China Policy Foundation and the Nixon Center.
Looking back on the history of China-U.S. relations, Qian said that the two peoples started trading with each other as early as over 200 years ago.
Over 100 years ago, more than 100,000 Chinese laborers crossed the Pacific Ocean and plunged themselves into the opening up of the American west and the construction of the transcontinental railway, he said. Also at that time, many Chinese students came to the United States to learn new technology and new knowledge, he added.
During the World War II, Qian said, China and the United States stood side by side in the great cause against Fascist aggression.
"There were many touching stories about our two peoples fighting shoulder to shoulder. Hundreds of heroic American pilots gave their lives to the fight against Japanese aggression in China," Qian recalled in his speech titled "Work Together for a Healthy and Stable China-U.S. Relationship in the New Century."
"Unfortunately, however, our relations later suffered setbacks for as long as a quarter century. Contacts suspended between our countries. We both paid a heavy price for that," Qian said.
Thanks to the right strategic decision made by the two sides in the 1970s to reopen doors to each other, he said, relations between the two countries have made historic progress in a wide range of areas since then.
According to the vice-premier, thirty years ago, bilateral trade between the two countries was said to be only US$500,000 a year and joint ventures simply did not exist.
Today, the two countries have become each other's important trading partner and attractive investment destination. Last year, bilateral trade between China and the United States reached US$74.5 billion and the investment made by the U.S. in China exceeded US$30 billion.
Apart from exchange of students, scientists, artists, environmental experts, judges and military officers between the two countries are also engaged in exchanges and cooperation with each other, which benefit all those involved.
Qian said that top leaders of the two countries have exchanged visits and diplomats have conducted effective consultations and cooperation in the United Nations and beyond.
"History tells us that cooperation benefits both, while confrontation harms both. China-U.S. friendship serves the interests of the people of both countries and the whole world as well," Qian concluded.
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