China's U.S. ambassador Cui Tiankai and 35 counterparts 'experience America' in San Francisco

San Francisco, March 30 (People's Daily Online)----Cui Tiankai, China's ambassador to the United States, among other 35 foreign ambassadors travelled to San Francisco for U.S. Department of State's "Experience America" program on Monday. As the representative of the ambassadors in the United States, Cui delivered a speech at the reception held in San Francisco City Hall.

Cui said, "For my wife and myself, San Francisco is even more special. In the Chinese language, the name of San Francisco means the 'old golden mountain'. It's really a pleasure to see this old golden mountain shinning with new life. And we are very pleased to see long-lasting and great ties between San Francisco and China." He said that this trip gets the ambassadors to "see the real thing, see what people are doing in their real life."

During his speech, he also thanked Senator Dianne Feinstein for her endeavors in making China's Shanghai the sister city of San Francisco. He said, "You have been a champion for closer ties between San Francisco and China. You set up this sister city relationship between San Francisco and Shanghai, my hometown."

In June 1979, as the new Mayor of San Francisco, Senator Feinstein led a delegation to Shanghai, which was the beginning of the first such Sister City relationship between an American city and a Chinese city. In 1980, the two cities became the sister cities.

"Shanghai and San Francisco sister city relationship is a good example. I began. I took a delegation to China, met with then Mayor Wang Daohan. It was the first strike-out for both cities. And we were happy to welcome the first Chinese plane, the first Chinese ship, the bank of China, and on and on and on. That's the way life goes," said Senator Feinstein.

Peter Selfridge, United States Chief of Protocol said at the opening ceremony that he leads the latest "Experience America" trip to San Francisco with 36 members of the Diplomatic Corps and their spouses from March 29 to April 2, 2015. Ambassadors representing nations on six continents will engage with prominent business and community leaders and local entrepreneurs.

He told the reporter, "It's a beneficial program. Foreign ambassadors in the United States will not only seek to build new economic partnerships and learn about the unique culture and academic strength of San Francisco, but also have opportunities to communicate during the trip."

This is the 16th "Experience America" trip and the 12th since the beginning of the Obama Administration. Since 2009, more than 100 countries have participated in the trips. And previous destinations include Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, as well as multiple cities in Alaska, California, Florida, Texas, and Wyoming.

"Experience America" is organized by the Diplomatic Partnerships Division of the Office of the Chief of Protocol, whose mission is to foster international goodwill and cultivate the relationship between the Diplomatic Corps and the people and institutions of the United States through the exchange of ideas, cultures, and traditions.