WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- The Chinese embassy in the United States held a reception on Thursday to celebrate the upcoming 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

"In the past 70 years, the Chinese people bid farewell to poverty and achieved miraculous growth through hard work," Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said in an opening speech.

"It was a journey from impoverishment to becoming the world's second largest economy, from devastation to topping the chart in manufacturing, trading of goods and foreign reserves," Cui said.

Looking forward, China will focus on the Belt and Road Initiative and share the fruits of development with the global community, said the ambassador.

The event was attended by some 700 members of the Chinese American community and Chinese nationals studying or working in the United States.

Cui called on them to act as bridges between the two countries, promote mutual understanding and work toward a sound and stable China-U.S. relationship.