There are active people-to-people and local exchanges. Today, it is quite common for Chinese and Americans to visit each other's country. As a matter of fact, as many as over 3 million people travel across the Pacific each year. There are 38 sister provinces/states and 176 pairs of sister cities between the two countries. In 2011 alone, nearly 160,000 students from China's mainland went to study in the United States, making China the largest source of foreign students in the United States. Meanwhile, learning Chinese is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Chinese is now the second largest foreign language in the United States, next only to Spanish. And the "100,000 Strong" Initiative announced by President Barack Obama in 2009 is well underway.

The two countries have maintained close coordination on international issues. China-U.S. consultation and cooperation cover a wide range of fields. They include the international fight against terrorism after 9/11, response to the international financial crisis, regional hotspot issues such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue, the Middle East and South Asia, non-traditional security challenges in energy and resources security, public health and disaster prevention and mitigation. By maintaining such close consultation and cooperation, our two countries have contributed much to upholding global peace, stability and prosperity.

The dynamic growth of China-U.S. relations over the last 40 years proves that our shared interests far outweigh differences, that cooperation has always been the dominant trend of our relations, and that a sound China-U.S. relationship is in the best interest of both countries. Attending today's conference are both Democrats and Republicans, and both government officials and non-government figures. This shows that to foster strong China-U.S. relationship is the shared view of Democrats and Republicans and is the consensus of both the U.S. Government and the general public.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

The 21st century is a century of win-win cooperation. We have entered the second decade of this century, and China-U.S. relations now stand at a new starting point. In January 2011, Chinese President Hu Jintao visited the United States. He reached agreement with President Obama on working together to build a China-U.S. cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, thus ushering China-U.S. relations into a new stage. President Hu Jintao, Chairman Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao have held many important and positive meetings with U.S. leaders in recent years on strengthening our bilateral relations and promoting China-U.S. cooperation. Last month, at the invitation of Vice President Joseph Biden, Vice President Xi Jinping paid a very successful visit to the United States to further implement the agreement reached between the two presidents, thus advancing the building of China-U.S. cooperative partnership.

The world is going through complex and profound changes unseen before. Global challenges have become more pronounced, but the trend of our times toward peace, development and cooperation remains unchanged and countries are becoming more inter-dependent. Against this backdrop, our two great nations share more extensive common interests and also heavier responsibilities. The growth of China-U.S. relations is important for the well-being of our two peoples and peace, stability and prosperity of the world.

We need to act on the agreement reached between our two presidents and work hard to build China-U.S. cooperative partnership. We must increase dialogue, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and manage differences to ensure the healthy and steady growth of our relations. Specifically, I think it is important that we take the following steps:

First, we should keep to the right direction in building China-U.S. cooperative partnership. To build a cooperative partnership is the right choice for us to advance China-U.S. relations in a changing world. No matter what difficulties we may encounter on the way ahead, we should not deviate from the course we have embarked on or waver in our resolve and confidence. Only by firmly holding the helm and keeping to the set direction can we ensure the safe and smooth voyage of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations.

Second, we should endeavor to enhance strategic mutual trust. To develop the China-U.S. cooperative partnership is the shared aspiration of Chinese and American peoples, and to enhance strategic mutual trust is an important part of that partnership. Only with better understanding and more trust can we strengthen the foundation of China-U.S. relations and fully harness the potential of our cooperation. The two sides should continue to intensify high-level exchanges and dialogue at various levels to further deepen our mutual understanding and trust. China is committed to peaceful development. We hope that the United States will see China's development in the right and objective way, and take more steps to increase our mutual trust. We, on our part, would like to see continued development and prosperity in the United States. Both China and the United States are Asia-Pacific nations. China welcomes a constructive role played by the United States for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. And we hope that the United States will respect China's interests and concerns in the region, and work with us to blaze a trail of sound interactions and win-win cooperation between two big countries.