China News Service, Beijing, April 27th. The Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs held an online event on the 27th to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first visit of the US Senate and House delegations to China.

Wang Chao, President of the China Institute of Foreign Affairs, Qin Gang, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., Cui Tiankai, Advisor to the Council of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and Former Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., Tang Wensheng, Advisor to the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Senator Dianes of Montana, U.S. Congregation Representatives Larson and LaHood, co-chairs of the US-China Working Group of the Academy, Bocas, former US ambassador to China and former US senator, Aiming Liu, chairman of the board of directors of the American-Asian Society, and Mansor, executive director of the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana, USA Attend the event on-site or via video and deliver a speech.

Photo courtesy of the Institute of Foreign Affairs at the commemorative event

　　Wang Chao said in his speech that 50 years ago, shortly after President Nixon's ice-breaking trip to China, Senate Majority Leader Mansfield and Minority Leader Scott, House Majority Leader Boggs and the minority party Leader Ford led a delegation to visit China one after another, creating a history of US-China exchanges and playing an important role in promoting the normalization of Sino-US relations.

At present, the international situation is undergoing further profound and complex changes, and the development of China-US relations is at a critical period.

At times like this, China and the US need to strengthen mutual understanding and trust.

U.S. congressmen and congressional staff are welcome to conduct exchanges with China in various forms, and hope to welcome more friends of the American Congress to visit China after the epidemic is over.

The Institute of Foreign Affairs is willing to make joint efforts with friends from all walks of life in the United States to make new contributions to promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and the United States and promoting the continuous development of China-US relations.

　　Qin Gang said that mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the way to get along in China-US relations. This was applicable 50 years ago, and will remain the basic norms of China-US relations today and even in the future.

We commemorate the historic visit to China by the delegations of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives 50 years ago. We hope to take history as a mirror and push China-U.S. relations to maintain the right course in the next 50 years, and move forward steadily.

The current Sino-US relationship is severe and complicated. We cannot just focus on our differences, but keep in mind the common interests of both sides, and show strategic vision, political courage and diplomatic wisdom.

We should learn from history and push China-US relations to overcome difficulties, overcome challenges, rebuild trust and return to the right track today.

China and the United States should adhere to a global strategic vision and a long-term historical perspective, strengthen communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, promote cooperation in various fields, expand common interests, and manage differences and prevent crises.

　　Cui Tiankai said that Senator Mansfield and other older generation politicians have shown the world with practical actions that despite the great differences between China and the United States, as long as both sides proceed from the fundamental well-being and common aspirations of the two peoples and respect each other's differences, Two major countries with different social systems can fully coexist peacefully and cooperate for mutual benefit.

At present, China-US relations are facing unprecedented challenges and difficulties.

But as President Xi Jinping said at the Boao Forum for Asia a few days ago, "Human history tells us that the more difficult times are, the more we must strengthen our confidence."

The Chinese and American people both look forward to a peaceful and stable world and realize their yearning for a better life.

This is the aspiration of the people, the will of the people, and the source of our confidence.

As long as the two sides can proceed from the fundamental interests of the two peoples and always adhere to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, China-US relations will be able to dissolve.

Photo courtesy of the Institute of Foreign Affairs at the commemorative event

　　Consultant Tang Wensheng served as the interpreter for Premier Zhou Enlai's meeting with Senators Mansfield and Senator Scott.

She said that Senator Mansfield's views on "the need for mutual respect and equal treatment between countries" and "seeing is better than seeing a hundred stories" are still unforgettable to her. When we commemorate these wise politicians today, we have to I admire their courage to speak the truth, and thank them for their immortal contributions to paving the way for the normalization of Sino-US relations.

May their spirit always be there to encourage future generations to overcome difficulties and move forward bravely.

　　The US guests expressed their support for Sino-US relations and US exchanges with China in their speeches.

Senator Dianes said that the U.S. and China are the two largest economies in the world, and the relationship between the two countries is too big to fail. He believes that it is important for U.S. senators to better understand China today.

Congressman Larson said that he has visited China many times, which not only helps to promote the diplomatic relations between the two countries, but also helps to understand each other and enhance personal friendship.

He looked forward to working with all parties to promote exchanges between the two peoples in the spirit of Mansfield and Scott's delegation to China.

Rep. Lahoud said there will always be areas of cooperation and stress in the U.S.-China relationship, and he supports regular and ongoing dialogue between the two sides to address the challenges they face.

Ambassador Bocas said that Senator Mansfield is a man who dares to tell the truth. His views on China are from the heart and based on his personal experience in China. The commemoration of that historic visit will help people to think deeply.

The United States and China are in the same world and must cooperate.

　　More than 100 people from China and the United States participated in the commemorative event through video connection. The video clip of the first visit to China by the delegation of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in 1972 was broadcast during the event.

Zhao Weiping, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Foreign Affairs, presided over the commemorative activities.

(Finish)