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Commentary: China-U.S. relations enriched by people-to-people exchanges

Xinhua, June 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Sixth China-U.S. High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE), which concluded here Wednesday, has produced fruitful results and played an important role in promoting ties and cooperation between the two sides.

People-to-people exchanges between the two countries this year have been quite fruitful, with a total of 119 outcomes achieved during the sixth CPE, as exemplified by such events as the China-U.S. Young Maker Competition, the Second China-U.S. University President Roundtable, the Seventh China-U.S. Women's Leadership Exchange and Dialogue and the China-U.S. Symposium on Ebola and Global Health and Safety.

Meanwhile, China and the United States have, for the first time, included cooperation on further enhancing bilateral healthcare interactions and joint efforts against wildlife smuggling in this year's CPE issues.

This indicates that the people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States have moved to the stage of being more concrete and action-based as well as wider in variety.

Over the years, despite twists and turns in bilateral ties, the people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States have continued.

Since 2009 when the CPE was created, nearly 300 programs have been launched under the platform to promote exchanges in the areas of education, science and technology, culture, sports, women, youth and sub-national cooperation.

In 2014, the two sides implemented 104 CPE projects and tremendously promoted understanding and friendship between the two peoples. A total of 490,000 Chinese youngsters are studying in the United States while more than 100,000 American youngsters are studying in China.

Meanwhile, the two countries have also signed up more than 240 pairs of sister provinces and cities nationwide.

Thanks to the fast-growing people-to-people exchanges between the two sides, the number of Americans who are becoming familiar with Chinese culture and views is increasing rapidly, which is conducive to the development of bilateral ties as a better mutual understanding will help ease frictions between the two sides.

The people-to-people exchange mechanism is a bridge for countries with different histories, cultures and systems to learn from each other, reduce misunderstandings, enhance friendship and strengthen mutual trust.

As an old Chinese saying goes, only heart-to-heart exchanges can last long.

China and the United States differ from each other in culture and political systems, but as long as they can open their hearts to each other, respect each other and manage to seek common ground while putting aside differences, they can bridge any gaps and create a much brighter future for their bilateral ties.

Looking back at the past and forward to the future, we have every reason to believe that, with joint efforts from both sides, the people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States will continue to prosper. Endi