A grassroots cultural event dedicated to promoting US-China friendship and understanding, the Annual China Symposium 2009, was held successfully on Saturday at Norris Center of Northwestern University located in the Northern suburb of Chicago.

The symposium was hosted by Northwestern University and the US-China Peoples Friendship Association Chicago Chapter.

Roger Noback, president of the US-China Peoples Friendship Association Chicago Chapter, told Xinhua: "This is our annual China symposium and it gives us an opportunity to showcase the leading authorities in Chicago about their knowledge and experience on China."

Huang Ping, consul general of Chinese Consulate in Chicago, briefed the audience China's remarkable development over the past 60 years and the great progress in the US-China relations.

"China and the US have lots of common interests ranging from daily life to global affairs. It is the support of people in both countries that play the most important role in promoting our friendship and understanding. I appreciate your determination, leadership and devotion, and our consulate would like to join hands with you to bring the Sino-US relation to a new level," Huang said in his speech.

Li-Kuo Chang, assistant principal violist at Chicago Symphony Orchestra, delivered a very touching keynote speech titled "A journey of east meets west in music." He shared his personal and professional cross-cultural experience as a Chinese musician growing up in China and how it changed his perspective of making music as a classically-trained musician.

During the breakout sessions, a total of nine presentations were made by leading authorities from greater Chicago area on three different tracks: arts and philosophy, commerce, and society, science & technology.

Noback said, "Our organization plays a significant role in promoting friendship and understanding between Chinese and Americans. We just had our 35th anniversary at Chicago chapter and national organization. Our principal mission is to foster friendship and understanding between people in the US and China."

"By presenting these talks which are donated voluntarily by these leading authorities, it increases friendship and understanding of Americans about China," He added.

Noback said that the upcoming visit of President Obama to China showed that he recognized the importance of the US-China relationship.

"There is no more important friendship than that between the US and China. That ... will be even more true in the future," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2009)