Question: We have noted that a delegation of the Flying Tigers is currently visiting in China. The National Museum of the US Air Force, located in Dayton, Ohio, displayed valuable exhibitions of “The Hump” and “Rescue of Doolittle Raiders”. Could you elaborate on Consulate’s interaction with the Flying Tigers in your consular districts? What role does the spirit of Flying Tigers play in China-US people-to-people friendship?

Spokesperson: As President Xi Jinping noted not long ago while replying to the letter from the Chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation and Flying Tigers veterans, the hope and foundation of China-U.S. relations lies in the people. The Flying Tigers is a symbol of the Chinese and American people fighting side-by-side. Their stories bear on the collective memories of China and the US combating Japanese Fascists and striving for world peace, and epitomize the friendship between the two peoples in times of difficulties.  

In September, right before the delegation visited China, Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping visited the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, and Flying Tiger veteran Jack Goodrich and his family in Malvern, Pennsylvania. The two sides had a warm discussion on China-U.S. friendship and people-to-people exchanges.

In the face of current geopolitical conflicts and global disorder, it is necessary for the U.S. and China to strengthen communication and jointly tackle global challenges. The sound and stable development of China-U.S. relations not only serves the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples, but also meets the common expectations of the international community. Our Consulate will continue to work with peoples from our consular districts to carry forward the long-lasting friendship between the two sides such as  the Flying Tigers, and write a new chapter of China-U.S. people-to-people friendship in the new era to jointly bring the bilateral relations back to the track of sound and steady development.