Question: Recently, before the historic meeting between the two Presidents in San Francisco, the Philadelphia Orchestra held a concert in Beijing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the orchestra’s first visit to China in 1973. It is noted that the Chinese Consulate in New York also held relevant events inviting representatives from the Philadelphia Orchestra. Would you like to introduce the event and comment on the event’s significance in the context of China-US relations?

Spokesperson: On Nov. 15th, President Xi Jinping noted at the Welcome Dinner by Friendly Organizations in the United States, the foundation of China-U.S. relations was laid by our peoples; the door of China-U.S. relations was opened by our peoples; the stories of China-U.S. relations are written by our peoples; the future of China-U.S. relations will be created by our peoples. For any great cause to succeed, it must take root in the people, gain strength from the people, and be accomplished by the people. Growing China-U.S. friendship is such a great cause. Right before the historic meeting between the two Presidents in San Francisco, the Philadelphia Orchestra made another trip to China, held concerts in Beijing, Tianjin, Suzhou and Shanghai, and visited Chinese communities and universities to communicate with Chinese people. The activities have played significant roles in enhancing people-to-people ties between the two sides. The reply letter by President Xi and the congratulatory letter by President Biden speak to the importance the leaders of the two countries attach to China-US cultural exchange and their hope for it to flourish.

The Chinese Consulate in New York has always been committed to promoting long-lasting friendships between China and the Philadelphia Orchestra among people from our consular district. We aim to tell the stories of friendly exchanges between the two sides and establish communicative channels for the two peoples to echo our shared memories. On Nov. 16th, the Consulate invited Ambassador Nicholas Platt, President Emeritus of the Asia Society, who witnessed the Orchestra’s first trip to China, and Matias Tarnopolsky, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra to virtually attend the “Media Meeting of Minds” with Chinese media in our consular district. They spoke highly of President Xi’s meeting with President Biden and his speech at the Welcome Dinner by Friendly Organizations in the US. Starting from San Francisco, it is believed that the two peoples will continue to move forward our friendship and push our bilateral relations to the right track of sound and stable development.

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges have always been a vital component of China-US relations and a source of driving force for the growth of the relations. No matter how the global landscape evolves, the historical trend of peaceful coexistence between China and the United States will not change. The ultimate wish of our two peoples for exchanges and cooperation will not change. The expectations of the whole world for a steadily growing China-U.S. relationship will not change. Our Consulate will always contribute to expanding and deepening our cultural and people-to-people exchanges, write more chapters for the two peoples to know and understand each other and inject positive momentum to our bilateral relations.