Dear guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It’s been almost a year since I arrived in New York, and I’ve learned that: Manhattan never runs out of parties, and this birthday party is hard to beat. Tonight, over 400 guests are here to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. You’re here not just as friends, but as thoughtful observers of China, so let me begin by sharing a glimpse of what China looks like today.

China is developing stronger with a firm commitment to peace. Two weeks ago, China solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, to honor China’s major contributions to safeguarding world peace and justice. Eighty years on, China has risen from poverty to prosperity, offering stability amid global uncertainty and standing as a firm force for peace.

China is progressing faster with a stable focus on improving people’s lives. From the Great Green Wall in the desert to the “green is gold” philosophy and a world-leading low-carbon transition, green has become the hallmark of China’s development. Innovation is adding new momentum: drones in the agricultural fields, robots in factories, AI in industries, and domestic chips making breakthroughs. And with 5G, electric vehicles, and mobile payments improving everyday life, a people-centered vision of development has ensured that progress benefits all.

China is opening wider with greater contributions to our shared future. China’s development is creating new opportunities for the world. With its vast market, a modern and complete industrial system, a skilled workforce, a better business environment, and an open innovation ecosystem, China has become fertile ground for global cooperation. Through its four global initiatives, respectively on development, security, civilization, and governance, China shares its wisdom and proposals to provide stability in a turbulent age.

China and the United States are both great nations, and the Chinese and American peoples are both great peoples. In World War II, our two countries together defeated fascism and safeguarded world peace and justice. This friendship of blood and fire has always been deeply cherished by the Chinese people. In that spirit, China presented Commemorative Medals to the Flying Tiger veterans, and updated the records of the American pilots who made the ultimate sacrifice in China’s resistance against Japanese aggression. Their legacy will always be remembered, and continues to inspire our bilateral relations today.

I’ve been deeply impressed by the hardworking, pioneering, and warm spirit of the American people. I’ve also seen that, whatever the ups and downs in relations between the two countries, people-to-people exchanges continue to flourish. Starbucks and Shake Shack have added new flavors to Chinese tables. NYU Shanghai and the Tianjin Julliard School bring students closer across cultures. The Philadelphia Orchestra offers Chinese audiences unforgettable artistic feasts. And pickleball is becoming the new ping-pong, giving fresh energy to people’s diplomacy.

Through these exchanges, many Americans know better about China, and want to know more. They tend to see China as an opportunity, not a threat; as a friend, not a rival; and as a partner for mutual benefit, not a player in a zero-sum game.

Next week, world leaders will gather in New York to mark the UN’s 80th anniversary. In these turbulent times, it is the shared hope that China and the United States can find some ways to narrow estrangement through dialogue, replace confrontation with cooperation, and turn differences into broader consensus.

Perhaps we can find the answer in history. The Flying Tigers went to China in their twenties, and now Gen Z is carrying forward the cause of China-US friendship. This shows that every new generation has the courage and commitment to keep our friendship alive. With that spirit, we have every reason to improve and stabilize this relationship, to deliver for our peoples and to live up to our responsibilities to the world. My colleagues and I will continue to work with friends across sectors to build understanding and trust and promote the China–U.S. relations for a brighter tomorrow, together.

Thank you!