Xi, Trump exchange greetings on 40th anniv. of diplomatic ties

Writer:   | Editor: Holly Wang  | From: Xinhua | Updated: 2019-01-02

President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump yesterday exchanged congratulations on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations.

In his congratulatory message, Xi said China-U.S. relations have experienced ups and downs and made historic progress over the past 40 years, bringing huge benefits to the two peoples and contributing greatly to world peace, stability and prosperity.

History has proved that cooperation is the best choice for both sides, Xi said.

Currently, China-U.S. relations are in an important stage, he noted.

“I attach great importance to the development of China-U.S. relations and am willing to work with President Trump to summarize the experience of the development of China-U.S. relations and implement the consensus we have reached in a joint effort to advance China-U.S. relations featuring coordination, cooperation and stability so as to better benefit the two peoples as well as the people of the rest of the world,” Xi said.

For his part, Trump said Jan. 1, 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of U.S.-China diplomatic relations.

Great progress has been made in the development of bilateral ties over the years, he noted.

Trump said it is his priority to promote cooperative and constructive U.S.-China relations, adding that his solid friendship with President Xi has laid a firm foundation for the great achievements of the two countries in the coming years.

Exactly 40 years ago, Beijing and Washington officially established diplomatic relations, thus ending nearly three decades of isolation, hostility and even confrontation between the two big countries with a combined population of over 1 billion, and resetting the course of history and international politics.

The progress of China-U.S. ties in the past 40 years is nothing but staggering, far exceeding most people’s expectations. Bilateral trade grew from a negligible US$2.5 billion in the late 1970s to over US$580 billion in 2017, while the stock of two-way investment rose from practically nil to more than US$230 billion.

Even more amazing are the fast-paced changes in people-to-people relations. The Chinese, who once regarded having “overseas relations,” especially families or friends in the United States, as a political and social taboo, are now fervently sending their children — some 200,000 to 300,000 a year — to study in the United States. The Americans have also seen off the so-called “Red Scare” and started to embrace Chinese kung fu, giant pandas and even the learning of the Chinese language as their understanding of the once “mysterious Communist state” deepens.

The Pacific Ocean, which used to serve as a “natural moat” blocking direct transportation between the two countries, is now overflown by more than 300 two-way direct flights each week that carry more than 5 million visitors each year.