At the invitation of U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association (USCPFA), Counselor Xu Min and Second Secretary Ba Cuicui attended the 27th National Convention of USCPFA at Bloomington, Minnesota from October 18 to 20. The theme of this year's convention is "Forty Years and Beyond: Friendship, Successes, and Challenges". Ambassador Cui Tiankai, President Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale, U.S. Congressman Dean Philips of Minnesota sent congratulatory messages to the convention. Nearly 100 people attended the event, including Xu Fenghua, deputy director general of CPAFFC, members from over 20 chapters of USCPFA, "Old Friend" Luca Berrone from Iowa, experts and scholars, etc.

Ambassador Cui Tiankai said in the congratulatory message, this convention carries special significance as it is held on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, as well as the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. In the past four decades, the China-U.S. relationship has forged ahead despite twists and turns and scored historic achievements, bringing huge benefits to the two peoples and contributing greatly to world peace, stability and prosperity. Over the past seven decades, especially over the past four decades of reform and opening-up, China has made great strides and grown from a poor and weak country into the world's second largest economy. It has lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty and created a middle-income group of 400 million, both legendary achievements in the histroy of humankind. A prosperous and stable China is in itself a huge contribution to the world, and a boon to other countries, including the U.S. Just as President Xi Jinping said, friendship and exchanges among the people provide constant driving forces for bilateral relations. The China-U.S. relationship is a common asset of the Chinese and American people accumulated through our hard efforts, and it deserves extra care and attendance. As one of America's first national organizations on people-to-people exchanges with China, the USCPFA has given consistent support to China-U.S. relations since 1974. It is the trailblazer, forerunner and guardian of the extraordinary journey of China-U.S. relations. In the future, the Chinese side is ready to work with the U.S. side to build bridge of frienship and promote mutual learning and win-win cooperation, so as to ensure the strong, sustained and steady progress of China-U.S. relations to the benefits of both countries and the wider world.

The U.S. participants warmly congratulated on the 40th anniversary of U.S.-China diplomatic relations. They said that the world calls for friendship and peace. The two peoples should have positive mental attitude, maintain dialogues and cooperation, look for common interests, cultivate a new generation of friendship ambassadors, and create a better future of U.S.-China relationship.

The USCPFA was founded in 1974 in Los Angeles, California. It is one of the first American organizations working on people-to-people exchanges with China, and it has made great efforts to develop and strengthen friendship and understanding between the Chinese and American people.

On June 6th, a group of teachers and students from Bard High School Early College, Baltimore, Maryland paid a visit to the Chinese Embassy. Young diplomats from the Embassy had a discussion with them on a wide range of topics, including China's development and Opening-up, China-US Relations, Belt and Road Initiative, studying in China and etc.