CRI听力: China-US Relations: People-to-People Exchange Is the Key

Chinese and US senior officials say in Washington that in the thriving bilateral relations, people to people exchange is the key. Visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong and the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton co-chaired the closing session of the second annual U.S.-China High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange. Both sides hailed the accomplishments in this mechanism over the past year and agreed upon a heavy to-do list in the coming year.

Our Washington correspondent Shanshan has the story.

At the closing session of the second annual meeting, Chinese Vice Minister of Education Hao Ping and the US Under Secretary of State Judith McHale presented joint reports on significant accomplishments since the inauguration of the consultations and major goals and initiatives for the upcoming year. The number of exchange students studying between the two countries has increased, with New York University announcing last month that it will open a campus in Shanghai in 2013.

State Councilor Liu Yandong says the progress is encouraging.

"These achievements are inspiring. The two peoples, especially university and high school students, have experienced first-hand the charm of different cultures and the happiness of knowing and understanding each other."

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says both sides are making progress on all of fronts, with education as a flagship.

"We'll continue to support this important process. It is already achieving results. More Americans are now studying in China than in any other foreign country. Our goal is to send 100,000 students to China over the next four years."

Clinton says, both side must do more to define ways to strengthen the vital relationship between the United States and China, of which people-to-people exchange is the key.

"We were delighted by President Hu's successful visit in January. We're building on that and we continue to look for even more ways to broaden and deepen our relationship and people-to-people is the key. "

The session concluded with agreements on some 40 programs within the Consultation mechanism in the coming year, including further expanding two-way exchange students programs; exploring ways to cultivate and retain young scientists through the creation of the Young Scientists Forum; sending more performing arts, visual arts and film groups to one another's country; and exchanging delegations to mark the 40th anniversary of the Ping-pong diplomacy.

There will also be more focus on women's issues. The two senior officials jointly announced the China-US Women's Leadership Exchange and Dialogue, to develop a way to connect women leaders and facilitate collaboration between Chinese and American women.

Liu Yandong says governments should provide opportunities for the two peoples to play a big role in advancing the bilateral relationship.

"The people-to-people exchange in the new era should be people-oriented, letting the two peoples become the leading body of the exchange; it should be world-oriented, in harmony to promote world peace and development; and it should be future-oriented, fostering a lasting friendship to be carried forward by generations."

Both sides agreed the partnership between China and the United States is too important to develop at the government level only. It needs to exist in a very real way to people in markets, schools and labs across both nations. These developments will help knit both countries more closely together for generations to come.

In November 2009, the Chinese and U.S. governments approved the establishment of the high-level consultation mechanism to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton co-chaired the inauguration ceremony in Beijing in May, 2005. Since then, the two sides agreed that the consultation will be held annually, alternating between China and the United States.

The Consultation aims at promoting people-to-people ties between the China and the United States in education, culture, science and technology, sports, women's issues and other related fields. It provides a high-level annual forum for government and private-sector representatives to discuss cooperation in a broad, strategic manner.

For CRI news, I'm SS in Washington.