Esteemed guests,

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Good morning!

Today, in the vibrant ‘Windy City’ of Chicago, we gather with a shared spirit of cooperation to commence this dialogue focusing on opportunities and collaborative initiatives. On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, I warmly congratulate the successful convening of this event and extend my sincere respect to all those who have long been committed to fostering China-U.S. friendship and promoting local exchanges.

Ambassador Xie Feng has just outlined three important initiatives on strengthening China-U.S. sub-national exchange in the new situation, which I totally agree with. As we all know, the U.S. Midwest is not only the agricultural heartland and an innovation hub for the food industry, but also a key center for medical and healthcare research. In recent years, China has imported over 100 million tons of soybeans, corn, and other agricultural products from the Midwest. Low-salt nuts, functional grains, and other healthy foods are entering more and more Chinese families. These imports provide stable income for U.S. farmers and enrich the Chinese diet. Meanwhile, cooperation in telemedicine and medical devices continues to deepen, benefiting numerous citizens in both countries. This is not only a vivid illustration of the complementary advantages between China and the U.S. at the sub-national levels, but also a tangible achievement that benefits the people, making the cooperation between the two countries more tangible and its value more prominent.

As it is, the achievements of China-U.S. sub-national cooperation reflect the bigger picture of our economic and trade relations. Even under the shadow of tariff war, China has consistently adhered to the policy of “We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open, if the U.S. wants to talk”, not shying away from challenges, while actively promoting dialogue. After continuous communication and equal consultation between our two countries, the “truce periods” on the tariff war have been extended. The resilience of China-U.S. trade lies in mutual benefit. From agricultural and food exports from the Midwest to technological cooperation in the health sector, these partnerships drive local U.S. economic growth and improve the Chinese people’s welfare. China does not politicize trade issues. We maintain an open stance and recognize that healthy economic relations affect not just our economies, but the well-being of our citizens. Only through dialogue that is equal, respectful, and mutually beneficial can we further strengthen the trade and economic ties between our countries.

The fruitful results of sub-national cooperation, the strong resilience demonstrated by economic and trade dialogue, and the vibrant vitality showcased by people-to-people exchanges are the solid pillars that enable the China-US relationship to remain stable and move forward steadily. President Xi Jinping and President Trump have maintained regular communication through phone calls and correspondence, providing guidance and direction for the bilateral relations. Meetings between the two foreign ministers and high-level economic and trade consultations have yielded positive results, injecting strong momentum into interaction and collaboration between China and the U.S. in various fields. As the world’s two largest economies, turning one’s back on the other is not an option for China and the U.S.. Conflict and confrontation have unbearable consequences for both sides. Despite current challenges in bilateral relations, we firmly believe that China and the U.S. should engage with mutual respect, uphold peaceful coexistence, and pursue win-win cooperation. By bringing the “source water” of sub-national cooperation into the broader flow of our bilateral relations, and by strengthening the “solid ties” of trade and economic exchanges, we can ensure that over 1.7 billion people in both countries share the benefits from the cooperation, and bring more certainty and stability to the world that is often unpredictable as well.

Distinguished guests, friends,

The future of China-U.S. relations requires leadership at the top and strong sub-national support; it requires strategic consensus and nourishment of economic cooperation and people-to-people exchange. From the farmlands of the U.S. Midwest to ordinary Chinese households, from Chinese companies to U.S. medical institutions, every collaboration and every order contributes to building the foundation of the overall bilateral relations. We believe that as long as we continue to eliminate misunderstandings through mutual understanding, resolve disputes through equal dialogue, and achieve win-win outcomes through cooperative efforts, China-U.S. sub-national cooperation will deepen, economic and trade relations and people-to-people interactions will stabilize, and the whole China-U.S. relations will be healthier.

Finally, I wish this dialogue a great success.

Thank you all!